Are you looking for a ridiculously easy and incredibly delicious dessert recipe that requires minimal ingredients and even less effort? Look no further! These Ritz cracker cookies are the perfect answer for a quick sweet treat, a last-minute dessert for guests, or a satisfying midnight snack. Forget complicated baking; this recipe is your shortcut to homemade happiness. They're surprisingly addictive and perfect for satisfying that sweet craving quickly.
Ingredients:
- 1 sleeve (12) Ritz Crackers, finely crushed
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional, pecans or walnuts work well)
Instructions:
Step 1: Prep the Crackers: Start by crushing your Ritz crackers. You can do this in a food processor for a finer crumb, or place them in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Aim for a mostly fine crumb with a few slightly larger pieces for texture.
Step 2: Combine Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix well until the sugars are fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
Step 3: Mix Dry and Wet: Add the crushed Ritz crackers to the wet ingredients. Stir gently until the crackers are evenly coated with the buttery sugar mixture. If using chocolate chips or nuts, add them now and mix until combined.
Step 4: Shape the Cookies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a spoon or a small cookie scoop, drop rounded tablespoons of the cracker mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each cookie.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Keep a close eye on them as they can burn quickly.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, enjoy your surprisingly delicious Ritz cracker cookies!
Tips for the Best Ritz Cracker Cookies:
- Don't overbake! Overbaked cookies will be dry and hard. Start checking for doneness at 8 minutes.
- Use good quality butter: The flavor of the butter will shine through in these simple cookies.
- Get creative with add-ins: Experiment with different types of chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, or even spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
Variations:
- Peanut Butter Ritz: Add 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter to the wet ingredients for a delicious peanut butter twist.
- Salted Caramel Ritz: Drizzle melted salted caramel over the cooled cookies for an extra decadent treat.
- Spiced Ritz: Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg to the mixture for a warm, spiced flavor.
Nutritional Information (per cookie, approximate):
This will vary depending on the added ingredients, but a single cookie will roughly contain: Calories: 80-100, Fat: 5-7g, Carbohydrates: 10-12g, Sugar: 5-7g. This is an estimate and should be considered an approximation.
These easy recipes are perfect for quick dinner ideas or satisfying your sweet tooth with minimal effort. Homemade cooking doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious! This recipe is a perfect example of how simple ingredients can create a surprisingly delicious and memorable dish. Enjoy!