Monday, February 1, 2010

EASY NO-TIME-TO-BAKE COOKIES

I'll let you in on a little secret. I HAVE time to bake, I just choose to spend it quilting or reading or doing something that doesn't require me to wash a lot of dishes and cookie sheets. But the weekend is coming up and DSO will be looking for something sweet, so I thought I'd whip up a batch of cake mix cookies. That's right, foodie friends, when you just don't feel like creaming butter and sugar and adding a bunch of dry ingredients etc., etc., just grab a box of your favorite cake mix and cookies are a half hour away. And that half hour includes washing up!

Yield: 3 1/2 dozen small cookies
Ingredients:


•18 oz. pkg. cake mix (any flavor)

•1/2 cup butter, softened

•1 egg

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients at low speed until dry ingredients are moistened and dough is thoroughly mixed. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2" apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 9-12 minutes. Cool two minutes on cookie sheets, then remove to wire racks to cool.



If using chocolate cake mix, add 2 Tbsp. water along with egg. You can stir in chocolate chips, coated candy pieces, chopped nuts, or oatmeal. You could even go hog wild and frost the cookies, using canned frosting, or make sandwich cookies by spreading frosting between two cookies. These cake mix cookies should be stored tightly covered at room temperature so they stay soft.
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TASTE NOTES
The pantry turned up a box of white cake mix and a bag of white chocolate chips (who bought those???) which produced some very welcome treats for DSO. In the interests of reporting to my readers, I enjoyed one with my afternoon tea. The cookie was satisfyingly sweet and I doubt anyone would know it was made from a mix. If you like to bake with your children, or if you don't like to bake but want something better than those dreadful store-bought cookies, give these a try.

13 comments:

  1. Have actually never used cake mixes and they arent so easily available here but of late have seen 'em at the super market...cake mix doesn atrract me but ur cookies so sure and u'll soon see me making these coz am so inspired now...if i bake 'em longer u think they'll be a bit crispy and crunchy??/

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  2. Wow, that sounds really easy and fun. You can do all kinds of cake mixes and all kinds of add-in's. Plus, I think my daughter could probably make these all by herself! I'm going to write this one down. Thanks Arlene :D

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  3. Arlene, I'd like to order a dozen or two, please! I love cake-mix cookies, not only for their ease, but because they taste like mini cakes that you can eat with your hands.

    Great recipe to have on-hand for my cookie attacks. Many thanks...

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  4. Cake mix cookies are great! ...and nobody ever knows you made them from a pre-made mix. :)

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  5. Good to know! I wouldn't have thought that a cake mix would give the right texture but I guess it does. Noted. They look great.

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  6. wow these look fantastic and sound like a dream come true for time!

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  7. I have a cake mix in my pantry and wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it (bought it on a whim). Cookies! I love cookies! I will make these cookies! Thanks, Arlene.

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  8. Arlene, these cookies looks very delicious; next time try strawberry cake mix! you will love the taste! xo

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  9. Arlene I have absolutely no will power so a few dozen of those yummy cookies would be too much of a temptation for me! I'd eat them all!

    Do you like the Cake Doctor cookbook? It's my daughter-in-law's favorite...full of good ideas on how to dress up regular cake mix.

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  10. Hey there I just found your blog and thought it was interesting that the first post of yours is the last post I have on mine. I totally just made cake mix cookies tonight. My hubby loved them. I thought they were ok. I guess I am just used to the fancy ones! Anyway, great blog! Keep the faith

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  11. My kids have been forcing me to make some cookies for them. I think this is the perfect one! Easy!

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  12. Alright querida! Great minds think alike. I just made my honey some Kahlua Cake cookies last week. He gobbled them up. I love these that you made. Isn't it great when you can just choose any cake mix and turn it into cookies?

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  13. Fun! I never thought of using cake mix for cookies--great idea!

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