TWD #26 A cookie by any other name…

Another Tuesday, another Dorie baking day!

This recipe is hosted by Michelle from Bad Girl Baking. You can find the complete recipe on her blog. Also don’t forget to check out what the other Dorie bakers did with their cookie creations!

I have to admit that I wasn’t going to make these cookies. I am not really a cookie person. When I eat cookies its usually a snickerdoodle variety. But I prefer cupcakes or cheesecake if I have a choice in the dessert matter. Actually I rarely eat more than one of those desserts either. I think I am more of a salty snacker. Give me kettle chips and I’ll eat the whole bag. LOL.

But my brother was visiting and he was craving cookies so I said “what the heck? My brother will eat them!” Of course trying to bake on a whim produces a few dilemmas.

1. I didn’t have granola
2. I didn’t have wheat germ
3. I didn’t have slivered almonds
4. I didn’t have raisins

Wow. Talk about a great time for some adaptation huh? I raided my pantry and came up with some interesting awesome (if I do say so myself) substitutions. Bare with me. This should be fun.

What did I learn this week:
As I’ve mentioned many times, one of the great things about TWD is the ability to make each recipe your own by substituting ingredients to fit your lifestyle, cravings, tastes. In my case not having some of the required ingredients made me think outside the box and come up with my own little cookie recipe. Isn’t that the fun part of baking?? esp if it actually tastes good? LOL

Kashi Kookies

(Recipe adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s BFMHTY | photos from me!)

INGREDIENTS

3 cups granola without fruit (I used Kashi Honey Almond Flax cereal instead)
3/4 cup moist, plump raisins (dark or golden) (I used craisins instead)
1/2 cup salted peanuts
1/2 cup slivered almonds (I omitted b/c they are already in the cereal)
1/3 cup wheat germ (I substituted with more AP flour)
1-3/4 sticks (14 tbsp) unsalted butter, room temp
3/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup AP flour

SIDE NOTE:
I wanna give a shout out to my size-2-I-want-to-hate-her-but-she’s-so-sweet-I-can’t girl, April, for introducing me to the world of Kashi cereal. Me and my hubs love it! and its fiberlicious! You know how I love 2fors! w00t!

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375F. Line baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper.

Put cereal in a large bowl and break up any clumps with your fingers. Add in craisins, peanuts, coconut. Mix together. Cream butter at medium speed for about 1-2 minutes. Add sugars and beat until creamy. Add in egg and salt. Reduce speed to low and slowly add in flour a little at a time until just blended.

Slowly add the cereal mixture and use a spatula to fold it into the cookie batter.

Scoop out the cookie dough in 1/2-1oz balls (depending on how big you want the cookies) and arrange on baking sheet about 1-2 inches between each ball. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Repeat with remaining dough.

Serve to Santa Claus with milk.

ENJOY! :)

Husband rating: A+
He really liked the combination of kashi cereal, coconut and craisins in this cookie and ate more than one.

Wifey rating: A
I was really surprised how good these cookies were! ::rubbings knuckles on chest::

Other rating: A-/B+
My little brother said they were good but he’s not a granola, fruit type cookie person. Maybe next time I’ll have to add chocolate chips.

Next week: Chocolate-Banded Ice Cream Torte on pages 288-289