Forum Thermomix

Thermomix Recipes for TM5 and TM31 => Festive Seasons => CHRISTMAS => Topic started by: Cuilidh on December 09, 2013, 04:00:44 am

Title: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 09, 2013, 04:00:44 am
I have been planning on making several “Cookies in a jar” gifts for Xmas this year and experimenting with different recipes and came across a recipe for Cranberry Hootycreeks – I had no idea what on earth they were, or what they were going to be like, I just loved the name!

Anyway, I did a trial run yesterday – checking how the measurements looked in a jar then mixing up and cooking the recipe to check on taste as well and they are delicious.  The volume didn’t quite fill the jar so I added a few extra cranberries and walnuts (I didn’t have pecans) and stuffed some tissues in the top to take up the slack.

Cranberry Hootycreeks

1 cup all purpose flour
½ cup rolled oats
½ cup all purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup chopped pecans

Makes 18 cookies

Layer the ingredients in a 1 litre jar, in the order listed.


Attach a tag with the following instructions:

Preheat oven to (175°C FF). Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, beat together 110 gm softened butter, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla until fluffy.  Add the entire jar of ingredients, and mix together by hand until well blended.  Drop heaped spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges start to brown. Cool on baking sheets, or remove to cool on wire racks.

This recipe came from allrecipes.com
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cranberry-Hootycreeks/Detail.aspx?evt19=1&scale=18&ismetric=1


Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: judydawn on December 09, 2013, 04:08:55 am
Thanks Marina, nice that you did a trial run as well.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: goldfish on December 09, 2013, 07:51:20 am
Marina - how could anyone NOT fall in love with these with a name like that!!  Many thanks!!  Have added  this recipe to what to make for Christmas gifts!! ;D
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: jo_nz on December 09, 2013, 08:24:29 am
Say what????  ;) Love the name.

As luck would have it, I just stocked up on cranberries and white choc chips today...meant to be.  Now to find suitable jars...
I don't have any pecans either but will surely have something in the cupboard to substitute.

Thanks Marina.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cornish Cream on December 09, 2013, 09:04:25 am
Great name for a cookie :D :D Marina just a query,you have listed all purpose flour in the ingredients twice.1 cup then after the oats another 1/2 cup.Is it to make it more layered?
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: cookie1 on December 09, 2013, 09:18:49 am
I love it. I was planning on giving a special friend cookies in a jar and wondering what to do. It will be these. I'll also make them.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 09, 2013, 10:19:15 am
Great name for a cookie :D :D Marina just a query,you have listed all purpose flour in the ingredients twice.1 cup then after the oats another 1/2 cup.Is it to make it more layered?
Yes, I think it is just to make another layer to cover or protect the rolled oats, otherwise the sugar would trickle through the rolled oats.  Come to think of it, I don't think there is any reason why the two flour layers couldn't be the same depth, it's up to yourself really.  It makes no difference whatsoever in the long run.

The finished cookies are lovely and soft / chewy on the inside and just a little crispy on the outside, just as I like them.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cornish Cream on December 09, 2013, 01:08:48 pm
Thanks Marina.I like the idea of the same depth of the flours when you make the layers ;D
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 09, 2013, 06:24:08 pm
I was also thinking overnight that you could layer all the flour then the brown sugar, white sugar, rolled oats, etc.  I think it would very possibly work better that way - the layers would be more defined.  I'll try that this weekend when I make up my Xmas jars.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: achookwoman on December 09, 2013, 07:15:18 pm
Thanks Marina.  You have just solved a problem for me.  Each of the GD will be getting one of these for Xmas. 
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: jo_nz on December 10, 2013, 03:34:18 am
Well, I have just made one batch in my favourite moccona coffee jars

(http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r220/littlejo_nz/DSCF8368.jpg) (http://s145.photobucket.com/user/littlejo_nz/media/DSCF8368.jpg.html)

And because I thought it would be easier to just pop the jar on my kitchen scales next time, I weighed as I went:

130g all purpose flour
50g rolled oats
65g all purpose flour
˝ tsp baking soda
˝ tsp salt
65g packed brown sugar
60g white sugar
70g dried cranberries
80g white chocolate chips
omitted the pecans because I didn’t have any…plus the jar was full.  Hopefully they will still be nice - might put on the directions that nuts can be added if desired.

