No Bake Graham Cracker Cookie Balls (with Variations)
by Michelle Jones, Cookie Club Editor
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies, No Bake
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Level: Easy
Yield: 2-3 Dozen Cookies
Here's a quick an easy recipe for cookie balls that do not require any baking time, or cooking on the stove. And, unlike many other "no bake" cookie recipes, these do not have chocolate, coconut, peanut butter, or nuts of any kind. Instead, they are made with raisins and dates. And, HONEY. That means they are GOOD FOR YOU COOKIES, our favorite kind!
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Ingredients:
1 c. golden raisins or raisin berry mix (dried fruit section of your grocery store)
1 c. chopped dates (soft pitted dates are easier to find during the holiday baking season)
10 graham crackers, crushed into fine crumbs (I left some pieces a bit larger for more crunch)
1/4 - 1/2 c. honey
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, stir together raisins, chopped dates, and graham cracker crumbs.
Add enough honey to moisten cookie mixture. Start with 1/4 cup. If the dates are moist it should help bind the mixture together.
Dampen hands with water and roll mixture into balls.
Note: The cookie mixture does not need to be dough-like. However, it does need to be moist enough to form into balls. The package of dates I found (not having time to run to another store to search for fresher ones that I prefer) were very dry. So, I just added a little more honey and they were quite delicious. And, the next time I can buy better dates, I'm going to make these cookies again. They are that easy to make, and that good!
Store cookie balls in an airtight container, layering with foil or wax paper. These cookies also ship well; just wrap each one separately (with foil or plastic wrap) to keep them from sticking together.
If you'd like to try some variations here are a few suggestions I believe would turn out well...
Cranberry Variation: Use 1 c. dried cranberries instead of raisins.
Dried Fruit Variation: Use 1 c. of any dried fruit desired, chopped if needed, in place of either the raisins OR chopped dates.
Chocolate Chip Variation: Use 3/4 - 1 c. chocolate chips instead of raisins, or any flavor of chips you'd like to try.
Oatmeal Variation: Use 1 c. uncooked oats instead of graham crackers. Cookies will be less sweet with oatmeal, however, still sweet because of the dried fruit and honey.
Enjoy!
Recipe edited and photos added by CookieClubRecipes.comOriginally submitted by Dorianne, Graham Cracker Cookies
2004 Annual Cookie Club Recipes Cookbook
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Rock Cookies
by Kathy, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Level: Baking Experience Helpful
Yield: 4 - 5 Dozen Cookies
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This recipe was requested and shared by our Cookie Club members. The only thing missing is chocolate chips, which we feel would be perfectly fine to add!
Ingredients:
1 c. shortening
2 1/2 c. brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
2 T. boiling water
3 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 c. raisins
1 c. chopped nuts, pecans or walnuts
Directions:
Editor's Note: Soak raisins for 10 minutes in cup of water, then drain before adding to cookie dough.
Cream shortening, sugar, and eggs. Dissolve baking soda in water and add to creamed mixture. Add dry ingredients, raisins, and chopped nuts. Drop cookies by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
This recipe can also be made into cupcakes, now isn't that wild?!
For cupcakes, bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. (And let us know how they turn out!)
Enjoy!
© www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Source: Adapted from Grandma's Cookie Party, 1985
Raisin Filled Pumpkin Cookies
by Raines, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Level: Impressive Baking Skills
Yield: 3 Dozen Cookies
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Ingredients:
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking powder
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
2 and 3/4 c. flour
Filling:
2 c. raisins
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed (undiluted)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and flour. Add to mixture 1 c. at a time. Mix well. The dough will be stiff. Do not chill dough. Tint orange with food coloring until desired color is reached.
Divide dough into 2 balls. Roll dough out. Cut pumpkin shapes. Place half the cookies on cookie sheets. Mix filling ingredients in a small bowl (or can fill with a layer of jelly). Place 1 T. filling on cookie. Cut eyes and mouth from remaining cookies. Place on top. Press to seal edges. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Enjoy!
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Fruitcake Cookies
by Mary Clark, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies, Christmas
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Level: Baking Experience Helpful
Yield: 5 Dozen Cookies
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I was given this recipe way back in 1981 and I still enjoy it, even more than fruitcake. Hope that you will too.
Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter
4 eggs
1/2 pound candied cherries
1/2 pound candied pineapple
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. all purpose flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
3 T. milk
6 c. chopped pecans
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. white raisins
Directions:
Put raisins to soak in hot water overnight. Drain before using. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition . Add milk.
