Pampered Chef All Occasion Cookies

[Triss]

We had these last night at the bridal shower and they are so delicious... and better yet EASY so I wanted to share.  You can mix up the types of cake batter and add all kinds of things to them.  Today I am using a vanilla cake and peanut butter/chocolate chips in mine. 

Enjoy!

Pampered Chef All Occasion Cookies

1 pound (4 sticks) butter or margarine, divided (do not use vegetable oil spreads)
2 3/4 Cups (11 oz.) Flour
1 pkg. White Cake Mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In small batter bowl, microwave 2 sticks of the butter on HIGH 1 minute or until melted. Using a knife, slice remaining butter into 1/2-inch pieces; add to melted butter, tossing to coat. Allow butter to stand 3-5 minutes or until softened.
Meanwhile, accurately measure flour into large bowl. Add cake mix to flour; blend well to break up any large lumps. Whisk butter until smooth and free of lumps. If necessary, return butter to microwave for 10-20 seconds or until creamy and pourable. Do NOT melt completely. Pour butter, all at once, into dry ingredients; thoroughly scrape butter bowl. Using spoon, mix until dry ingredients are incorporated and dough is smooth. (If dough is too stiff to stir, knead until smooth by hand.) Shape dough, bake and decorate as desired.

Flavor Variations:

Chocolate: Substitute one package devil's food cake mix for the white cake mix. Add flour and butter as recipe directs.

Spice: Substitute one package yellow cake mix for white cake mix. Add 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Add flour and butter as recipe directs.

Peanut Butter: Substitute one package yellow cake mix for the white cake mix. Add flour as directed. Whisk 2/3 Cup Peanut Butter into softened butter until smooth; add to dry ingredients as recipe directs.

This dough is versatile, can spread cream cheese on top, and add pie filling.

[patches]

Hey, Triss, these sound pretty good if you make the chocolate ones, but I guess those wouldn't be appropriate for a bridal shower!  I'm just wondering what the teture is like?  Are they more cake-like, or chewy, or do they get crispy?   

[Triss]

They are flakey so I am guessing that would be on the dry side rather than chewy, but they just fall apart in your mouth and melt.  Oh they are soooo good.  Last night she made them with chocolate chips and nuts and then another batch she punched in the middle and filled with a jam after they cooked. 

[patches]

Shape dough, bake and decorate as desired.   

Hmmm, I'm not sure what you mean by this  since I've never had to shape the dough for any of my cookies.    Tris, just how did you do it?   

[Triss]

I use a scoop.  I am guessing cuz of the consistency that they would make good rolled and cookie cutter cookies as well.  The family loved them.  I made 4 dozen from the mix and froze half, the other half is down to 3 cookies.

[patches]

Thanks, Triss, that helps a lot! I had to shape dough for other things before, like when I make braided bread, but I'd never heard of doing it for cookies.  I'm wondering what size scoop you use!  What if I do rounded tablespoon size or should it be more? I'm sorry for all the questions, but since I've never seen the size of the finished cookies I'm not sure what to expect.    

[Triss]

No problem at all.  It is a Pampered Chef scoop that I have had, I just measured it and it is 1 3/4 inches across.  I will take a picture of the cookies once I get them out of the oven. 

Today I am using chocolate fudge cake mix, walnuts and semi sweet/white chocolate swirled chips.  Later I am going to do some lemon ones.

[patches]

Oh, Triss, you really have my mouth watering with the mention of chocolate.  When I do make them I'm going to use the Devil's Food cake mix.  Did you use butter or margarine?  

Hey, Triss, when you take the picture, don't forget to put a nickel there for Patty!!!   

[Triss]

I used butter... and it is too funny I just took pics and after the first one I went to go and grab a nickel just so you could see the size.  Isn't that funny! 

I am uploading the pics now... should not be long.

[Wrennie]

Funny I'm suddenly craving a cookie and cup of tea! These sound really good and easy!

[Triss]

They would make very good tea cookies Wrennie.  And like I said, they are so easy.  Here they are unbaked so you can see what the size for reference, no nickel there though.



And the baked ones from yesterday and today.

[patches]

Thanks, Triss!  I'm going to stop at the store on the way home and pick up two more pounds of butter while it's on sale. 

[Triss]

Good deal... I hope you like them as much as we all do.

[patches]

I'm sure I will, Triss, you can never go wrong with anything chocolate.  Did I forget to mention that I love chocolate!!!      

[Triss]

You and I both!!!  The lemon ones turned out really good too.  I love lemon cookies.

[Dianna]

Ya got Jim drooling all over his keyboard now, Triss! He was over at his desk mumbling, "Those cookies look good." Maybe Aunt Bonnie will feel sorry for him and make him some....

[patches]

Triss, I don't care for lemon cookies or cakes, but I like the lemon Danish pastries.    Actually, the strangest thing about it is that Lemon Meringue pie is one of my favorites, after Chocolate Meringue pie, that is!   

Hmmm, Dianna, I didn't know your oven was broken!  Maybe Santa will bring you a new one!     

[Triss]

Jim... these cookies are even easy enough for you to make!   3 ingredients and a scoop, 15 minutes in the oven...

Patti, I love lemon... it is the best thing next to chocolate!

[Dianna]

Jim... these cookies are even easy enough for you to make!  

Sounds like a plan to me!

Patti, my oven isn't broken. My hands are just put on backwards....

[patches]

Come on, Dianna, I'm sure you could master these even if your hands are on backwards!   

[patches]

Hey,Triss, I made these this afternoon and they turned out terrific using the Devil's Food cake mix!!!  Thanks a bunch for the recipe!!!   

[Triss]

Awesome deal Patti.  So glad that you like them.  I need to make more for us.

[patches]

Sure did, Triss!      I decided to lightly dust the tops with powdered sugar when they were cool, so I could tell them from the Brownie cookies!   

[Triss]

That is a good idea.  Sounds like you have enough cookies to get you through a long snowstorm.

[patches]

Hmmm, not if it lasts too long, Triss, since I've already put a big dent in them by myself.  Well, unless Boogie Bear got into them last night!  Yep, that's it, he must have eaten some of them.