Vegan Short Bread Cookies

I really like Short Bread Cookies. I used to donate my Blood just because I could get a free pack of Lorna Doone Cookies out of it. Well, that's not the only reason I did it. So, I decided to try my hand in making them. This is what I have come up with so far. Traditionally Short Bread Cookies aren't really sweet. So you could add a bit more sugar to this recipe, if you think you want that extra sweetness. Myself, I prefer to dip them in melted chocolate or put some jam on top.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup - vegan margarine*
• 1/2 cup - sugar
• 2 cups - all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon - baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon - salt
• 1/2 teaspoon - vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons - soymilk
  *make sure it is at room temperature

Step 1:
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar with a mixer until fluffy.


 




Step 2:
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until well mixed. 

Step 3:
Slowly add the flour mixture to the "butter fluff" margarine mixture.

Step 4:
Finally add the vanilla and soymilk, and slowly mix in.

Step 5:
Refrigerate dough overnight or until it is the consistency of butter.

Step 6:
Preheat the oven to 350 F & line a baking sheet with wax paper.
Lightly flour a flat surface and roll dough with rolling pin until it is about 1/4" thick.

Step 7 :
Cut into fun shapes or use a cookie cutter and place on baking sheet.

Step 8:
Bake for about 5 mins, then rotate pan 180 degrees and bake for another 5.

Step 9:
Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 mins on pan before transferring them to a wire rack.

Step 10:
EAT THEM! or Make them pretty like I did for my mom on mothers day. Enjoy!

-Jordan Halliday

Vegan Peanut Butter Cups

I guess you really wouldn't call what I made "cups", maybe peanut butter blossoms, and peanut butter hearts. But semantics, its the same concept.

I bought these Ice Cube Trays at Ikea and they work great for chocolates. Alternatively, you could buy little peanut butter cup wrappers.

The kosher salt was a last minute idea. We ate those ones really quick and I didn't get a picture. The salt goes amazingly well with the chocolate and peanut butter.

Next Challenge Snickers.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound -- vegan chocolate (I used bittersweet, ran out and mixed in some dark)
• 1 Cup -- Peanut Butter
• 1/2 Cup -- Powdered Sugar
• 2 splashes -- Vanilla Extract
• Kosher Salt (optional)

 

STEP ONE:
In double broiler Melt Chocolate.

STEP TWO:
Place a couple granules of the kosher salt at the bottom of paper cups or ice cube trays if you are using them. Spoon in some chocolate. Using a little paint brush, brush the sides of the cups/trays making sure chocolate is covering them fully. Make sure there is enough room for the peanut butter and more chocolate on top. Place in Freezer.

STEP THREE:
While Chocolate is solidifying. Mix Peanut Butter, Powdered Sugar, and Vanilla in a bowl. You should get something the consistency of cookie dough.

STEP FOUR:
Press Peanut Butter Dough into trays of chocolate, leaving enough room to be brushed with chocolate on top.

STEP FIVE:
Coat the tops of the peanut butter, allowing the chocolate to fill in all the holes. Brush with a paint brush to make sure its coated well. Put in freezer.

STEP SIX:
Pop the chocolates out of the mold once chocolate has solidified. Enjoy.

-Jordan Halliday

Peanut Butter Cups

Vegan Cake Pops

So everyone has been talking about these amazing cake pops that they started serving at starbucks. Obviously they needed to be made vegan.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 -- Vegan Cake (I used a strawberry boxed cake mix)
• 16 oz -- Vegan Frosting (I used plain white vegan frosting)
• 1 lb -- Vegan Chocolate (I used bittersweet)*
  *It is better to have too much than not enough. 
  
  
  
  STEP ONE!

Make Your Cake and Allow to fully cool.

STEP TWO!
Soften frosting by nuking for a few seconds. Add to bowl and crumble cake into it. Mix with hand (or a spoon... I suppose).

STEP THREE!
Roll into balls and place onto a baking sheet. Chill for several hours. Insert sucker sticks after about an hour. or leave them out for Vegan Cake Balls. Then continue to chill.

STEP FOUR!
Once chilled, melt your chocolate, and roll cake pops into it making sure they are fully coated. Use a spoon if necessary to drizzle chocolate on. Place finished pops on a aluminum or wax paper covered baking sheet. Chill for another hour or until chocolate is hardened.

 

STEP FIVE!
Effing Profit! Enjoy!


-Jordan Halliday

Really Quick and Easy Banana Ice Cream

A lot of people already know how to do this. But for those that don't... you are in for a surprise.
I decided the picture needed a garnish, but as I went to find one the ice cream started to melt. So I just said Screw it.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 -- Large Banana (chopped and frozen)
• 4-6 oz -- Soy Milk

STEP ONE!
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend.
STEP TWO!
Garnish! Enjoy!

Use less soy milk for a thicker treat, or more for something more like a milkshake.
You can also add spirulina to make a tasty healthy green treat.
Also, Peanut Butter and Chocolate go awesome with this.

-Jordan Halliday