White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Gaah, I haven't updated this in a while! I was sick for over a week and had to stay out of the kitchen because I didn't want to contaminate people with my baking. Getting people sick is not my intention in my plan to rule the world someday with my baking, hahaha. Anyway, I used to not be a fan of oatmeal cookies when I was little. Maybe I had a bad experience with it or something. It's probably because all the oatmeal cookies I had ever eaten before I started making these had raisins in them. Raisins...ew. I don't like them. I don't think I have ever been fond of them so whenever I did eat an oatmeal cookie, I'd always pick them out, or try too at least.

The great thing with this recipe is that you don't have ot stick with white chocolate or cranberries. You can put anything you want in them really! I just really like the combination, but I've tried variations with walnuts, semi-sweet chocolate chips, m&m's (those were amazing), and any dried fruit that you like.

You'll notice that there's a ton of oatmeal in this recipe (3 cups) and not a lot of flour. I use old fashioned rolled oats instead of the quick cooking ones because I like the texture it gives, and I think it keeps the cookie softer than quick cooking oatmeal. So yes, if you don't like oatmeal, you'll definitely want to pass on this cookie.

White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and light brown sugar until smooth.
3. Add the egg and the vanilla extract and combine with the butter and sugar.
4. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt until it is thoroughly incorporated butter mixture.
5. Add the oatmeal, dried cranberries, and chocolate chips with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until everything is combined.
6. Line two baking sheets with either parchment paper or aluminum foil. If you're using foil, make sure to use cooking spray because cookies stuck on aluminum foil are no bueno.
7. I like to make these cookies bigger than I normally make my cookies so I take a 1/4 cup measuring cup to measure the batter. Place them a few inches apart from eachother and before putting them in the oven, use the palm of your hand to flatten them out a bit.
8. Bake for about 18 minutes (I start checking to see if they're done at about 12 minutes just to make sure I don't overcook them).
9. Remove from oven and let cookies cool.

I usually get about 18 cookies from each batch, and they're pretty big cookies. Remember, you don't have to use just white chocolate and dried cranberries! Use whatever you like or whatever you have. I think that's why I love making cookies, you really can make it your own by adding whatever you like.

I didn't burn my fingers baking these cookie this time, but I did end up burning my finger on the hair straightener the next morning. Fail.

Love,
Gaby

Cookies n' Cream Cupcakes!

So, I figured that since all my midterms are finished with, I'd celebrate by baking myself some cupcakes. Yes, you know the kind. THE cupcakes.:) I suppose I should tell you the story of how these cupcakes came about.

I normally never eat oreos by themselves. Don't ask me why, I just don't. Even though I don't eat them plain, I love them in my ice cream, brownies, and any other dessert you can put them in. During the start of senior year, I had a container of them lying around my house for some reason and well, one thing led to the next and I found myself crushing them with a rolling pin (I always have way too much fun with that part) and throwing them into my chocolate cake batter.

I need to find a better place to take pictures. :[

Chocolate Cupcake Recipe-- I got this recipe from joyofbaking.com (Thanks Stephanie!)
Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup warm water
8-10 oreos

*I found that using cake flour really keeps the cupcakes from being too dense, but if you only have all purpose flour, by all means use it. Just remember not to over mix it! Over mixing the flour makes for a really tough and dense cake, I suppose I'll have to explain the reasoning for it sometime soon.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Add the melted butter, warm water, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
4. Crush oreo cookies and put them in the batter. Stir to incorporate.
5. Fill cupcake containers 2/3's of the way and cook for 20 minutes. *I check to see if they're done at 15 minutes and recheck every few minutes to make sure they don't over cook.
6. Cool and frost!

I can't stand store bought frosting because it's way too sweet for me so I have a standard vanilla recipe and play around with it when I need to. For this recipe specifically, I add more oreo cookies into the frosting, because why not? I already put them in the actual cake, there's no harm in slipping a few into the frosting. :P

Cookies N' Cream Frosting
1 stick butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. whole milk
3 c. confectioner's sugar
~6 oreos

1. Beat butter and vanilla together until combined.
2. Combine confectioner's sugar and mix.
3. Pour in milk and combine. *Remember, less is more here. I always add in a little bit of milk at a time because confectioner's sugar is really finicky. I'll add in a little bit of milk, mix, and then see if it needs any more. The consistency of the frosting should be creamy enough to spread, but stiff enough so it doesn't run off the cupcakes. This recipe makes a ton of frosting, so you can halve it orrrrrrrr, you can just make more cupcakes. :]

Annie was really really happy in anthropology, hahaha.

So there you have it! This is how I make those oreo cupcakes. If you ever feel the need to bake something, go ahead and give these a try, they're not very hard to make at all. It's either that or you have to wait for me to make them for you. :P