About to go and make 2 more jars with DS  ;D
Thanks again Marina
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: jo_nz on December 10, 2013, 03:35:59 am
Oh, and the "white sugar" was actually raw sugar ground in the tmx as I don't have any white at the moment
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 10, 2013, 03:50:25 am
That looks good Jo.  Thanks for the weight conversions, that is so handy.  My jar was obviously a little larger than yours; those Moccona jars are really great aren't they.  For your next ones, you could try tamping the layers down a bit and that will give you a bit more room for nuts - I used the (clean) lid of an upturned baking oil spray can to do this.

Have you tried baking a batch yet?
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: jo_nz on December 10, 2013, 04:03:17 am
I did squish them down a bit with the back of a spoon, but maybe need to get a bit tougher  ;)
I haven't baked any yet - I already have a batch of milo bikkies that we are getting through, but I do have to make some kind of choc chip cookie later in the week for the school sausage sizzle on Friday, so these might be on the menu.

Yes, they are my most favourite jars - milo doesn't go solid in them.  One of my crafty things is glass etching, and also vinyl labels so I have done some of these up as labeled pantry jars and am always collecting them - fortunately my mum and sister drink moccona!
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: cookie1 on December 14, 2013, 07:43:49 am
Thanks for this recipe. I have just put it together for a morning tea Christmas gift tomorrow. I found some Christmas paper and typed the instructions onto that. The container wasn't quite full so I copied and put a few tissues in with the instructions on the top.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/14/4u8y3a6y.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/14/e8aze6a5.jpg)

Such a lovely gift and quick and simple to put together.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 14, 2013, 07:46:37 am
Glad it worked out for you.  As soon as I get off the forum I'm off to make 3 for Xmas gifts, hope they look as good as yours!
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cornish Cream on December 14, 2013, 01:15:56 pm
Great presentation Cookie 8)
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Frozzie on December 14, 2013, 09:44:30 pm
Looks lovely cookie :)
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: achookwoman on December 14, 2013, 10:11:22 pm
Cookie,  this looks lovely.  Have made 7 jars now,  don't looks as nice as yours but still happy with them.  Made 2 with 11 year old GD.  Had to buy these jars.  $2.50 .  She loved making them for her friends.  Thanks again Marina,  a novel and practical gift.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 15, 2013, 01:20:47 am
Thanks for your acknowledgement of these cookies.  Whilst  I am happy to accept your thanks for finding and posting this recipe, it is really kimmyh that should get everyone's thanks because it was her lovely 'lucky dip' gift at your "CC afternoon tea", Chookie, that inspired me and got me started on these in the first place!

It may be a bit late now, but one tip I read somewhere in the net-sphere, if you add your layers, one by one, through a funnel of some sort that goes a the way to either the bottom of the jar or the top of the previous layer (I used some baking paper) you can control them more easily and thus make a sharper and cleaner differentiation between the layers.  Hope that makes sense.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: judydawn on December 15, 2013, 01:36:50 am
It makes perfect sense Marina.  I take it your book is full of gifts in a jar?
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 15, 2013, 01:38:44 am
... well, now that you mention it ... I have downloaded one book of these recipes onto my kindle, but I like this recipe so much I haven't tried any others yet.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: achookwoman on December 15, 2013, 01:53:22 am
Marina I use a jam funnel.  There are some with smarties in them called Cowgirl Cookies.  These look fun,  but the recipe Marina has provided seems the most popular.
Yes,  I checked out Kim's recipe,  and remember her generous Lucky dip. Jars.  Everyone wanted them. 
Title: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Kimmyh on December 15, 2013, 09:41:41 am
Such kind words Marina, thank you but totally not necessary. I found my ideas from the internet just like you too. There is loads of ideas out there, but yours sound the best. I just love the name.  I used a jam funnel too and place jar on scales so I can weigh in the ingredients. Very quick way to do it.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: cookie1 on December 16, 2013, 01:22:38 am
The recipient of my jar of cookies loved them. She did say she wouldn't make them until it cools down a little. Thanks everyone.
Title: Re:
Post by: BeezeeBee on December 16, 2013, 05:10:51 am
Great idea for gifts!

