Strawberry Cookies

I love cookies, whether they are chocolate chip, macadamia, oatmeal or many of the different varieties we can make or buy (I do prefer homemade, you just can't beat them)

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And with a punnet of fresh strawberries on hand, I decided to make

Strawberry Cookies.

And they turned out wonderful, crispy around the outside, chewy in the middle, with the fresh burst of

Strawberry yumminess.

Strawberlicous!

I can't say whether the juice from the strawberries will soften the cookie on the second day

As in my home -- cookies NEVER last that long!

Go on... Bake some Strawberry Cookies.  You know you want to :)

I know they are the new favorite in our home, and what a better way to get my little girls

To eat fruit!

STRAWBERRY COOKIES

Adapted from, ButterBaking.com

Makes 24 cookies.

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/4 cup plain flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 punnet strawberries (250g, 9oz)
2 tbsp sugar

Preheat the oven to350 f and line 2 trays with baking paper.

Hull the strawberries and slice them. Mix them with the 2 tablespoons of sugar and set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, white sugar and vanilla until smooth and combined.

Add the egg, beating well.

Turn the mixer off, add the flour, baking soda and salt, and beat on a low speed until just incorporated.

Pat the strawberries dry with paper towel and very gently, stir them into the mixture.

Drop tablespoons of the dough onto the baking trays, allowing room for spreading.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through baking, until the cookies are golden brown.

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Blackberry & Banana Cake

I picked up some large and juicy and delicious blackberries the other day. They sat on my counter begging to be used in something yummy, not that there already weren't yummy by themselves- because they were.

But, as you should know by now, I love to bake (my waistline groans in protest) LOL but I have to say, with me working out like a crazy mama and doing good with keeping my calories way- way under.

 So, those blackberries and some quite ripe banana's were going to be added into a cake. 

I used this recipe HERE although I omitted using the Cassis.

Here's what you will need:

Ingredients

Blackberry Filling

1 1/4  cups fresh blackberries (if frozen, thaw and drain well)

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cake

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

3 medium bananas (mashed)

1 cup sour cream

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

2 teaspoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Preheat oven to 350°F. 

Grease bottom and side of 10-inch tube cake pan with shortening and lightly flour.

In a small bowl, mix all the blackberry filling ingredients and set aside. 

Blend the Sugar and butter till smooth.

Then add 1 egg at a time and beat well.

Add the Spices and beat.

Until your mixture is soft, fluffy and creamy.

Add your mashed Bananas & mix. 

This next step you're going to add 1/3 flour, then 1/3 sour cream

 Until you finish with the flour lastly. Beat well.

I didn't have a bundt pan so I used a larger spring loaded pan.

I used half of the mixture in bottom.

Then add the Blackberry/ nut mixture over the mixture.

Then spoon over the remainder of the mixture. Pop in the oven for 50-60 minutes or until when a pick is inserted, comes out clean.

Leave to cool completely.

Once your cake has cooled you can make the glaze.

Go slow with the water till, you get the right consistency.

It will stick on the fork and still drizzle down

Drizzle all over the cake. Then, as i'm sure your tummy is grumbling with how yummy is looks and smells, cut yourself a slice and enjoy!

Blackberry & Banana Cake.

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Banana Chocolate Chip Bread With Streusel Topping

I love Banana's and I LOVVVVE chocolate.

So what's the next best thing - Banana Chocolate Chip Bread and what's more - it's super quick and easy to make. 

Here is what you need to make

 Banana Chocolate Chip Bread With Streusel Topping

2 Cups All Purpose Flour

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Apple Sauce

2 Large Eggs

3 Medium Sized Bananas (Older Bananas work best)

1 & 1/2 Cups of Chocolate Chips

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1Tsp of Baking Soda

1 Tsp Salt

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Tblsp All Spice

Oven 350 Deg's

Streusel Topping

1/4 Cup & 2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour

2 Tablespoons Butter

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

Grease your pans. I use a little butter & sprinkle flour in and tap around so that the flour coats the butter

Set aside, until you need them.

HEAT OVEN TO 350 DEG

Mix, Sugar & Eggs

Add Apple Sauce and whisk

Add all Dry Ingredients & whisk, but not completely

Then add Bananas & Chocolate Chips

Now this amount will Either make 4 small loaves or 

1 Large & 16 mini muffin size

Make The Streusel Topping 

Put everything into a bowl a mix with your fingertips. 

Till it resembles breadcrumbs

Pop into the oven & bake for 45 minutes for the LARGE loaf

Or about 35 -40 mins for the 4 smaller loaves

If your making the mini muffins /cupcake size they will only take 10-15 mins

To check it it ready, press the top and if it bounces back up it's done. To make sure the loaf sized ones are done, pop a toothpick into the center and if it comes out clean it's done.

Leave to cool

& 

Enjoy.

The Topping is

  Dipilicous Cream Cheese Marshmallow Dip

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