cookies

• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 9×13 pan with foil and apply nonstick spray or butter.
• In a big bowl, mix together the cake mix, espresso powder (if using), butter, and egg. Press the dough into the bottom of the pan and even out. Bake for 7 minutes. While that’s cooking, prepare the filling.
• In the same big bowl (no need to wash it), mix together the sweetened condensed mix, vanilla, egg, pecans, and coconut. Once the crust’s first bake is done, bring it out of the oven. Pour the filling over it and even out. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
• Bake for an additional 24 to 30 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely, speeding the process in the fridge, if desired. Use foil to lift bars onto a cutting board to divide into slices. Store covered or individually wrapped at room temperature.

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• Preheat oven at 375-degrees. Apply nonstick spray to both pie plates.
• Stir together the lemon zest, flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter, egg yolk, lemon flavor, and vanilla extract. Use hands to compress dough together to make a ball. Divide in half, placing one in each pie plate. Flatten dough with palms to create an even surface. Prick surface all over with a fork then use a knife to slash dough into triangular wedges.
• Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until edges are golden brown and middle is set. Remove from oven and cut again along slash marks. Let shortbread cool completely.
• In a medium bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice to create a glaze with a consistency to drip and keep shape. Drizzle all over shortbread. Let set, then cut again along existing marks.
• Shortbread keeps for several days at room temperature. It can be stored covered in pie plates, or stacked in a sealed container with wax paper between the layers.

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• Prepare a 9×13 pan by lining it with aluminum foil and applying nonstick spray. Preheat oven at 350-degrees.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time.
• In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, cream of tartar, cinnamon, and baking powder. Gradually add the dry mix into the wet bowl. Once everything is mixed, add the bag of caramel or cinnamon chips.
• Evenly spread the dough into the prepared pan. In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the mix over the dough.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Use the foil to lift out the contents and cut into bars. Store at room temperature. They will keep well for a few days if kept sealed.

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• In a large bowl, beat butter until it is creamy. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla, beating a few more minutes until combined.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet until it roughly forms a ball. Divide in half.
• Lay out a piece of parchment and add a dusting of flour. Roll out a portion of dough to about an 11-inch square. Use parchment to move dough into fridge to chill. Repeat with other half of dough.
• While that is chilling, make the filling. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, and maple syrup to create a thin, spreadable paste.
• Pull out the dough one piece at a time. Use an uneven spatula to spread the filling to within 1/4 of the edges. Tightly roll up the dough to form a log. Wrap in parchment and set in fridge to chill at least two hours; it can also be encased in plastic wrap and frozen for later baking.
• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a large baking sheet with fresh parchment.
• Use a sharp knife to slice dough into 1/4-inch pieces. Set slightly spaced out on parchment. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes.
• Cool cookies completely. Store in a sealed container at room temperature. Cookies will be chewier the first day, then crisp up more.

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• Preheat oven at 400-degrees. Line a baking sheet or pizza pan/stone with parchment paper.
• Beat together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer. Add egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in the dry ingredients until just combined.
• In a small bowl, mix together topping ingredients.
• Pat the dough to form a cohesive ball. Roll it in the topping. Set dough in middle of pan and press into about a 8-inch round. Sprinkle remaining topping all over, pressing it into dough.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. The edges should be set, with some of the crackles in the cookie still showing some moisture (the cookie will finish baking as it sets).
• Let cool for at least 30 minutes. Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut cookie into triangular wedges. Cookie is great fresh, but individually-wrapped pieces also keep wonderfully at room temperature for up to 4 days.

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Make cookie layer

• Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a 9×13 pan with aluminum foil and apply nonstick spray.
• In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugars, and vanilla until light and creamy. Add egg, scraping bottom of bowl, then beat another two minutes.
• In another bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet. Fold in chocolate chips. Dough will be very thick and sticky. Drop into pan in clumps and press into a level layer, covering the bottom completely.

Make brownie layer

• Using the same big bowl (leave it unwashed or wash it, baker’s preference), beat together butter, sugar, and vanilla. Follow with the egg. Stir in the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold in the cacao nibs, if using.
• Pour over the cookie layer, spreading it into an even layer.
• Bake until the middle passes the toothpick test, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely–chilling in fridge, if desired–before slicing into bars.
• Brookies will keep in a sealed container at room temperature for 3 days, and can also be frozen for layer enjoyment.

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