Easy Cookies and Bars with Five or Fewer Ingredients

Anyone who has tried to get a handle on holiday baking knows this: You can never bake enough cookies to satisfy your family and friends who expect to see tins and tins of cookies on your countertop.

It starts in early October with all the baking ingredients piled high at the supermarket, beckoning us, teasing us, dare I say, luring us away from the spinach and rutabagas. Okay, maybe not.

Don't get carried away. Look over my easy cookie recipes and make a SHORT list of ingredients. Buy everything early, just in case, well you know, you forget you were supposed to make the cookies until the night before your holiday festivities.

Next, Martha tricks us into thinking: "if she can do it, anyone can (right)". So, like lambs to the slaughter, we purchase the pecans, walnuts, candied fruit, chocolate, white chocolate and butterscotch morsels, graham crackers, sugar (lots of sugar!) flour, vanilla flavoring...and spend an afternoon baking cookies, decorating them - and viola they are consumed by your family by midnight!

Hey! Who ate ALL the cookies!

Moral: Don't make your cookies until the week before your holiday celebration. Make it a family affair. Invite the grandkids over and let them put the jam in the foldovers. This makes for a nice memory for them. "Hey! Remember when grandma invited us over and Jimmy threw jam at Sally and the cookies fell on the floor, and the dog ate them!"

Well, then.

Make EASY COOKIES! Make them over and over until everyone says "enough already!".

These recipes are ridiculously easy, and most have 5 or fewer ingredients.

If you have room in the freezer, and are the type of person who worries about having enough cookies, then by all means, freeze them. It is also a great way to hide them...

Cook Time

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 12-15 minutes

Yields: 2 dozen

• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups Nilla wafer crumbs
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate pieces
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 12-oz. jar caramel topping

1. Combine butter and wafer crumbs.
2. Press into 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with chocolate and pecans.
4. Microwave caramel topping and drizzle over pecans.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 12 to 15 minutes.
6. Cool on rack. Cut into bars.

EASY APPLE DIAMONDS

Cook Time

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 15-20 minutes

Yields: 8 dozen

• 1 package gingerbread mix
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup candied fruits
• Frosting

1. In mixer bowl, combine gingerbread mix and applesauce.
2. Beat 2 minutes on medium.
3. Stir in raisins and candied fruits.
4. Spread in greased 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan.
5. Bake in 375 degree F. oven 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Cool. Cut into diamond shapes.
7. Spread with frosting of your choice or sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

EASY LEMON COOKIES

Cook Time

Prep time: 10 min

Cook time: 8-10 minutes

Yields: 4 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 box lemon cake mix with pudding
• 1 cup crispy rice cereal
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Shape into 1-inch balls.
3. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
4. Bake in 350 degree F. oven 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Cool slightly in pan before transferring to wire racks.

EASY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Cook Time

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 8-10 minutes

Yields: 4 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups baking mix, such as Bisquick
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Shape into 1-inch balls.
3. Place on ungreased baking sheets and flatten with tines of fork.
4. Bake in 375 degree F. oven 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Cool slightly in pan before transferring to wire racks.