Chocolate Chip, Oat and Raisin Cookies

These make wonderfully chewy and crumbly cookies which are easily adaptable, just use whatever ingredients you might have in the storecupboard. Feel free to swap out the chocolate and raisins with other dried fruit, nuts or seeds.   Makes 24 cookies 225g of butter 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 160g of caster sugar 120g of light brown sugar 2 large free range eggs 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda 190g of plain flour 240g of rolled oats 80g of raisins 100g of good quality dark chocolate chips   Preheat the oven to 180˚C and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.   Using a standalone mixer or hand mixer, cream the sugar and butter until it becomes pale and smooth.   Add the eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition so the mix doesn't split.   Little by little add in the flour and bicarbonate of soda until it is completely incorporated.   Using a spatula fold through the oats, raisins, vanilla extract and chocolate chips until completely combined.   Place 12 heaped tablespoons of the dough on each baking sheet and place in the oven to bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.   You may need to swap the trays halfway through the cooking time in order to get an even colour on the cookies.   Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before transferring to a wire wrack to cool completely.   Enjoy with a glass of milk!

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Stained Glass Window Christmas Tree Cookies

My brother and I used to make these with my auntie Erica every year for Christmas. You can poke a hole in the top of them and then string through some ribbon so you can hang them on your Christmas tree. They look really great when the sparkly lights shine through!  Do keep an eye on these once they're on the tree though, in our house they always had a tendency to go missing!

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Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don't think there is any question that the Americans know how to create the most overindulgent desserts, and this one ticks all the boxes.
These were created by an American chain of restaurants and have something of a cult following in the US. Put simply, it's cookie dough piled into individual serving dishes and baked at high heat, so you get a set top and edges but a ridiculously gooey interior.
When they are pulled out of the hot oven, a big dollop of vanilla ice cream is plonked on top to melt and mingle with hot, soft cookie. Makes four individual portions.

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Donna Hay’s Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Personally I think these cookies taste even better a day or two after you make them. The intense dark chocolate flavour mellows out a bit and makes a really moist cookie. You can also make these without the candy cane chunks which aren't essential. Chopping the candy canes is fairly easy though so don't worry, just use a sharp knife.

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Cookies and Cream Chocolate Chip Oreo Cupcakes

This is my aunt Erica's cupcake recipe and it could not be easier to make. You can easily adapt this recipe to make a regular plain cupcake mixture also, simply remove the cocao powder and chocolate chips from the ingredient list.

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Peanut Butter Cookies

These are incredibly tasty little cookies which are so easy to make. Perfect for cooking with kids! Makes approximately 9 cookies 4 rounded tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter 1 large egg 2/3 cup of dark brown sugar 1/3 cup of whole wheat flour