Chewy Chai Snickerdoodle Cookies - The Classy NOT Trashy Ones

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS!

My Pinterest Making Daughter is at it Again.

And this time she made the Mother of all Cookies

CHEWY CHAI SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES

Oh.....My.....Word.




We (Ok actually SHE) has done a lot of baking, but it was THESE cookies that I just knew I had to share with you guys.  As the original blogger of these cookies wrote "The cookies are a downright dream.  They are spicy and cinnamony and really, a high class snickerdoodle.  A classy snickerdoodle.  Definitely not a trashy snickerdoodle"

Bwahahahah!  Yes these are the classy kind of snickerdoodles, I'd never post a trashy one - my promise to you, my wonderful readers.



It's so hard to take a picture of the amazing texture the cookies had but just believe me, they were perfect :-)




My daughter is a "Follow the Rules" kind of gal.  When it says use cardamom, you better believe she was going to use cardamom, not the pumpkin pie spice I was trying to get her to use instead of making a trip out to the store :-)  I suppose I'm just a rebel rule breaker - ha!

Maybe that was the secret ingredient though as these DO taste like a dream :-)  A cozy spiced chai dream by the fire.



Don't let now long this recipe looks scare you - it's almost ALL spices - it's quite simple and easy to make.

Chewy Chai Snickerdoodles

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 ounces cream cheese softened
6 Tbsp butter melted and warm 
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  I LOVE using my baking stoneware for all my cookies (believe me, stoneware is awesome for soft chewy cookies) but you could just line regular baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and ALL the spices.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, add the sugar, cream cheese and butter.  Beat until light and fluffy (1-2 min) Beat in the oil until combined and smooth. Add the egg, milk and vanilla until combined and smooth. Add the flour slowly and beat till combined.

Mix together the topping ingredients on a large plate.  Take the cookie dough and divide into 24 pieces, rolling each into a smooth ball. Roll each ball in the topping and place it on the baking sheet.  Use the bottom of a drinking glass to press the cookie into flattened pieces of dough.  Don't go too thin though! These cookies taste SO GOOD a bit on the thick side.  Sprinkle the tops with any extra topping mixture.

Bake the cookies for 10-12 min. (if anything UNDERCOOK, don't overcook) Let them cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack.

(recipe taken from The Year of Cozy recipe book, shown on howsweeteats blog)


ENJOY my friends!!  

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Christmas!
 Maybe these can become a new cookie Christmas tradition :-)  



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Simple and Easy Christmas Party Appetizers

Hey Friends!

Can you believe Christmas is NEXT WEEK!

Wowzers :-)

It finally started snowing over here in Idaho. It's very pretty to see white everywhere.

It's also that time of year where we see FOOD everywhere - ha!  Lots of Christmas parties!

I thought it would be fun to have a list of really EASY but TASTY Christmas appetizer ideas that you can whip up for your next get together.


This one is my favorite "go to" appetizer.  Simply use cream cheese with a pepper jelly (strawberry jalapeno is my favorite)  Pair it up with crackers, pita chips or dipping bread for a great tasting appetizer.  Honestly, people will LOVE this - it's always eaten right away whenever I bring this to a party.


cream cheese pepper jelly appitizer
Cream Cheese and Pepper Jelly


This appetizer is along the same lines of the one above but I love how festive it looks.  

Pinecone Cheese Spread

It's made from cream cheese, Dijon mustard and green chilies mixed together.  When you add the sliced almonds it resembles a pinecone!  Serve with crackers. 

pinecone cheese spread appitizer
Pinecone Cheese Spread


Now who wouldn't love fruit, peanut butter and chocolate :-)

Welcome Apple Nachos :-)

Simply melt some creamy peanut butter, some chocolate chips and drizzle over the sliced apples.  Sprinkle with some full chocolate chips too.

nacho apple peanut butter and chocolate appetizer
Apple Nachos

We're back to cream cheese but this time with veggies :-)

Stuffed Cucumber Bites

Squeeze a cream cheese filling (add a bit of mayo and ranch dressing to the cheese) from a piping bag into hollowed out cucumber slices.

Top with a sliced baby tomato and some chives and VIOLA! Delicious  (somewhat healthy) and easy.

cucumber tomato appetizer bites
Stuffed  Cucumber Bites

Last but not least - one of my FAVORITES

Mozzarella and Tomato with Balsamic Vinegar

I don't care HOW you put this combination together, I love it.  And it's EASY!  Adding Basil is delicious too.  The way Kristin from Iowa Girl Eats put it together looks very festive.

festive tomato basil and mozzarella cheese bits
Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Drizzle

Which one is YOUR favorite?  
Feel free to add your simple easy appetizer idea in the comments - I love hearing new ideas.


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Simple Christmas Ideas for Home Decor and Parties

Hey Friends!

There are a few things I've run across lately that I really want to try.

For instance, this Heart Cocoa "Marshmallow" :-)  They say just to freeze whip cream and then cut out in heart shapes with cookie cutters.

It's so simple and would really be fun. (OK, and pretty...I might need to put on the mittens too just to achieve the whole feeling)
:-)

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I also love this cute idea of using mini candy canes for food or name holders.

I think I could make this :-)

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Moving on to home decor......

If I can make my home look this cute decorated with paper snowflakes I'm going to do it!  ha!



If you are brave, you can attempt to make the snowflakes yourself or just buy them off Amazon.  They aren't that much.


Luna Bazaar Paper Snowflakes

The snowflakes come in all sorts of colors.





You'll probably have to pin this and save this idea for next year but OH MY GOODNESS - people are so resourceful!  

This gal simply spray painted her orange pumpkins white and a small one black to make Frosty for her home decor.  

He is beyond cute - next year I'll probably try it.

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I LOVE CREATIVITY!

I hope these photos inspired some creativity in your own mind :-) 

Enjoy the season my friends! 


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CUTEST Christmas Ornaments from Nature

Hey Friends!

I have a new love for PINE CONES.  Yep, after I saw these Christmas ornament crafts I wanted to go out and collect every pine cone within a 5 mile radius of my house - ha!



Leave it to Martha Martha Martha :-)

These pretty much just consist of pine cones, pipe cleaners and felt!
EASY!




These owl pine cones looked VERY doable as a kid craft - you could have your kids make them for their school teachers - add the school name and year on them :-)


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Or if owls weren't your thing - how about this reindeer pine cone! Kids would have a blast making it.

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OK, I guess this next set is from Pottery Barn but I think all of you Creative Juices Readers could create a knock off - right? :-)  Maybe we just use some modeling clay like Sculpey that hardens in the oven for the cute creature face.  We could do that! (I have faith in all my readers as you can tell - hee,hee)


This is ADORABLE! 



How about making a pine cone garland?  I love the woodsy look.



Or even a bit better :-) A birch wood bark garland!  You can see my full post on ways to use birch wood in your home decor.



These raffia and star twig ornaments looked really fun to make too.

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This wooden heart ornament is so simple yet really pretty and rustic!  Can you imagine a tree full of the hearts and pine cones? You could top it off with a birch bark garland :-)



The next time I see an acorn tree I will know what to do with all the acorns I pick up!

Isn't that pretty! - and very simple to make.

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There you have it!  A bunch of great ornament ideas simply made from nature.  I hope you enjoyed getting inspired as much as I did. :-)

Which one do you think you'll try?

Have a great weekend!

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