Chocolate Chip Cookie Exchange Cookie Recipes!

Every year at our December book club get together we all participate in a cookie exchange. It's a fun and festive addition to our meeting. This year, due to sick children (there have been a lot this winter) we cancelled our meeting. I opted to host again in February and to host a Chocolate Chip Cookie Exchange in celebration of Valentine's Day. And then February came and once again we had to cancel due to Children and Winter Illnesses. We finally managed to get together last week. Despite our small size we had 4 great Chocolate Chip Treats! (The only rule was that the baked items needed to have chocolate chips as an ingredient)

Susan's Chocolate Saltine Treats

This strange name does not do this salty-sweet treat justice! When you can not make up your mind as to whether you want something a little salty or a little sweet, these treats will sure to satisfy!

1 sleeve of Saltines
1 1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/4 cup butter (2 1/2 sticks)
2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Spray cookie sheet with Pam (must be rimmed and I use a layer of parchment for ease of lifting)
3. Spread Saltines flat over cookie sheet
4. In sauce pan - boil sugar and butter for 4 minutes, stirring constantly
5. Pour evenly over saltines
6. Bake in oven for 4 minutes
7. Take out and pour the chocolate chips over top
8. Spread chocolate evenly as it melts
9. Place in fridge for 2 hours or overnight
10. Take out and break into pieces

Line's Cowboy Cookies

Recipe courtesy David Sutherland, Minot, North Dakota
Show: Food Network ChallengeEpisode: Challenge: Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup shortening (recommended: Crisco) - I used butter and it worked fine.
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 (6-ounce) package chocolate chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs and the vanilla and beat until well blended. Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Add oats, nuts, chocolate chips and coconut, mix until combined. Spoon cookie mixture onto greased foil lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool.

I would highly recommend undercooking vs. overcooking as they turn in to hockey pucks if you do! Much better slightly underdone!

Gretchen's Classic Blondies

In my opinon, Blondies but better! I love how these had just the slightest bit of crunch and chew. By far the best blondie I have come across!

· 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
· ½ teaspoon baking powder
· 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
· ½ teaspoon salt
· ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
· 1/3 cup butter
· 1 cup packed brown sugar
· 1 egg
· 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
· 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Measure 1 cup flour, then add powder, soda and salt and mix together in a large bowl. Add nuts, if desired. Mix well and set aside.
On the stovetop, melt the butter thoroughly, then add brown sugar and mix well. Cool slightly.
Add beaten egg and vanilla to the butter mixture and blend again. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, until mixture is thick and tough. Spread in a 9x9 pan and sprinkle chips on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

and I made my Chocolate Chip Cookie Perfected!

Thanks girls, for sharing your recipes!