Easter Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie treats are wonderful because they are super-easy to bake, and they are always popular with children. Today, I am sharing a recipe for a festive and fun Easter version of this childhood staple.

To make this delightful Easter treat, I used the recipe on the inside of the Rice Krispie's box:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
5 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 tsp real vanilla extract
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (I used the colourful "spring" edition.)

Directions:
1) Grease a large rimmed baking sheet. (I used waxed paper and a little bit of butter.)
2) Melt the butter in a large pot over low heat. Add the marshmallows, and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the marshmallows are melted and the butter/marshmallows are well blended.
3) Stir in the vanilla, add cereal, and stir until the cereal is well coated.
4) Press the mixture into an even layer in the greased cookie sheet. (I used a sheet of wax paper to make this process a little easier.)
5) Chill in the fridge until set, and then use Easter cookie cutters to create fun-shaped Easter treats.

This is a wonderful treat to bake with kids at Easter. Cutting out treats into fun Easter shapes is the perfect job for children.

Cute, right? And they are delicious too!

Baking with children is a wonderful way to spend time together during the holidays. I hope you and your little ones enjoy these Easter Rice Krispie Treats as much as my kids did!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies

I love Christmas baking, and my boys always enjoy when I make them special holiday cookies. Recently, I picked up some candy eyeballs at the grocery store, and I knew I could turn them into something festive and fun. I made a few modifications to my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe, and today I am sharing the recipe for my delicious and adorable peanut butter reindeer cookies.

To make these sweet cookies, you'll need the following ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
red Smarties
candy eyes
pretzels

Then:

1) In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter, peanut butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.
2) Add baking soda and baking powder, and beat until combined.
3) Add egg and vanilla, and beat again.
4) Stir in flour.
5) Roll spoonfuls of dough into balls, place on a cookie sheet, and bake in a preheated oven (at 375 degrees) for 7-10 minutes.
6) While the cookies are still warm, insert candy eyes, red Smarties, and broken pretzels to create reindeer faces.
7) Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

You can download and print the recipe card by: right-clicking on the picture below, saving it to your computer, and printing it.

Wouldn't these be fun cookies to bake and leave for Santa? Kids will love rolling the dough into balls and inserting the candy and pretzels to make the faces.

Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie recipe? I have a couple festive recipes I love (including my make-ahead gingerbread cookies and my simple cut-out butter cookies), but these peanut butter reindeer cookies are definitely being added to my annual holiday baking list!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

The BEST Butter Cut-out Cookie Recipe

I love baking cookies with my boys, and these simple and delicious cut out cookies are always a hit. They are easy to make, they taste fantastic, and they are fun to decorate. Orange juice is the secret ingredient that makes them so great!

To make these fantastic cookies, you'll need:

2 1/2 cups white flour
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla
3 to 4 tbsp orange juice
1 cup softened butter

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together. Then, add all the other ingredients, and beat at low speed until well mixed. 

You can use the dough immediately, but I like to wrap it in wax paper and refrigerate it until it is firm. (Cold dough will hold the cookie shape better when you bake it.)

Roll out the dough on a well floured surface to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut out with a cookie cutter, and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees (until the edges are lightly browned).

Allow to cool slightly on the cookie sheet, and then move to a cooling rack. 

These cookies are fantastic plain, but they are great with icing too. Decorate as desired.

I have been baking these cookies with my boys since my oldest son could stand. We love using it with fun cookie cutters for every occasion. Here are some we baked for Halloween:

And we use them for birthday parties too!

This is a fantastic recipe, but if you want the cookies to keep their shapes, make sure you: refrigerate the dough before you roll it out, don't overwork the dough, and ensure that you always place the cookies on a cool cookie sheet before baking.

I hope you have as much fun with this recipe as my boys and I have. Enjoy!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Heart Shaped Cake {no special pan required}

I don't have room to store a bunch of specialty cake pans, so I love the idea of making a heart-shaped cake for Valentines day without having to buy a heart-shaped pan.

To make a simple heart-shaped cake for your little sweethearts, all you need to do is make one square cake and one round cake.  (I used a cake mix for my cakes.)

Then, trim the cakes (if necessary), cover with a crumb coat, and put the cake in the fridge for about 20 minutes to set the icing.

Finish the cake by icing and decorating it any way you want.  You can even let the kids do it.

Don't you love how simple this heart-shaped cake is to make?  I think it would make a fun Valentine's Day dessert, don't you?

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Chocolate Banana Bread

About a year ago, I shared my mom's (no fail) banana bread recipe.  My boys love banana bread as an after school snack or as a treat in their lunches, so I use this recipe frequently, but this week I decided to "switch it up" a little.  I made Chocolate Banana Bread, and it was delicious.