In another bowl, mix soda with 2 cups of the flour and slowly add in the cut up fruit, drained raisins and nuts, coating all the fruits and nuts with flour mixture. (This prevents the fruits and nuts from sinking to the bottom.) Add other cup of flour and mix well. Add fruit mixture to first mixture. Add vanilla and mix well.
Drop by small spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 275 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Enjoy!
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Ginger Snap Oat Cookies
by Keena Cooper, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Level: Easy to Bake
Yield: 3-4 Dozen Cookies
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These cookies are very sweet. They are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. And very good with a glass of milk!
Ingredients:
3/4 c. shortening
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. molasses
2 tsp. vinegar
3 T. water, 3 T. oil, 2 tsp. baking powder, mixed together
1 1/4 c. flour
1 T. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 3/4 c. quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 c. raisins
Note: We used apple cider vinegar.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet.
In a large bowl, combine shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, molasses, vinegar and baking powder, water and oil mixture. Beat until well blended, set aside.
In another bowl, combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. Mix into creamed mixture and stir until blended.
Add in oats and raisins.
Drop rounded teaspoonfuls 2-inches apart onto prepared cookie sheet.
Bake 11 minutes.
Cool on cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes, remove to cooling rack.
Enjoy!
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Zucchini Cookies
by Linda Faraday of Fremont, OH, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Level: Baking Experience Helpful
Yield: 4 1/2 Dozen Cookies
Here's a sweet cookie recipe for using up those extra zucchinis from the garden! These cake-like cookies are good without the frosting but much better with. Kind of like eating cake without icing, which some folks prefer. We used a Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe from our Cake Club) and ended up with 4 1/2 dozen cookies. They're very good! :o)
Ingredients:
2 c. zucchini, shredded and drained (don’t peel)
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1 c. butter flavored Crisco® (or 1/2 butter, 1/2 Crisco®)
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
3 1/2 c. flour
1 c. raisins, optional
Instructions:
Shred zucchini, unpeeled. Food processor works great.
Transfer zucchini to colander, drain extra liquid.
Combine zucchini, sugar, brown sugar, Crisco® and eggs, mix well.
Add salt, baking soda, and flour. Batter will be very soft.
Add raisins, if desired.
Drop cookie dough by teaspoon onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
Frost cookies with cream cheese frosting while still hot (optional).
Enjoy!
© www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Print Recipe...
Grammy's Raisin Cookies
by Mennie, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Level: Baking Experience Helpful
Yield: 75 Cookies
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Ingredients:
1/2 c. vegetable shortening
1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. baking soda (dissolved in 2 tsp. water)
3 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 c. raisins
Directions:
Cream Crisco, butter and sugar together. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Dissolve soda in water and add. Mix and sift flour and spices then add to the creamed mixture. Add raisins. Drop (Drop, don’t roll) by small tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet (or use parchment paper). Bake at 335 degrees for 12-18 minutes. Makes 75 or more.
I remember Grammy always poured boiling water over the raisins and let them sit for a few minutes before adding to batter. This helped to plump them up. Be sure to drain well so as not to add extra water to the batter. Dad says that Grammy also put a dollop of bacon fat in the recipe. She kept the fat in a jar by the stove. Also, don’t handle the dough too much or it will result in a rock hard cookie.
Enjoy!
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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - No Eggs
by Keena Cooper, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 15 Minutes (chill 1 hour)
Level: Easy to Bake
Yield: 3 Dozen Cookies
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Ingredients:
2/3 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. quick-cooking oats
Raisins
Directions:
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill 1 hour. Roll dough into small balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Flatten cookies with bottom of glass dipped in sugar. Bake 9 minutes in 375-degree oven.
Enjoy!
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Body Builder Cookies
by Souper, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Level: Easy to Bake
Yield: 3 Dozen Cookies
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Ingredients:
3/4 c. butter or margarine
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. flaked bran cereal, crushed
1/2 c. raisins
1/2 c. pecans or walnuts, chopped
Directions:
Beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, add egg and vanilla and blend well. In a separate bowl, stir together dry ingredients and add to butter mixture until combined well. Stir in crushed cereal, raisins and nuts. Form cookie balls with a tablespoon and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on racks.
Enjoy!
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Graham Cracker Cookies (No Bake Cookies - Recipe 3)
by Dorianne, Cookie Club Member
Recipe Courtesy of www.CookieClubRecipes.com
Category: Desserts, Cookies
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Level: Easy to Make
Yield: 12 -24 Cookies
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Ingredients:
1 c. raisins
1/4 c. honey
1 c. chopped dates
10 graham crackers
Directions:
Pour raisins, dates and honey into a mixing bowl. Add crushed graham crackers to honey-fruit mixture. Roll into balls.
Enjoy!
© www.CookieClubRecipes.com
