Just one spoonful. That’s the thought I had when a major late afternoon hunger attack happened. It was a busy day and I skipped my usual mid-afternoon granola bar. Then it struck. My tummy was growling and I needed something. One big spoonful would hold me over. One led to finishing off the jar then feeling full and not wanting dinner. I should have eaten a couple of the Cashew Butter Bites instead of the leftover cashew butter.
I should know better than to skip my mid-afternoon snack. Each time it leads to over eating something. Do I learn from it? Nope. I suppose it is a weakness. We all have one or a few of them. Anyway, back to the Cashew Butter Bites. I baked them for this month’s Creative Cookie Exchange. Packing for a Picnic is the theme. As usual, it involved a big thought process and deciding on the right cookies.
My first thought was sugar cookies. Simple slice and bake ones might be nice. For whatever reason, I can’t think of sugar cookies without the thought of butter cookies coming soon after. Butter transferred right over to peanut butter. Now I was on a tasty thought train. The tracks went right to cashew butter because I haven’t had it in a while and I wanted something different.
It was time to do recipe adapting. There really isn’t a whole lot of cashew butter recipes out there. Fortunately it is easy to use it in place of peanut butter. I started with a base for cookies with some sort of chocolate candy put on top when hot out of the oven. I didn’t want to use chocolate though. It could melt and be messy if picnicking on a hot day. Instead a single whole cashew did the trick.
How are the cashew butter bites? They are nutty, buttery, soft, and chewy. Note cashew butter has a milder flavor than peanut butter so the main flavor is less intense. These bites would pack marvelously for a picnic. What else would? I suggest Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese, and Tomato Sandwiches. Scroll down to find more picnic cookie recipes too.
Cashew Butter Bites
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/2 cup creamy cashew butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 40 whole cashews roasted and salted
Instructions
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Cream butter and cashew butter in a large bowl. Add sugar and brown sugar and beat until well combined.
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Add egg and vanilla and beat to combine.
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Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture and beat until combined.
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Chill dough thoroughly, at least 1 hour.
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a total of 40 cups in 2 mini muffin pans.
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Shape dough into 40 balls (about 1 tablespoon of dough per ball).
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Place balls into greased muffin cups. Bake for 12 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
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Remove from oven and lightly press 1 whole cashew into each one.
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Cool completely before removing from the pan.
Recipe Notes
Cashew Butter Bites are made with creamy cashew butter and topped with a whole cashew. They are nutty, buttery, soft, and chewy.
The Creative Cookie Exchange theme this month is Pack for a Picnic Cookies. It’s any kind of cookie that sounds great for a picnic. If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura via email (thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com) and she will get you added to our Facebook group where discuss our cookies and share links.
You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made:
- Blondies from A Baker’s House
- Browned Butter Lemon Cookies with Macadamia Nuts from The Spiced Life
- Cashew Butter Bites from Magnolia Days
- Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Noshing With The Nolands
- Chocolate Chip Cookies from SimplyVeggies
- Chocolate Chip Potato Chip Cookies from Our Good Life
- Demerara Shortbread Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Gingham Picnic Cookies from Food Lust People Love
- Gluten-Free Trail Mix Cookies from Rhubarb and Honey
- Key Lime Coolers from 2 Cookin’ Mamas
- Naan Khatai – Indian Shortbread Cookies from Spiceroots
- Nutella Energy Bites by Study at Home Mama
- Raisin Biscuit Cookies from A Shaggy Dough Story
- Soft Brown Sugar Cookies from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Stacy says
Those remind me of some lovely candies that Brazilians make for every party, Renee, cashew flavored with each a cashew on top! What lovely little bites!
Tara says
How fabulous do these look, cashews are my fav!! I want to picnic with YOU!!
Jennifer Tammy says
I LOVE cashew butter – it should be in more baked goods! We will definitely be trying out this recipe.
(And don’t feel bad about the cashew butter – I just had soup and an apple less than an hour ago and I’m sipping on a milky tea and graham crackers… yup, the kid’s graham crackers…)
Terri Oliver Steffes says
Good grief! These look so amazing! I am going to have to give them a try. Love nuts and cookies!
shilpi says
Your cookies are always super delicious.. Was waiting for this recipe. Looks simple and yummy….
Laura says
I love this recipe! I love cookies made in mini muffin pans–so cute! And I love that they can hold something–as with the cashews here. Great job!
Ansh says
I licked clean a leftover (half) Jar of Almond butter the other day because I didn’t eat lunch. LOL I so understand this but hey it was at least a healthy choice. [wink]
I don’t think I would be able to stop at a couple of these cashew butter bites because cashews are just so addictive and these look so cute ! Great thinking for this month’s cookies. Very different.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
I like the way your mind works! Butter…. cashew butter! Those bites look amazing!
Hezzi-D says
I’m not sure I’ve ever had cashew butter. I actually never ate cashews until a year or two ago. While they aren’t my favorite, I bet I’d love them in these cookies!
Holly says
What perfect bites for picnicking. I think these look lovely!
Linda @ 2 Cookin' Mamas says
Yum! I love cashews so I can’t think of anything I would like better than these cookies. Now I wonder why I never thought of using cashew butter in a cookie recipe before? Can’t wait to try them!
Mary Frances says
I love how simple yet flavorful these look. Will have to try them with some tea!
Robin @ A Shaggy Dough Story says
I think I’m going to have to give these a try! Cashews are one of the very few (as in two) nuts that I can stand to eat and these little gems are definitely tempting me to give these a go. Thanks!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
such cute (and I’m sure addictive) little bites of yumminess!