Cookie business

By Meredith Hines-Dochterman/The Gazette

I Googled “Girl Scout Thin Mints” the other day.

Immediately I had a list of websites with recipes that promised homemade cookies as good as Thin Mints.

I don't need to know how to make my own Thin Mint cookies. My daughter is a Girl Scout. A shortage of cookies is not a problem for my family.

What I need are recipes that use these cookies in a different way.

It took some searching, but I found scores of recipes that list Girl Scout cookies as ingredients. Yes, there are quite a few desserts that feature the annual treats, but I also found some less sugary snacks that could possibly fool you into thinking you're eating something healthy.

That is, if you ignore the fact that the recipe centers around a cookie.

As Girl Scout cookie season draws to a close, instead of stocking your freezer with Caramel deLites and Shortbread cookies, consider using them to create new treats. If you run out, you know the cookies will be back next year.

Until then, there's always Google and its copycat recipes.

Comments: (319) 398-8434; meredith.hines-dochterman@sourcemedia.net

Easy Trail Mix

6 cups finely chopped Peanut Butter Sandwiches

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup sunflower seeds, shelled

3/4 cup cashew halves

3/4 cup dried apples, chopped

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup cooking oil

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup water

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine Peanut Butter Sandwiches, coconut, wheat germ, sunflower seeds and cashews. Mix together oil, honey, water, salt and vanilla. Pour over the Peanut Butter Sandwich mixture. Stir well. Spread on two greased baking sheets.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Cook thoroughly.

Let mixture cool and then pour into a large bowl. Add raisins, dried apples and chocolate chips. Serve as a snack, cereal or use as a topping for ice cream or pudding.

Source: Recipe adapted from a collection of recipes produced by the Pine Mountain Service Unit in Northwest Georgia.

Lemonades Yogurt Parfait

Makes: 4 servings

8 Lemonades Girl Scout Cookies, coarsely crushed

1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries

4 containers (6 oz. each) flavored yogurt

1 cup chopped mixed fruit (suggestions: bananas, strawberries, grapes, kiwi or blueberries)

4 Lemonades Girl Scout Cookies for garnishing

Combine crushed cookies and cranberries. Divide cookie mixture. Spoon half of cookie mixture into the bottom of four tall and narrow dessert glasses. Top with half of yogurt and half of mixed fruit pieces. Repeat layers. Garnish each dessert with one whole cookie.

Source: ABC Bakers

Girl Scout Cookie Peanut Butter Patty Cake Bars

1 box yellow cake mix

1 stick butter, softened

1 egg

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

10 to 12 Girl Scout Peanut Butter Patty cookies, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with foil and spray generously with non-stick cooking spray.

Place cake mix, butter and egg into a large bowl, mix until dough forms. Press dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with chocolate chips. Stir sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until well combined and pour over dough. Top with chopped Peanut Butter Patty cookies.

Bake for 23 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely, cut into squares, and serve.

Source: Kevinandamanda.com

Mini Cheese Cakes

1 package of Shortbread cookies

2 packages of cream cheese, 8 ounces each

3/4 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 can pie filling (any flavor)

Mix cream cheese, sugar, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Using a cupcake pan with liners, put one Shortbread cookie in the bottom of each cup. Pour cream cheese mixture over cookies, filling cups about half full.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Cool and top with pie filling.

NOTE: While cooking, cupcake will drop down into cups, allowing room for the filling. Cheesecakes be frozen when completed.

Source: A collection of recipes produced by the Pine Mountain Service Unit in Northwest Georgia.

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