Cinnamon Maple Cool Whip Cookie Sandwiches

NOTE: This is a tandem post; Audrey's commentary is left-aligned,  Molly's is right-aligned and italicized.

With two bakers in the house, conversation in our family often veers towards food. And when it does, we come up with our best ideas. This recipe is one of those great ideas- the outcome of our mutual brainstorm during a random conversation that I can't even remember getting started. It just happened. It was meant to be. It was magical.

Some might even say...fate.

It went something like:
"We should put cinnamon in the New York Times chocolate chip cookie dough."
"Oh and why not put some cinnamon chips in it too"
"And let's make them cool whip sandwiches with maple extract in the cool whip." (#definitelyhowithappened)

Things escalate quickly when Audrey and I start brainstorming recipes. You may have noticed.

So maybe that's not exactly what happened. But it was something like that. With a long moment of silence at the end where we basked in the wonder of our combined brain power and sat in anticipation of how they would taste. There might have been a little mourning over our current jean sizes.

Cinnamon Muffins with Apple Butter and Streusel

I can't believe it. I really can't. This is our first ever muffin post! We've been doing this blog for over a year now, and we haven't posted about any muffins?

I mean I suppose we don't make that many muffins, and they aren't the most common baked good item, but that still amazes me. But if you are looking for a muffin recipe, look no further! 

Because these things are amazing.

"Essence of Autumn" Chocolate Layer Cake

WE'VE MOVED! Now redirecting you to our new page.

(This is a dual post: Audrey's writing is on the left, Molly's is on the right in italics.)

My dad's birthday cake is always one of my favorites. Don't get me wrong, I love all birthday cakes, but my dad's almost always involves fall flavors like pumpkin or cinnamon. And I mean come on, you can't go wrong with pumpkin or cinnamon.

This year, my dad requested chocolate in his cake. I didn't argue. But I didn't know if that meant he didn't want pumpkin or cinnamon or what. I had no ideas. *Enter Molly* Molly came up with the brilliant idea behind this cake, and I executed it.

This cake was my brainchild, and Audrey's labor of love. If you ask me, it's fitting that a father's cake be executed by both of his baker daughters. It's kind of like a joint gift from us to him, like one of those homemade gifts you would make when you were little before you could afford to actually buy people stuff. Only better, because it's a culinary homemade gift...and not in the way that uncooked macaroni art is a culinary homemade gift. But like, in an actually tasty way. Like, crazy tasty. Like, you're welcome, dad. And world. (We're nothing if not humble.)

Apple Butter Bread with Cinnamon Glaze

So I was a pretty weird kid. (Yes, in general, but I am talking specifically food-wise here.) That might be surprising to some, seeing as now I run a baking blog and will eat (or try, I should say) literally anything you put in front of me, but back in the day I was a very picky eater. I wouldn't eat pasta until I was about 5, and cheese even later after that. I don't know about you, but pasta and cheese seem like childhood staples. Like Mac & Cheese? That was my nightmare meal. And when we had spaghetti and meatballs, I would just get a bowl of meatballs with no noodles. (I mean, I'm not complaining, I'd still take that now.)

But I did LOVE PB&J sandwiches. Yet I was also weird because guess what I loved more than PB&J? Peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches. I probably ate it everyday for lunch for a straight year. All of kindergarten at least. I was obsessed. I thought I was pretty special too, because everyone had PB&J, but no one had PB&AB. If you have not tried the combination I don't think you have really lived. You have just been in a weird vegetative pre-PB&AB slumber.

So here, my friends, is the sophisticated equivalent of my childhood love:

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

WE'VE MOVED! Now redirecting you to our new page.

At my high school, you have to take one gym class to get gym credit (because it is also a health class) and the rest of the three credits can be sports. So, I decided to knock out my class in the first semester. And last week we were studying nutrition and had to keep track of all the food we ate for a week (I have not gotten the results on this little project yet, but my teacher glanced at it and said it looked healthy. But the dessert section was conveniently covered up). Anywho, I made these last week so just about every day it says "cinnamon roll cookie." And I'm sure my teacher has no idea what exactly that means. But come on. Cinnamon roll cookie. I'm sure he'll be happy about it.

(That's my hand by the way. It looks great, huh? I should go into a career of hand-modeling. Not blogging. Hand modeling is where it's at.) 

(I might just bribe him with one to get my grade up.)

Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Cream Cheese "Syrup"

Now I bet you're probably thinking, "Cinnamon Roll Waffles, Audrey? Really? How are we ever going to be able to make something so extravagant and complicated?" (Unless you're not thinking this and are just reading this with an open mind and are fully confident of your baking abilities and are up to any challenge,). Well, think again, because these things are EASE-Y.