Glazed Lemon Cookies

For all the lemon lovers out there, these Glazed Lemon Cookies are for you! 

They are bright, fresh, and delicious, and so easy to make!

It may not feel like it, but spring really is just around the corner! The first official day of spring is this coming Monday, but as I sit here and type this there is snow falling and it's about 30 degrees outside. Maybe Mother Nature is confused. Doesn't she know that it usually rains in the spring, not snows? Living in Michigan I never expect anything because well, it's Michigan. Weather can change hourly here.

Top 10 Favorite Recipes of 2016!

Happy New Year’s Eve Eve! Can you believe that 2016 is almost over? Really and truly, it seemed to flash by in the blink of an eye for me. With that being said, I'm really excited for 2017 and all that it will bring!

First off, I just want to say how much I appreciate you being here. Thank you for taking the time to read this little ole' blog of mine. Thank you for trying my recipes and sharing your feedback. Thank you for sharing your lives with me, and allowing me to share mine with you. I wouldn't be where I am today without your support and encouragement!

Orange Hazelnut Cookies

These deliciously crispy hazelnut cookies are hinted with orange and ginger and are definitely gift worthy!

I'm super excited to be participating in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap again this year!  This is the 5th annual swap, and my 3rd year to participate. It's seriously one of my favorite things about the holiday season! The swap partnered up with Cookies for Kids' Cancer, a national non-profit organization committed to funding new therapies used in the fight against pediatric cancer. I love being able to get in the kitchen and bake AND support this great cause! 

The swap is simple – I baked 3 dozen cookies to send to three of my fellow food bloggers (one dozen to each), and in return I received one dozen cookies from 3 other food bloggers! I got Peppermint Pinwheels from Michele of Alwayz Bakin', Peppermint Pretzel Toffee Bark from Erica of Nommable, and Double Chocolate Cookies from Jessica of Jessica is Baking. Every single one was amazing, and my family loved them all! 

Sweet Cherry Yogurt Pops

Fresh, sweet cherries and creamy yogurt are all you need to make one healthy and 

delicious frozen treat that the whole family will love!

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? Break out those ice cream makers my friends, and let's get going! I remember my aunt and uncle having one of those old fashioned giant hand crank machines, the ones that you put the ice and salt in. You'd have to sit there and crank and crank and turn and turn for what seemed like hours to make that ice cream! But in the end it was so worth it to get that fresh, homemade deliciousness. I absolutely loved it and it was a highlight of many childhood summers.

Fast forward many years (many, MANY years), and now I have a fancy ice cream maker that does all the turning for me. No ice needed. No hand cranking. I kind of miss that old machine, but on the other hand it's way easier doing it this way and much quicker! I make my own ice cream quite often during the summer, but I also love making other frozen treats, like frozen yogurt and popsicles. I have a few different popsicle molds and love trying different combinations from sweet to fruity to chocolaty and even sometimes spicy. This week I took some delicious, fresh sweet cherries and combined them with thick and creamy Greek yogurt and got the best ever Sweet Cherry Yogurt Pops.

Mocha Cappuccino Chip Cookies + {Fill the Cookie Jar Monthly Party}

I am very excited to be part of a new food bloggers Facebook group called Fill the Cookie Jar. This group is for all who love to bake (and eat) cookies, so it's right up my alley! 

Each month we will have a different theme to follow and all members of the group will share our recipes on our own blog. We will also have a linky at the bottom of our posts so our readers can view all of the wonderful cookies that everyone in the group is making! 

Our theme for August is back to school and we are sharing our kids favorite cookies. These mocha cappuccino chip cookies are actually a new recipe that I recently developed, and one that my kids absolutely love. They are thin and crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. Absolutely delicious!

Mocha Cappuccino Chip Cookies
Recipe written by The Chef Next Door
Print this recipe

Ingredients:
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup Jiff Mocha Cappuccino Hazelnut Spread
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup cappuccino chips (I use King Arthur Flour brand), alternatively you can use chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  

In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and baking powder and set aside.

In the bowl of your stand mixer beat the butter, mocha spread and brown sugar until smooth and creamy.  Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined.  

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little bit at a time, mixing until well incorporated.  Fold the cappuccino chips in with a rubber spatula.

Using a medium scoop, drop balls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper. Bake for 8 minutes, until edges are set and bottoms are lightly browned.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.  

Bon Appetit!