These were my favorite posts of 2017.
Well, that’s it, friends. We’re (nearly) at the end of 2017, a year that has somehow felt both incredibly short and a-million-years long.
This will be my last post of the year, and to close things out, I’m taking a look back in the archives and sharing my favorite Baking Mischief recipes of 2017. These are the recipes I was most excited for you to try, the ones that were the most fun create, and the ones I loved the best.
If you haven’t tried some of them in 2017, I hope you’ll make them a part of your 2018.
In the post, How to Make Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes for Two , I enthusiastically described these pancakes as being “like the pancake a waitress with a heart of gold serves you in some charming Midwest diner in heaven.” I clearly had a little too much coffee the morning I wrote that, but I think the description still stands and is all you really need to know about them.
These Chocolate Souffles for Two With Creme Anglaise make the list because souffles are magic and delicious, especially these ones.
No way was I getting through a favorites post without including a creamy, cheesy pasta, and this Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta for Two With Oven Roasted Tomatoes is the easiest of all the creamy, cheesy pastas I posted this year AND it’s the only one with pesto, so it wins this spot. Runner-ups include Quick and Easy Fettuccine Alfredo for One and Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Pasta Dinner for Two .
Not only is this Cheesy Potato Gratin for Two primarily just potatoes + cheese, the greatest combo in the history of the world, but this was a Nerd Month recipe celebrating one of my favorite shows AND shooting this recipe was extra exciting because I managed to bake and photograph the entire thing while also frantically refreshing Ticket Master trying to buy west coast Hamilton tickets the morning they went on sale (which I got 😉 ). Basically, everything about this post makes me smile.
The full-size version of this Small Macaroni Salad is a perennial favorite among my family, so of course, the mini version was guaranteed a place on this list.
Like my Maple-glazed Pumpkin Donuts last year, these Homemade Pudding Pops were the recipe I liked the most that got the least attention in 2017. Obviously, I will not stand for this because I LOVE them, and come the first hint of summer, I won’t shut up about them until all of you have all made a batch for yourselves.
Small-batch Peanut Butter Cookies make this list because one, peanut butter anything’s always going to be a contender for my favorites list, but also because this is the only recipe I made this year where I photographed it, gave it away, had instant sharing regrets, and made myself another batch immediately.
And finally, my Rich and Thick Hot Chocolate for One. This is the most decadent hot chocolate imaginable. Of course, it was going to make my list. Chocolate always wins.
Thanks for following along with Baking Mischief in 2017. I’ll see you all next year!
This Small-batch Oatmeal Cookies recipe makes six big and beautiful cookies, perfectly sweet and spicy, packed with cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg and drizzled with vanilla icing.
I have a question for you: Do you like oatmeal cookies?
I’ll be honest, on oatmeal cookies in general, I’m pretty meh. Give me a big doughy oatmeal cookie, barely sweet, and stuffed full of raisins, and I’ll happily give it right back to you (bleh!).
But these oatmeal cookies? These wonderful, lovely, perfect oatmeal cookies I’m sharing today? These oatmeal cookies I LOVE. And you should make a batch as soon as is humanly possible.
These oatmeal cookies are a little chewy and a little crunchy and can be more of either depending on how long you bake them. They’re perfectly sweet and spicy, packed with cinnamon and a bit of nutmeg, drizzled with vanilla icing and best of all, NOT A RAISIN IN SIGHT!
This is my favorite type of cookie recipe, the type that uses melted butter and requires no dough chilling, so you can decide to make oatmeal cookies and be eating one warm out of the oven within 30 minutes.
Bake up a batch on a cold, drizzly day and they’ll make your house smell amazing and your day feel five times cozier. And since this is a small-batch recipe, it makes just six big beautiful cookies. Plenty to share, or just the right amount to keep tucked away for yourself and enjoy for a few days.
And look, sharing is great, but I definitely won’t judge you if you decide to go with option two. 😉
Small-batch Oatmeal Cookies Recipe Notes
- In the recipe, I have you partially grind your oats in a food processor before adding them to your dough. If you don’t have a food processor, this step is optional, but I recommend it, as unprocessed oats make for a pretty rustic and “oaty” cookie.
