Winter is coming!
One thing's for sure: whatever winter preparations you need to do -- begrudgingly, for many who hate freezing temperatures -- we can think of something that will help ease you into it. Warm, gooey, soft, freshly baked cookies! Bundle up in your warmest slippers, snuggle into your coziest blanket and turn that oven on, because we have some great ways to prepare for the chilly months ahead. Plus, Dec. 4 is National Cookie Day, so you might as well celebrate with some truly outrageous loaded cookies, right?
1. Five-Ingredient Pie Crust Cookies
Do you love crispy, buttery, flaky pie crust even more than the filling? Well then, you might as well cut out the middleman entirely and get right to the good part. Alternately, you can load your pie cookies full of apple shavings or another fruit filling (recipe here), if you're so inclined.
2. Loaded-Up Pretzel Cookies
Sure, chocolate chip is awesome, but why stop there? Why not swap out the predictable stuff for coconut, M&M's (or another favorite candy of yours) and crunchy salty pretzels? If you love sweet and salty, this one is for you.
3. Red Velvet Brookies
Ever had a cake-flavored brownie-cookie hybrid before? They are scrumptious as heck, especially served warm and melty with a big scoop of ice cream. Bonus: the red color makes these desserts bright and festive, so they're visually perfect to serve over the holidays.
4. Asparagus Cookies
You've got to be kidding me, right? Surprisingly not. If you're looking to lighten up your cookies, you can't go wrong with this odd but delicious little hidden veggie recipe. You can grate your asparagus or blitz it in the food processor. Alternately, this dessert is a great way to use up that pulp from your juicer that you usually throw out.
5. Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
We can't think of any valid reasons why you shouldn't stuff Oreos (or similar sandwich cookies) into your chocolate chip dough. Can you? If you want to be extra festive, use peppermint sandwich cookies and top the whole affair with crushed peppermint candies. If, however, you want to be extra lazy, use whatever store-bought cookie dough you have on hand.
6. Chocolate-Hazelnut-Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
How can we say no to impossibly creamy hazelnut mascarpone filling sandwiched between two decadent peanut butter cookies (here's how to make them from scratch if you are so inclined) and topped with semi-sweet chocolate and crushed hazelnuts? This is a Nutella lover's dream come to life.
7. Pesto Cookies
It sounds a little odd to mix basil and Parmesan cheese into your cookies (no garlic, we promise), but if you want something bright, satisfying and earthy, go ahead and try these delightful cookies, which have the most divinely balanced, zippy flavors, thanks to the orange zest and walnuts that artfully complement the basil.
8. Soft & Chewy Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
Some days, regular chocolate chip cookies are just not quite enough. Sometimes you crave something even more rich, chocolaty and gooey. And that's exactly when you should stuff a gob of Nutella right into the middle of your cookie dough.