Buried Cherry Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1 (10 oz.) jar maraschino cherries (about 48)
1 1/2 c. white whole wheat flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. light stick butter or margarine spread
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 (6 oz.) pkg. semi sweet chocolate pieces
1/2 c. fat free sweetened condensed milk

DIRECTIONS

Drain cherries and reserve juice. Stir together flour, cocoa, soda, powder and salt. In a large mixer bowl beat butter until soft. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture and blend well.
Shape dough into 1" balls. Place about 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Press down center of each with your thumb. Place a cherry in each cookie.

In small saucepan combine chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk. Cook over low heat until chocolate is melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice. Spoon 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, swirling to completely cover cherry.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Remove to racks and cool.


-Recipe in part from Cooks.com

50 Calorie Ginger Molasses Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1/3 C butter or margarine, softened
3/4 C packed Brown Sugar
1/4 C dark Molasses
1tsp Ginger, ground
1tsp Cinnamon, ground
1 egg
1 1/2 C all purpose wheat flour
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 C granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS

Beat the Butter on medium-high speed in a large mixing bowl for 2 minutes. Beat in the brown sugar. Add the Molasses, Ginger, and Cinnamon, mix thorougly. Add the Egg. Mix in as much of the flour & wheat flour as you can with the electric mixer. Stir in any remaining by hand. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray 3-4 cookie sheets with non-stick cooking spray.
Shape into 1 inch balls, roll in granulated sugar mixed with cinnamon. Place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-12 minutes, until cookies are set and tops crack.


-Recipe provided by Sparkpeople.com user

Peppermint Dark Chocolate Cookies

I tried this recipe out last night and decided to do some changing around to it. For the flour, you can use the whole wheat flour but I recommend white flour. The substitution is not quite as healthy for you but the texture of the cookie is well worth the few extra calories. I will put both options on the recipe for you!

INGREDIENTS

1 large egg
1 egg white
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (you can substitute almond extract for the vanilla)
2 sticks (light butter/margarine ~50 calories per serving)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (here is the white flour substitution)
1 cup white whole wheat flour
***************************************
TOPPING

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
4 sugar-free candy canes


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix eggs and vanilla or almond extract in a small bowl. In another bowl, blend softened butter in an electric mixer and slowly add in the sugar. Cream together. Add egg mixture and blend until incorporated. Add the flours and blend on low until a dough is formed.

Divide the dough in half. Place a piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Place half of the dough on the wrap. Using a floured hand shape into 9-inch long roll. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 45 minutes, or until dough is firm. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or use silicone sheets for easy baking. Roll dough into small balls with hands and place onto the sheets. To assure even baking, place 1 pan on upper-middle rack and 1 pan on lower middle rack. Bake for 5-7 minutes. Rotate cookies front to back and change racks. Continue baking until golden brown about another 7 minutes. Cool on rack.

TOPPING:

In a double boiler to avoid burnt chocolate, melt the chocolate chips over medium heat. Crush the peppermint by placing in ziploc bag and lightly hit with a rolling pin. Spread 1/3 of the cookie with melted chocolate and sprinkle with small amount of crushed peppermint. Allow to dry and package for all of your friends!


Enjoy!


-Recipe provided in part by Sparkpeople.com

Acknowledgements

A majority of the following recipes that I will post wre given to me by one of my favorite websites, Sparkpeople.com. It is a website that helps you keep track of your diet and exercise habits as well as sending you daily healthy recipes and exercise tips! I highly recommend everyone become an active member and take control of their health! It is never too late to get started!

Welcome to Blissful Baking! This is my website to post recipes that are healthy BUT still scrumptious! In lieu of the Holiday Season..the first recipes I will post will be sweets and treats for Holiday get-togethers!

Enjoy!