Here's how to make it:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a large loaf pan.

2) Whisk together the following dry ingredients:
     2 cups of flour

     1/4 cup cocoa
     1/2 cup white sugar
     3 tsp baking powder
     1/2 tsp baking soda
     1/2 tsp salt
     1/2 cup chocolate chips

3) In a separate bowl, beat together:
     1 egg
     3/4 cup milk
     1/4 cup vegetable oil
     1 1/2 cup (approx 3 medium-sized) mashed ripe bananas 

     {mashing bananas is a perfect job for little helpers.}

4) Mix wet and dry ingredients thoroughly, and pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes.

Enjoy... and let me know what you think!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

My Favorite Ginger Molasses Cookies

These ginger molasses cookies are a favorite in this house.  I especially love them during the school year because they freeze really well, and they are great to have on hand for the boys' lunches.  They are the perfect ginger molasses cookie because they are soft and chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Here's how you make {My Favorite} Ginger Molasses Cookies*:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground all spice
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white sugar (+ 1/2 cup for rolling)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup fancy molasses
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together:  flour, ginger, cinnamon, all spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk together:  oil, white sugar, brown sugar, egg, molasses, and vanilla.  Keep whisking until all the ingredients are well mixed.  Add to flour mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

Roll into 1 inch balls, coat each ball with sugar, and place 1 inch apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes (until crisp around the edges and cracked on top).

*This recipe was adapted from one I found here.

You can print out a copy of this recipe by: right-clicking on the recipe (below), saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 4X6 photo.

You can also make these cookies a little fancier by dipping them in melted white chocolate. Trust me... they are delicious!

What's your favorite type of cookie?  If you try these soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies, let me know how they turn out.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Halloween Cupcakes

When it comes to decorating cupcakes with my boys, I like to keep things simple.  I set everything out, I give them some options, and then I let them get to work.  Here is what they came up with yesterday:

For their creations, they used:  cupcakes, icing, Oreo cookie crumbs, candy corn, tombstone cookies, and gummy fingers.  

This was my favorite -- a simple tombstone cupcake.

To make tombstone cupcakes, we started by using icing to write "RIP" on some rectangle-shaped cookies.  Then, we frosted cupcakes, dipped them in Oreo cookie crumbs (dirt), and inserted tombstone cookies.  Cute, right?

My boys love decorating Halloween cupcakes.  Do you have a favorite Halloween treat that you make each year with your little ones?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Peanut Butter Teddy Bear Cookies

Every summer, my boys and I have a "Teddy Bear Picnic", and we always eat homemade peanut butter "Teddy Bear" cookies.  We bake them and decorate them together, and the boys love them.

Want to make them for your own picnic?  Here's what you do:  

Cream together: 

• 1 cup butter 
• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Then, beat in two eggs.

In a separate bowl, mix:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Mix wet and dry ingredients together.  Then, let the kids roll a 1 inch ball {for the face} and two smaller balls {for the ears}.  Flatten slightly. 

Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for about 10 - 11 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake. 

Once they have cooled slightly, you can add the eyes (chocolate chips) and nose (a Smartie or M&M).  Then, after they have cooled completely, you can add an "icing" mouth.

Cute, right?  All you need are these cookies, a blanket, some teddies, and some cute kids to have a picnic with.

Enjoy!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

{The BEST} Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut butter cookies are my favorite, but my husband loves chocolate chip cookies, so this recipe is a perfect compromise for us. If you don't have a peanut allergy, you should totally give them a try.

Here's how you make them: 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1tsp vanilla
• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:

1) In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to combine butter, peanut butter, and sugars.

2) Add baking soda and baking powder, and beat until combined.

3) Add egg and vanilla, and beat again.

4) Stir in flour.

5) Stir in chocolate chips and peanut butter chips.

6) Spoon onto cookie sheet, and bake in preheated oven (at 375 degrees) for 7-10 minutes.

7) Transfer to wire rack to cool.

For a closer look, check out this video...

If you make these cookies, let me know what you think.  I don't think you will be disappointed.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the recipes here.

Banana Muffins {with a cinnamon twist}

A couple of months ago, I shared my mom's {no fail} banana bread recipe.  I have been making this recipe for years, but I have never tried using it to make banana muffins... until now. I added a streusel topping, and now I'm obsessed!

I am happy to say, the muffins turned out to be delicious.  I modified the recipe slightly and added a yummy cinnamon streusel topping.  

