Christmas Baking

246. It's that time of year to begin the baking marathon for Christmas. Although I have not looked at all my recipes, I know there are a few cookies that are standards each year.

Like my Pizzelles (Pizzelle Perfection recipe here)

This recipe for Cherry Tassies was fantastic! (Cherry Tassies recipe here)

And, these Pinwheel and Checkerboard Cookies were so fun and delicious! A very Christmasy addition to the cookie tray.

(Pinwheel and Checkerboard Cookies recipe here)

One of the most versatile cookie is the Almond Shortbread Cookie (Almond Shortbread Cookie recipe here)

This Rugelach recipe is easy to make and the cookie is fantastic! (Rugelach recipe here)

Next week I will start my baking and I'll be sure to post recipes and pictures.

Happy baking!

"If cookies be the food of love...munch on."

~Dame Judi Dench

Banana Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

202. With a couple of over ripe bananas and a craving for something sweet and yummy, I decided to make Banana Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling.

My recipe is developed from several different recipes but the key is the Chobani Greek Yogurt. It adds such great texture and delicious flavor.

Banana Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

1 stick butter, 1/2 cup

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 over ripe bananas

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp kosher salt

6 oz Chobani Greek Yogurt

1/2 cup milk

Cream butter and brown sugar till pale, about 3 minutes. Add bananas, egg and vanilla. Blend together well. Sift flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. Blend together yogurt and milk in a separate bowl. Alternate adding flour then liquids twice till all ingredients are incorporated. Do not over mix.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.

Filling:

1 8oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

5 cups confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla

milk, add as desired to achieve right consistency of filling

Mix all together till smooth. Fill a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Assemble cookies by matching cookies that are the same size. Pipe a generous amount of filling onto bottom of one cookie and top with another.

"C is for cookie, it's good enough for me;

oh cookie cookie cookie starts with C."

~ Cookie Monster, Sesame Street