The Bonusphere: Dessert Recipes




Cosmonaut Cakes

In an ideal world, each person would get one of these big, nutty cookies. Serving suggestion: Put the little cakes into a bowl that has been covered with aluminum foil. Then wear your space helmet while distributing.

2 cups butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoon vanilla
4 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups walnuts, finely chopped

           
Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla together until fluffy. Combine the flour and salt in separate bowl. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in the nuts. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours. 

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Form the dough into ping-pong sized balls. Bake for 11 minutes. The cakes should not be brown.

Roll the cakes in powdered sugar while still warm (but not too hot).
SERVES 6


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Flakey Bakes


Sometimes these chewy coconut delights are referred to as “macaroons.


1 1/3 cups sweetened coconut flakes
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 egg whites (Ask an adult to help separate the eggs, or buy “just the whites”)
1/2 teaspoon almond extract


Preheat oven to 325°F.

Combine coconut flakes, sugar, flour and salt in mixing bowl. Stir in egg whites and almond extract. Mix. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheet. Sometimes people like to cover the baking sheet with foil and then spray the foil. Bake for 23 minutes.

Remove bakes with spatula. Cool on a ceramic plate or a wire rack.


MAKES 18



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Powerful Peanut Butter Balls


You can make this dessert during a power outage because you won’t need to cook or bake it.  As an added bonus, you should regain any lost power within your own system.

2 cups peanut butter
1 cup honey
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons sugar
Optional: coconut flakes, nuts

Mix all of the ingredients together, except for the coconut flakes and the nuts. Shape into small balls. Roll each ball into the coconut flakes or nuts (or both).



SERVES 8



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Chocolate Space Balls   
           
An unknown number of people call these “truffles.” Whatever you call them, the balls make a nice gift for people that like chocolate.


1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
3 cups chocolate chips
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Optional: Cocoa powder, extra powdered sugar, chopped nuts


In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave oven or over a low flame.  Once melted, add the vanilla.

Add this melted chocolate and vanilla mixture to the cream cheese mixture. Combine thoroughly.  Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Make small chocolate balls with your clean hands.  Roll each ball into cocoa, powdered sugar, or nuts. 

Put the space balls onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze them for 2 hours. Cover any leftovers and store them in the refrigerator.


MAKES 60 SPACE BALLS
                                                                                                           


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Bedrock Brownies


These are basic brownies. If you plan to add nuts and chocolate chips, use ½ cup of each. Then they will become Basic Brownies 2.0.

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 (1 oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: 1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 350°F.

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a large saucepan (or in the microwave). Remove from heat and stir in the remaining ingredients.

Pour the mixture into a greased and floured 8-inch square pan.

Bake for 28 minutes. Cool. Cut into squares.
SERVES 9