- If you have a chopper/grinder attachment for your immersion blender like this one , they also work great for this and is what I usually use.
- To make these cookies, you can use old-fashioned oats ( also called rolled oats or whole oats ) or quick-cook oats. You cannot use steel-cut oats.
Looking for more Small-batch Cookie Recipes ? Try these Small-batch Cut-out Sugar Cookies , Small-batch Chocolate Chip Cookies , or Small-batch Shortbread .
Ingredients
Small-batch Oatmeal Cookies
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 40g ) uncooked oats quick-cook or old-fashioned
- ▢ 1/2 cup ( 60g ) all-purpose flour
- ▢ 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- ▢ 4 tablespoons ( 2oz ) unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- ▢ 1/4 cup ( 50g ) granulated sugar
- ▢ 2 tablespoons ( 25g ) brown sugar
- ▢ 1 large egg yolk
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vanilla Icing (Optional)
- ▢ 1/3 cup ( 40g ) powdered sugar
- ▢ 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ▢ 1-2 teaspoons milk
Instructions
Small-batch Oatmeal Cookies
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line 1 baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
- In a food processor, pulse oatmeal 5 or 6 times, until oats are partially chopped, but not completely ground. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and processed oatmeal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together melted, slightly cooled butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Whisk in egg yolk and vanilla until well-combined. Add flour and oatmeal mixture and use a spoon to stir together until well-mixed.
- Drop 6 rounded spoonfuls (about 1.5-ounces each) on prepared baking sheet as far apart as possible (these cookies spread) and bake until cookies look just set: 12 minutes for softer cookies, 14 to 16 minutes for crunchy cookies. Cool on the baking sheet until cool enough to handle. If icing, cool completely.
Icing
- In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of milk. Add just enough milk, up to 1 teaspoon more, to get a drizzling consistency. Spoon over cooled cookies. Allow icing to set for at least 15 minutes, and enjoy!
Notes
Adapted From Shugary Sweets
A round-up of some of the best, easiest healthy recipes for two.
Happy 2018! How were your New Year’s celebrations? Have you sat down and made your resolutions yet? If one of them was to eat a little healthier, stick around a while because today’s post is for you.
I went back into the Baking Mischief archives and pulled together all the dinner recipes for two that might be considered “healthy,” be it low-calorie, lightened up versions of fattening favorites, or recipes that max out on the protein and vegetables. Everyone’s version of healthy is different, so I can’t say all of these recipes will be your healthy, but there should be something delicious here for everyone.
Healthy Recipes for Two
This cheesy Salsa Chicken for Two is the easiest homemade chicken dinner ever. No cutting or measuring needed and made all in one pan!
Quick and Easy Broiled Steak With Mustard Sauce is my go-to dinner for busy weeknights when I’m craving red meat! It’s fast, healthy, and delicious.
Basil Chicken Pasta is one of my favorite quick and easy meals. Just simmer basil, chicken, and tomatoes together, serve over the pasta of your choice, sprinkle with Parmesan, and enjoy!
This Easy Teriyaki Chicken with homemade teriyaki sauce has to be one of the simplest, most delicious dinners ever.
Easy Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas are a fantastic, cheap, and simple dinner for busy weeknights!
Light and easy Pasta Primavera with sweet crunchy bell peppers, tomatoes, and lean chicken breast served over penne pasta and topped with Parmesan cheese.
Easy Baked Chicken Katsu is a delicious, lighter take on the fried original. Pair with a simple sweet and tangy homemade Pineapple Katsu Sauce and it might just be your new favorite dinner.
Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Yogurt Sauce make a fabulous easy dinner that’s light on calories and heavy on flavor!
Quick and easy baked Chicken Parmesan for Two can be on your table in under half an hour and is a fantastic, filling weeknight meal when you have a craving for pasta.
Looking for more healthy options ? Try 14 Fabulous Lighter Desserts , How to Cook Perfect Chicken Breasts for Salads and Sandwiches , and The Fastest, Easiest Way to Cut Romaine for Salads .
