Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Maple Brown Sugar Cookie



I am very lucky this week to have Carol back as my guest poster.  She is an excellent cook and baker and has posted the Blueberry Cheesecake Twists and Banana Nut Twists. Thanks so much Carol. It's always a treat to have you grace the blog with your fantastic photo and recipe.


Linda and I are both crazy about cookie baking. I can't tell you how many times we've chatted it up about cookie recipes.  They're one of my favorite things to bake-along with bread.

I love making cookies from scratch, but every once in a while I don't mind taking help from the store to make a cookie recipe that goes together quickly. A cake mix is a great base for cookies-I use them for that rather than making cakes.

I'm always on the lookout for the limited edition flavors some of the cake mix manufacturers come out with during the year.  Fall always brings the wonderful flavors of pumpkin and apple cake mixes to the store shelves.  This year a few new flavors were added to the autumn limited edition collection by Pillsbury.  I was at Target a few weeks ago and spotted Maple Brown Sugar cake mix. Boy did that sound good...and my thoughts immediately went to cookies.

We were going to Robin's one day on Bob's vacation to visit and I always like taking my 2 grandsons, Stephen and Nicholas, a container of cookies or something to have after school and to pack in their lunches for a treat. I had been cooking all afternoon, making applesauce and homemade soup so a quick cookie recipe was in order.  Why not try this new cake mix out?  Decision made....time to create!

As I'm sure you all know, the 3 main cake mix companies have all downsized their mixes by 1 3/4-3 ounces.  MADDENING!!  I found an upsizer mix recipe that I make up and keep in a Mason jar in my baking cabinet.  I use my digital kitchen scale to weigh the appropriate amount of upsizer to add to the dry cake mix to give me the 18.25 ounces of dry mix that the cake mixes used to be.  The extra 3 ounces I add to the 15.25 ounce cake mixes gives me exactly 2 dozen cookies....just like the old size cake mixes used to...and allows me to use my old stand-by recipes.

I prefer using melted butter rather than vegetable oil in basic cake mix cookies....I like the richness in flavor it adds.  To bump up the flavor in these cookies, I decided to add 1 teaspoon of maple extract and 1 teaspoon of Watkins Vanilla Nut extract (found at Super Walmart in the baking aisle). If you don't have Vanilla nut extract, regular vanilla extract will work just fine.

I prefer baking these on parchment paper, but they can go directly onto an ungreased cookie sheet if you prefer.  When I use parchment paper on cookie sheets, I give the 4 corners of the cookie sheet a iight spritz of nonstick cooking spray, then lay the parchment paper down, making sure the 4 corners adhere.  That saves a disaster when rotating cookie sheets in the oven or removing the pans and having the parchment paper slide off the cookie sheet and onto the oven door......yeah, ask me how I know THAT?  Ugh......

In no time at all, I had 2 dozen amazingly delicious cookies.  They're soft and chewy with the perfect hint of maple and brown sugar.  The boys loved them....Bob loved them....I loved them...who could ask for more than that?

I'm heading back to Target this week to grab a few more of the cake mixes before they disappear off the store shelves.  I've learned the hard way to stock up when I see them-they don't last in the stores for long. I put the mixes in resealable freezer bags and into the freezer they go. That way I can grab one when I want a quick-to-bake treat.

If you love maple and brown sugar-do yourselves a favor, head over to your local Target and grab a few boxes of this cake mix....these cookies are wonderful!

Thanks so much for having me as a guest on your blog, Linda. I'll meet you in the kitchen~let's make some cookies! :)

Carol


QUICK AND EASY MAPLE BROWN SUGAR COOKIES

1 (15.25 oz.) pkg. Pillsbury Maple Brown Sugar cake mix (found @ Target)
3 oz. Cake Mix Upsizer-about 8 level measuring tablespoons plus 1 level measuring teaspoon-weighing the mix is more accurate (see recipe for upsizer below)
1/2 c. unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla-nut OR pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. maple extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Use ungreased baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.  Set the pans aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry cake mix and the cake mix upsizer until well mixed.

Stir in the melted butter, eggs, vanilla and maple extracts until the dough is well mixed.  The dough will be stiff.

Roll the dough into 24 balls.  Place them on the prepared baking pans.  Flatten each dough ball slightly.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 9-12 minutes or until the cookies are set and very light brown around the edges.

I slide the parchment paper off the baking sheets and onto wire racks and allow the cookies to cool on the paper.  You can also remove the cookies after they've sat for 3-5 minutes to wire racks to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container.  Makes 2 dozen. 

THREE OUNCE CAKE MIX "UPSIZER"
(Source: Jill Cataldo-post found HERE-adapted from the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book white and yellow cake recipes)

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda

Whisk all dry ingredients together and store in a clean mason jar. Always be sure to stir or whisk the mixture before weighing, or measuring it to add to a dry cake mix.

I use this upsizer with the downsized cake mixes in any cake mix cookie recipe calling for an 18.25 ounce cake mix.