Here's the "how to":

1)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2)  Whisk together the following dry ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3)  Beat together:

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (and mashing bananas is a great job for little helpers)

4)  Mix wet and dry ingredients until combined, and scoop batter into lined muffin tins (about 3/4 full).

5)  Top each cupcake with approximately 1 tbsp of streusel mixture.  (3/4 cup light brown sugar, 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1/2 cup cold butter… mixed together with a pastry blender).

6)  Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Do you think you will give this recipe a try?  Let me know how they turn out.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

There are a lot of chocolate chip cookies recipes out there, but my favorite is this "soft and chewy" version.  It is adapted from the recipe on the "Chipits" bag.  If you like soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, you should give this recipe a try.

Here's the recipe:

1)  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2)  In a medium bowl, whisk together the following dry ingredients:

• 2 1/3 cups all purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

3)  In a separate bowl, use electric beaters to combine the following:

• 1 cup butter (at room temperature... NOT melted)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

4)  Add 2 large eggs and 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract to the butter/sugar mixture.  Beat with electric beaters until well combined.

5)  Using a wooden spoon, mix wet and dry ingredients together (just until combined).  Then, add 2 cups of chocolate chips.  (I like semi-sweet, but you can use whatever you like.)

6)  Drop tablespoon-size balls (using a cookie scoop for best results) onto a Silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet, and bake for approx. 8-10 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh... but trust me... they won't last long.  :-)

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Note: If you notice that your cookies are flattening out, try putting the batter in the fridge for half an hour before baking. Also, use fresh baking soda, don't melt the butter, and don't put batter onto a hot cookie sheet.

 

Bird Nest Cookies / The BEST Easter Cookies

Last year, I posted about "Egging" the neighbours {which you can read more about here}, and since then, I have been asked several times for the recipe we used for our Bird Nest Cookies. We make these cookies each year, and they are easy to make and fun to share.

To make these adorable Easter cookies:

1)  Mix together the following dry ingredients, and set aside:

• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/4 tsp salt

2)  Put the following ingredients in a saucepan, and bring to a boil:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3)  Remove from heat, and stir in dry ingredients.

4)  Before the mixture starts to dry out, drop the mixture from heaping teaspoons onto wax paper, and add three candy covered chocolate eggs to the middle of each cookie.  Allow to cool completely.

These cookies are easy, delicious, and cute -- perfect for this time of year. And, for an extra special treat, you can use these cookies to garnish cupcakes.  So yummy!

Check out this quick video tutorial:

And here's a little video of my boys and I making them.

These cookies taste as good as they look... and they look really cute!

Do you have a favorite Easter Cookie recipe?  This one is definitely at the top of my list.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

***Find more Easter ideas here.

Simple St.Patrick's Day Cupcakes

My boys love decorating cupcakes with holiday themes, so this year we decorated cupcakes three ways for St. Patrick's Day.

Aren't they cute?  We made vanilla cupcakes, frosted them with buttercream icing, and decorated them with:

1)  Froot Loops

2)  Lucky Charms

3)  Shamrock Sprinkles.

I never buy sugary cereals, so my boys think they hit the jackpot with these cupcake toppings!  :-)

Are you making any St.Patrick's Day treats this year?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

5 Easy Valentine's Day Treats

As a busy mom, I love making the holidays special for my boys, but I am always looking for ways to save myself a little time.  Here are 5 fun Valentine's Day treats that will make you look like you spent all day in the kitchen... even though you didn't.  :-)

1)  Heart-shaped "Kiss and Hug" brownies - Make brownies {from a box} extra special by cutting them out with a heart-shaped cookie cutter.  Add a "kiss" and "hug" {using store bought icing}, and you are sure to impress.

2)  Super-simple cupcake/brownie toppers - Take a piece of pink cardstock and cut out a circle.  Add a Valentine's Day sticker, tape a tooth pick to the back, and stick it into a cupcake or brownie.  Easy peasy!

3)  Pre-made cookies - Why not "dress up" some pre-made cookies?  Use store bought icing to make a "sandwich" and roll in some sprinkles.  So fun!

4)  Cookie pops - Isn't all food more fun if you put it on the end of a stick?  Just insert a lollipop stick into a pre-made cookie, and bake according to the directions on the package.  You can even wrap them up and give them to friends.  Share the love!

5)  Peanut butter "heart" cookies - Everyone has a "tried and true" peanut butter cookie recipe {and if you don't, you can find one here}.  Just allow the peanut butter cookies to cool about 2 minutes, and then top them with a chocolate hearts.  Yummy!

Are you hungry yet?  What is your favorite Valentine's Day treat?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)