Sweet Sunday: Chai Pumpkin Spice Cookies

My parents have been in town for the weekend and we ventured to Palatka, Florida to eat lunch today. Corky Bells is the restaurant we went to, it's a great location right on the Saint Johns River and the food is good. When we walked in the door I saw their specials board with a Pumpkin Spice Martini- YUM! It was super creamy and even had a graham cracker rim. I like my dessert first. ;)

Incidentally, before we headed off to lunch I prepared the dough for these Chai Pumpkin Spice Cookies.
Chai Pumpkin Spice Cookies
You will need:

• 1 stick butter at room temperature (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 chai concentrate (located in the tea/coffee aisle)
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp chai spice mix
•     1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
•     1/12 tsp ground cinnamon
•     1/2 tsp ground ginger
•     1/4 tsp cloves
•     1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

With a hand mixer on medium speed cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Add in the egg, vanilla and chai concentrate, mix to combine.
Add the flour, baking soda and salt next.
Cover the dough and allow to firm up in the fridge for at least an hour.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1 inch round balls with your hands. Using a 1 tbsp measuring spoon helps to keep the size the same.
Place the dough balls onto the paper and sprinkle with your chai spice mix. I had the most control over how much by pinch/sprinkling with my fingers.
Bake for 11-13 minutes. While baking, unwrap kisses and place them on a plate in your freezer. Then they won't melt so much when you press them into your cookies.

Once removed from the oven immediately press the kisses into the cookies, do not touch them after pressing them in, they will melt into puddles.
Allow to cool completely if you want the kiss to be firm, they're delicious warm though too. :)

You will have left over chai concentrate and chai spice mix. I would recommend making yourself a chai latte, sprinkling with the spices and enjoying it with your cookies.

It's OK Thursdays

Major sigh of relief that tomorrow is Friday and this weekend will be somewhat relaxed. Still working Friday night but back to normal. Last night Dee and I had our usual sweets craving so I ran straight to the cabinet. No chocolate chips! Dangit! So these Peanut Butter Oat Drop Cookies had to do.

I have to say they were certainly yummy, especially with a cup of English Tea Time. Here's the recipe from the "Better Homes and Gardens New Cook" (Google Affiliate Ad), or as my family calls it, "The red and white cookbook." This book is 4 generations of being the go to cookbook for the women in my family.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups quick oats
• 1 cup chopped peanuts

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375 F.

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed about 30 seconds or until combined.

Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.

Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.

Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.

Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer; stir in any remaining flour.

Stir in rolled oats and peanuts.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake about 10 minutes in preheated oven or until edges lightly browned.

Transfer cookies to wire rack and let cool.

Congruent with the last few Thursdays, I'm linking up with Amber and Neely for It's Ok Thursday.

It's Ok...

• To have something sweet everyday; sometimes more than one, or 2, or....
• That my gym membership is collecting dust. :/
• That I've worn boots twice this week and it's been about 85 degrees every day. Hey it is officially fall!
• That I will be planting daffodil bulbs and then bringing out the Halloween decorations this weekend. October starts Monday, it's time!
• That I spent the same in shipping as I did on my Fall Swap partner's gift! It's ok because she's awesome and I know she will love it! Annnd good karma, good karma, good karma. ;)

What are you Ok with this week?