Spring Treats

The calendar says it is spring, and all the organizations are having their spring Guest Days, recognition ceremonies,  and other spring activities. But this year the pastel light clothing usually worn to these events has been replaced with what we've been wearing for months - sweaters, dark slacks and heavy socks! I guess Mother Nature hasn't watched the calendar.

Thank You treats from a 4-H Club!

But in spite of the weather, there are some signs of spring. And these special spring events are still spring-like. For most of them the regular members of the sponsoring organization are asked to bring cookies or other treats. When my husband sees me making cookies this time of year, he asks "where are those going?". But we were the lucky recipients  of a box of tasty treats earlier this month. A local 4-H Club presented us with a large box of a variety of cookies to say "Thank you" for being a 4-H Journal sponsor in our county. We certainly enjoyed the treats, and it was nice to bring home cookies someone else made! The beautiful selection is the picture above.

So when it was my time to take cookies to the next event, I was inspired to try something besides my favorite traditional Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip cookie (I can't believe I haven't written a blog on these, I make them frequently - it will come soon!)
I thought these looked and tasted like spring. Both recipes start with a cake mix so they are simple and quick to mix up. Both were good, but the Lemon  were my favorites.

Strawberry Angel Cookies

Strawberry Angel Cookies

Ingredients:

1 (16 oz) pkg. Angel food cake mix

¾ cup Smucker’s Strawberry Sugar Free Preserves or Smucker’s Special Recips Strawberry Preserves

3 tbsp. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

Just a few ingredients!

     1.     Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray baking sheets with no-stick cooking spray. (even if you use parchment paper, spray it).

     2.     Beat together cake mix and preserves (do not add water) at low speed of electric mixer for 1 minute or until evenly moistened. Continue to beat an additional 1 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet

Its a meringue like batter

  3.     Bake 10 – 12 minutes or until tops are just lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on baking sheet. Place on cooling rack to cool completely. Cookies will be soft and chewy.

Store between sheets of wax paper to keep from sticking together.

From Taste of Home

Lemon Cookies

Ingredients:

 (18.25 oz) package lemon cake mix

2 eggs

⅓ cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. lemon extract

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

⅓ cup confectioners’ sugar for decoration

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.     Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in eggs, oil, and lemon extract until well blended.  Form into balls (about 1 ½ tablespoon each) and roll in a bowl of confectioners’ sugar to cover.

3.     Set cookies on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 6 – 9 minutes. The bottoms will be light brown, and the insides chewy.

I'm anxious to try these with other flavors - orange cake mix + orange extract - strawberry cake mix + strawberry extract - or even cherry!

From Allrecipes. Com