Cookie, yours look so good. What container did you use?
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: cookie1 on December 16, 2013, 08:00:47 am
DH had just thrown out all the Moccona jars and the recycling had gone. I bought a square canister in Woolworths. I was pleased with how it looked.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Bedlam on December 16, 2013, 08:35:41 am
What a terrific idea. They look great Jo.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: KarenH on December 20, 2013, 10:46:46 pm
I just made up a trial batch of these to see what they were like.  I thought the mixture was very dry and crumbly, and it was difficult to form them into balls.  And when I baked them, they stayed in balls and didn't flatten out at all.  The biscuits were quite dry to eat too.

I looked up the recipe on the website, and the original recipe says to use 1/2 cup soft butter.  When I weighed out 1/2 cup butter it was 110 grams, not 60 grams.

So I am making a second batch with the increased amount of butter to see how it goes.

The second batch is out of the oven and have taste-tested both:  this is a really lovely biscuit, but IMHO it does need the extra butter.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 21, 2013, 12:06:21 am
Karen, thanks very much for that.  When I did the conversions I used a web based conversion table ... I will know better next time! 

When I made these the first time it worked OK with just 60 gm, but I have now updated my recipe on the one I am giving away today and will also update the recipe on this thread.  I do so hope that no one has a disaster with these, I will be so embarrassed!
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: KarenH on December 21, 2013, 12:21:27 am
Marina - they were by no means a disaster!   I just gave some of the first batch to a friend who popped by, and she declared them delicious.  I just think they are much nicer with the extra butter.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Bootobethin on December 21, 2013, 12:39:48 am
Thanks for the updated recipe.
I was just typing my cards out so your update was perfectly timed!
Thanks again.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Bootobethin on December 22, 2013, 12:21:34 am
I have used 1 litre jars but there is a lot of space at the top.
Has anyone else found this?
I was going to put in grease proof paper to hold contents but not sure if this will work.
I don't really want to increase the ingredients too much as I have quite a few jars to make.
Help what have you all done to remedy this?
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: KarenH on December 22, 2013, 12:24:00 am
I didn't put mine in jars bootobethin, but if I had a gap at the top, I would stuff it with scrunched up clear or red cellophane or tissue paper.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 22, 2013, 03:23:28 am
I put a few extra nuts, choc. bits and cranberries in because they are bigger and bulkier than the other ingredients then I did as Karen suggested, except I used scrunched up tissues.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: cookie1 on December 22, 2013, 03:23:42 am
I actually used Kleenex tissues very loosely, then put in the instructions.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: goldfish on January 16, 2014, 09:27:48 am
When I'm not sure if there might be any nut intolerances/allergies I prefer to leave the nuts out. Like others I found I had a fair gap at the top of the 1 litre jar when I finally got to prepare the hootycreeks the other day.  I placed a folded square of baking paper over the ingredients, put the chopped pecans into  a small cellophane bag and then put them on top of the baking paper so they could be used as an option. Result: a full jar! ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on January 16, 2014, 09:53:34 am
Good thinking, GF.
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Patzee on December 20, 2014, 10:25:48 am
Hi, have just made these as a trial, but they have turned out quite dry.  Is the flour measurement correct please? I used 1 1/2 cups plain flour.  Thanks :)
Title: Re: Cranberry Hootycreeks
Post by: Cuilidh on December 20, 2014, 07:18:02 pm
I just made up a trial batch of these to see what they were like.  I thought the mixture was very dry and crumbly, and it was difficult to form them into balls.  And when I baked them, they stayed in balls and didn't flatten out at all.  The biscuits were quite dry to eat too.

I looked up the recipe on the website, and the original recipe says to use 1/2 cup soft butter.  When I weighed out 1/2 cup butter it was 110 grams, not 60 grams.

So I am making a second batch with the increased amount of butter to see how it goes.

The second batch is out of the oven and have taste-tested both:  this is a really lovely biscuit, but IMHO it does need the extra butter.
Patzee, I'm sorry to hear that but the flour sounds about right ... KarenH had a similar problem and suggested more butter, that will make a difference to your finished cookies.  Hope that helps.