Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

I used to love making banana bread when I was back in high school. My dad has the old 1950s Betty Crocker cookbook sitting in our kitchen, and I'd always whip it out gleefully whenever we'd have super-ripe bananas. As I've grown up, however, I've constantly tried to pretend that I could make healthy banana bread (my earlier Banana Nut Bread, for instance), and it turns out good, but not Betty Crocker good. 

So, what I'm trying to say is, when I found this recipe--made with greek yogurt, that's the important part--and I saw that it had a whole cup of sugar in it, my first inclination was to try something else. But I didn't. It's the first week of classes so I figured a moist, sweet, delicious banana bread was what we all needed. And then I decided, what the hell, let's throw in some chocolate while we're at it! The result was the best banana bread I've ever made. So I learned a valuable lesson this week--some sugar splurging is good for you. 

Cookies 'n' Cream Brownie Cookies

So once more I find myself almost a month between posts! I'm not going to lie, the end of the semester takes a lot out of you. I'm in an odd place where I've been craving less super-sweet baked goods and more savory, oatmeal, honey, nut, etc. based goods. That being said, these cookies are not like that at all. Which is wonderful. I brought these into work and they disappeared in about two hours, all two dozen of them! You really cannot go wrong with a brownie cookie, it's the perfect mix of textures!

S'mores Truffles

Here is another incredibly easy, but oh-so-delicious baked good! I don't know if you can technically call it "baked", however, because no oven is required! These store and ship quite well, and they get better the longer they sit! 

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies

My experience with this recipe covered the entire spectrum of my life as the haphazard baker. The first time I tried to make these, I added too much sugar because I was distracted and the jelly oozed out over the sides and it was a sad, sad, mess. However, my second attempt created one of the best looking (and best tasting) cookies I've ever made! These are shortbread cookies, so they practically melt in your mouth when you take a bite, and the almond-raspberry combination is divine. I know they look a little complicated, but really, they are quite simple to make!

Red Velvet Cake Balls

So I'm back home for Christmas and my father is on a big cake ball kick. For good reason, mind you. They are quick and easy to make, they look adorable, and they taste wonderful. These are quite festive, I think, and perfect for Christmas.

Which, by the way, I should mention that my Christmas baking is going to stretch well into January. Making up for lost time!