FOR BETTY CROCKER AND PILLSBURY CAKE MIXES AND ANY OTHER BRANDS THAT WEIGH 15.25 OUNCES.: Use 3 ounces of mix weighed on a kitchen scale OR  8 level Tablespoons plus 1 level measuring teaspoon of cake mix upsizer.

FOR DUNCAN HINES CAKE MIXES AND ANY OTHER BRANDS THAT WEIGH 16.5 OUNCES.: Use 1.75 ounces weighed on a kitchen scale OR 5 level Tablespoons of cake mix upsizer.  











34 comments:

  1. Good Morning Carol, and everyone. I felt like I was sitting in your kitchen and chatting up while you told me all these wonderful hints. And, when I imagine smelling these cookies baking, my mouth starts watering. Loved your guest blog today, and your cookies look amazing. I can just taste them as I type. Good thing it is only imagination, since I am going for fasting blood work this morning, and can't eat. So thanks for the great information, and I am going to have to put this one on my share list. Who wouldn't. Happy Tuesday to all.

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    1. Thanks for the share on facebook! I hope lots of people see it :-)

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  2. I seen it . I have never seen this cake mix before. I will check it out. My lady friend across the street would love some cookies. She is always sending me flowers. Thank you Carol and you also Linda.

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  3. These look so pretty....and soooo tempting. I am going to town tomorrow and I will make Target one of my first stops. Thank you Carol and Linda!!

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    1. Carol and Bob take wonderful photos and her recipes are sooooooo good :-)

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  4. Those cookies look absolutely divine and I could certainly inhale a few! :-) Can't say that I have ever seen the specialty cake mixes here in Canada or at least in my area. Too bad as they would certainly be worth stocking up on.

    Thanks both Carol and Linda.

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    1. I'm not sure if they have that mix in Canada- but you guys have so many other good things!

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  5. Oh, do these cookies look amazing! Thanks so much for linking up to Wine'd Down Wednesday!
    Cathy @ three kids and a fish

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  6. Carol, those look fantastic. I'm in cookie mode for a while here and these might just have to be made very soon. You & Linda always find the best cookies

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    1. Bet they won't last long enough to go in your new cookie jar!

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    2. You're so right about that!

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  7. The recipe looks delicious, and I love the idea of the cake mix upsizer.

    visiting from Wine''d Down Wednesday.

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    1. Thank you Audrey and everyone for your very nice comments. I hope you all enjoy these if you give them a try. :)

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  8. Thank you for another great cookie recipe and also the cake mix upsizer. Many thanks to Carol and Linda. Will be looking for this cake mix at Target. Carol San Diego

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    1. Hi Carol- I am so lucky to have Carol and Cyndy as guest posters. I would like to invite you to add a favorite recipe. It's so easy- all you have to do it write it up and send me a photo and I'll add it to the blog. You are a part of my blog family and I would be honored if you wanted to share.


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  9. Look and sound amazing! Thank you for linking this with us at the Teach Me Tuesday Linky Party! Hope you'll have the time to join us again this week:)

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    1. You bet I will. Thanks so much for stopping by

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  10. I'm not a baker. To be honest, it's one of my least favorite things to do in the kitchen! But if I bake, it will almost always be cookies. I like your flavor combo...delicious. I also like the tip on how to keep the parchment paper down on the cookie sheet.

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    1. Michelle- anything Carol makes is delicious. She's also a wealth of information and loves to share it!

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  11. Your Maple Brown Sugar recipe sounds and looks mouthwatering. I can't wait to try them. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  12. Thanks Linda for the offer. I know you, Cyndy, and Carol are awesome bakers. Could not get pinterest to work at all today and they said my browser, Internet Explorer 9, does not work on their site and I need to get another browser. Yikes, my computer works fine everything else. Getting ready to go to AZ so will try to post a recipe when I get back. Sorry I didn't get back to you right away. Just saw this tonight because I had time because I couldn't get on pinterest. lol lol Carol San Diego

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    1. Carol- the offer stands. Anytime you would like to share just let me know!

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  13. Thank you Linda. Hugs. Carol San Diego

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    1. Carol- all of Carol's recipes are so good and I love having her as a guest.

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  14. Love this idea!! Looks so good! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!

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  15. These look delicious! And I love the tip to use butter instead of oil in cake mixes! Thank you for linking up to Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays. I will be pinning this to the Tasty Tuesdays Pinterest Board. I hope you join us again this week!

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    1. Carol always has so many tips- she's a wealth of knowledge about cooking and baking.

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  16. Thank you all for your wonderful comments on these cookies. I hope you can find the cake mix in your area and give them a try. I stocked up so I'd have plenty in the freezer to grab for a batch every now and then.

    As I said above, I love baking cookies from scratch but every now and then, life gets in the way and a quick and easy cookie recipe really fills the bill.

    Happy baking everyone! :)

    Carol

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  17. I have to make these!!!!! On my must try list this year!!! Thanks for making this for our celebrate365 cookie exchange

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