Cherry Jubilee Bars

A couple of weeks ago I bought a couple packages of “Cherry Jubilee Thins” at Target. They’re chocolate candies made by the Andes Mint people -- two or three other flavors were on the store shelf, but I’m not sure if they’re available year-round or only during the holidays.

In another aisle I found Betty Crocker cookie mixes for a good price, so I thought I’d combine the chocolate-cherry candies and the cookie mix. The candies have a rather mild cherry taste so the cookies do too; the cookies didn’t ‘wow’ me but they certainly weren’t bad. For a quick and easy cookie I’d make them again.

Other flavors of Andes candies could be substituted.


Cherry Jubilee Bars

1 package sugar cookie mix + ingredients to make them (I think egg and butter?)
1 package Andes Cherry Jubilee Thins, unwrapped and chopped

Make sugar cookie dough according to package directions; stir in chopped candies. Press mixture into 9x13 baking pan. Using the temperature called for on the package, bake for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool in pan before cutting into bars.

Mock Starbucks Vanilla Cream

I’m not a coffee drinker but I do like some of Starbucks non-coffee drinks. For something cold I like their iced teas and Vanilla Bean Frappucino (no whip on cold drinks for me); for something warm, I like their cocoa with a shot of cinnamon syrup and the caramel apple cider. A couple of weeks ago I ‘discovered’ their Vanilla Cream, a warm vanilla-flavored milk drink. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I went online to find out how to make something similar at home -- now I make it a couple of evenings a week.

We drink skim milk and I use fat-free creamer and whipped cream, so this is fat-free (though not low calorie). The portions below make two servings.


Mock Starbucks Vanilla Cream

4 cups milk
½ cup liquid vanilla creamer (found in the refrigerator case at the grocery, such as CoffeeMate or International Delights)
1 packet artificial sweetener
½ to 1 tsp. vanilla extract
aerosol whipped cream (such as Reddi Whip)

Combine milk, creamer, sweetener, and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat; heat until warmed through but do not boil. Pour into mugs; top with whipped cream.