Oreos

1 (18 oz) package devils food cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup butter
2 ozs cream cheese (low fat is fine)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla

Mix together cake mix, eggs, and oil. Form into balls the size of a gumball and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool on pan about 1 minute then remove to rack until completely cool. Be sure to make an even number of cookies.
In a medium bowl, beat together butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until creamy.
When cookies are completely cool, spread frosting on flat side of one cookie. Place flat side of another cookie on top of frosting. Repeat for remaining cookies.
Yield: 24

Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter
3 eggs
4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon juice

Mix butter and sugar. Add eggs, mix well. Add flavorings and salt. Mix in flour. Chill. Roll out on floured board to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 for 8 minutes.
Frost and decorate
Frosting:
1/3 cup butter
1-2 cups powdered sugar
milk
Wilton food color pastes

Melt butter. Mix in powdered sugar. Add drops of milk or additional powdered sugar as necessary to achieve desired consistency. Divide frosting into separate bowls (one bowl for each color desired). Mix in color. Keep a small amount of milk in a cup on hand to thin frosting as needed.
Yield: 3-4 dozen cookies

S'mores Bars

8 cups Golden Grahams cereal
5 cups mini marshmallows
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup light karo syrup
5 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mini marshmallows

Grease a large bowl and a 9x13 pan. Pour cereal into large bowl. In a saucepan, mix together butter, syrup, 5 cups marshmallows and chocolate chips. Heat over low heat until melted (you may want to melt the butter and syrup together and then add the marshmallows 1 cup at a time. Add the chocolate chips once all the marshmallows are melted). Stir in vanilla. Pour over cereal and quickly toss until cereal is completely coated with marshmallow mixture. Stir in 1 cup marshmallows (I also like to stir in the rest of the bag of chocolate chips at this point). Spread into 9x13 pan and press using back of spoon or moistened hands. Let stand at least 1 hour. Cut into bars.
Yield: 24 bars

Reeses Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (very fine)
2 cups powdered sugar
1 bag milk chocolate chips

Stir peanut butter into warm melted butter until smooth. In large bowl, mix together crumbs, sugar and peanut butter mixture. Press into 9x13 pan. Refrigerate. Melt chocolate chips (or equivalent in Hershey bars). Spread melted chocolate over peanut butter mixture. Refrigerate 1 hour or til chocolate is set. Cut into squares.
Yield: approximately 36 bars

No Bakes

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cups peanuts (optional)

Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar, cocoa, and milk. Stir until dissolved. Heat over medium heat until bubbles form on top. Boil and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until melted. Stir in vanilla, oats and nuts. Let stand 1 hour or until desired consistency. Drop onto waxed paper and let finish setting.
Yield: 36 cookies

Daddy Duds

I first made these for a "Happy Father's Day Family Home Evening" when Evan and Andrew were small and we lived in San Jose. They were a big hit with Daddy...especially since they bore his name.

1 cup butter
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp cocoa
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Cream butter, sugar, and cocoa. Beat in flour, then vanilla and nuts. Form into 1-inch balls and bake on ungreased cookie sheet 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when completely cooled.

Almond Rocca Cookie

These were a favorite of mine when I was growing up. I've made them occasionally but not too much. The kids have always loved them, though.

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg yolk, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups cake flour (or regular flour minus 4 Tbsp)
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped almonds

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolk and vanilla. Mix well. Blend in flour. Press into greased 9x13 pan or roll out onto large cookie sheet keeping 1 inch from the edge of the pan. Bake 15-20 minutes at 350. While warm, spread with melted chocolate chips and sprinkle with nuts. Cut into squares while still warm.
Yield: 60 1-inch squares