I know a really fun lady who asked me to make some Easter cookies for her grandkids so when I saw these Wilton icing decorations in the stores last week I knew I had to use them somehow. I’m pretty sure she’s going to love these funny bunnies and I hope her grandkids do too!
Every few months the awesome people at Operation Cookie Takeover ask for volunteers to bake and ship cookies to our deployed troops. I’m proud to say I have participated in every round! This time I was assigned a Marine stationed in Japan. I sent out an email to my department at work saying that if anyone wanted to send a card, note, or small treat along with my cookie shipment that I’d be glad to add it to my box.
Today I shipped three large flat rate boxes full of cookies, Easter candy, crackers, toiletries, cards, Tastykakes and other goodies. I work with some awesome people. Here is a shot of all my cookies and just some of the other donated items:
And here are some closeups of my cookies!
If you want to check out all the amazing cookies being shipped out this week head over to Operation Cookie Takeover’s Facebook page, or search the hashtags #OCT2015 and #operationcookietakeover on Instagram! If you know a deployed soldier be sure to follow their Facebook page and when the next mission rolls around you can sign up your soldier to be a cookie recipient!
It’s been a while since I shared any cake mix cookies with you, hasn’t it? Never fear though, I whipped up a batch that is perfect for Easter! I found Mounds flavored pudding at the store a few weeks ago; chocolate and coconut – one of my favorite flavor combinations! I thought that cake mix cookies made with the Mounds pudding would go wonderfully with the Coconut M&M’s I couldn’t resist when I was at Target last week!
Mounds Cake Mix Cookies
(adapted from Funfetti Cheesecake Cookies by Kitchen Meets Girl)
Ingredients
1 box white cake mix
1 box Mounds instant pudding mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/3 cup spring colored sprinkles
Coconut M&M’s
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil and eggs in a medium bowl until a dough forms. Mix in the spring sprinkles.
3. Roll dough into small balls and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten the cookie balls slightly with your palm.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press two (or three) coconut M&M’s into the top of each cookie. Let cool for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
These are chewy and delicious, and perfect for those of us who still want some chocolate with our spring-time treats!
I am hoping to get a giant gummy bunny for Easter, and maybe some sunshine and a little warmth? We did have the first day of Spring last week, right?
I also wouldn’t mind getting some of these cookies in my Easter basket. They are pretty cute, if I do say so myself.
Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the bunny trail… One of my favorite things at Easter (aside from candy out the wazoo) was this old tin egg we had. It looked exactly like this (I love the internet!!) –
When you turned the hand crank, it played Peter Cottontail. I loved turning the crank really fast; here comes Peter Cottontail flying down the bunny trail! I can still hear the tinny tune in my mind.
My absolute favorite Easter memory is of dyeing eggs with my brother, mom and dad. I remember the smell of the vinegar, the fizzing sound of the dye tablets after you dropped them in the cups. My dad always got really into things – making crazy designs with rubber bands and bits of paper towel dipped in various colors. His eggs were always works of art.
These days my dad’s art takes the form of wooden carvings in the style of Easter Island Moai and (in case this is your first visit to my blog) my art is of the cookie variety!
This is my first Easter making decorated sugar cookies, and I’ll admit, I went a little nuts. I had a bunch of coworkers and friends to make cookies for – about 200 cookies all together! So last week I took a half a day off of work on Thursday and a full day on Friday. I baked Thursday, ran out of dough, made more, then baked again Friday morning. After lunch I spent a few hours mixing up all the icing colors I would need and then I decorated well into the night AND all the next day! By the time Sunday rolled around I think I was partially crippled. Apparently my cookie decorating stance is very bad for my back. It still hurts!
However, despite the long hours and the concern that someday I will become a hunchback because of Easter 2012 , I am SO HAPPY with the way my cookies turned out! I absolutely love them, and I hope you will too!
Check out my snazzy slideshow, and have a Happy Easter!!
A few weeks ago I did a sneak peek post on one of my favorite holiday goodies – The Peep! – and my attempt at making Peeps bunny cookie. Today I am back with more sugar coated marshmallow-y goodness!
And for the finale … Last year a few days before Easter I went to the grocery store and imagine my utter delight when I saw this parked out front!!!
WHAT on
…was I
???????????????????????????????
That is about HALF the amount of Easter cookies I have to decorate and package this weekend, and thus far I’m not even half way done with these!! Just taking a little break to rest my hand and…
Mommy!!!
My SIX batches of dough for Easter Cookie Madness 2012 are chilling in the fridge. I used my good old hand-held mixer and I think I damn near overheated the thing. I think I need a better attachment for my stand mixer because it just doesn’t get all the stuff up from the bottom of the bowl. Anyone else have that problem (or a solution)?
Another kitchen related question… Does anyone else despise cleaning the lids to pots? I have noticed lately that I had no problem hand washing pots and pans, but I always stick the lids in the dishwasher. Why?
Anyway, tomorrow is baking day and then I have the whole weekend to decorate Easter egg, bunny, chick, Peep and wine bottle cookies. Yes, wine bottles. Someone needs them for a wine themed birthday party next weekend. Everyone is keeping me busy!!
Speaking of wine, I think it’s time for a little nightcap! Cheers!
Shake Bake and Party 