Cinnamon Dip

1 (8 oz/225 g pkg) cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp/30 mL milk
1/2 tsp/2 mL Watkins Vanilla Extract
2 tbsp/30 mL brown sugar
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Cinnamon
1/4 tsp/1 mL Watkins Nutmeg

In medium bowl, beat all ingredients till smooth. Serve with apples or cookies.

Watkins Baking Cocoa & Recipe

The cocoa tree grows in the equatorial regions of Central and South America, Africa and India. After the cocoa beans are harvested, they are fermented to remove bitterness and develop flavor. They are then dried and roasted. Baking cocoa (cocoa powder) is unsweetened and less fatty than other forms of chocolate. It is produced by a cocoa press, which extracts the cocoa butter from the roasted beans. The resulting dry cakes of cocoa are then ground into powder.
Watkins is proud to offer this classic pure cocoa in our fine tradition of quality. Dark and full-flavored, our natural-processed baking cocoa is the best you could use for baking!

• Use whenever recipes call for cocoa; taste the difference!
• In recipes that call for unsweetened chocolate, simply substitute 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of Baking Cocoa plus 1 tablespoon (15 mL) unsalted butter for each 1 oz (30 g) of unsweetened chocolate.
• To substitute for one 6-oz (170 g) bag of semisweet chocolate morsels, substitute 6 tbsp (90 mL) Baking Cocoa, 7 tbsp (100 mL) granulated sugar, and 1/4 cup (60 mL) solid vegetable shortening.
• Unsweetened cocoa is a terrific addition to chili. This may seem strange, but chocolate actually
has a long tradition of similar use in Mexico.

Watkins Cocoa Brownies

1/2 cup/125 mL (1 stick) butter
1 cup/250 mL sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Original Double-Strength Vanilla
1/3 cup/80 mL Watkins Baking Cocoa
1/2 cup/125 mL all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp/1.2 mL salt
1/4 tsp/1.2 mL Watkins Baking Powder
4 tbsp/60 mL (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1/4 cup/60 mL Watkins Baking Cocoa
1 tbsp/15 mL light corn syrup or honey
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Original Double-Strength Vanilla
1 cup/250 mL confectioner’s sugar


Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Spray (with Watkins Cooking Spray) and flour an 8-inch/20-cm square pan. In a large saucepan, melt the first stick of butter. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat in the 1/3 cup cocoa, flour, salt and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not over bake.
Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients to make frosting. Frost brownies while still warm.
Makes 16 brownies, 1 per serving.

Apricot Nutmeg Turnovers

1 cup/250 mL all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp/.06 mL salt
1/2 cup/125 mL butter
8 ounce/225 g cream cheese
1/2 cup/125 mL apricot preserves
1/2 tsp/2 mL Watkins Organic Nutmeg
1 egg
1 tbsp/15 mL water

In medium bowl stir together flour and salt. Cut in butter and cream cheese. Stir together to form soft dough. Refrigerate 1 hour. On lightly floured surface roll out dough to 1/8-inch/3 mm thickness; cut out with 2–1/2 inch/6.5 cm round cutter. Stir together preserves and nutmeg. Spoon about 1 tsp preserves on center of each round. Fold in half and seal with fork. Whisk together egg and water. Brush egg mixture on turnover. Bake at 400 Fº/200º C for 12 to 15 minutes. Garnish with dried apricot pieces, or sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 2 dozen.

Copy Cat~Sara Lee's Carrot Square Cake

2 Eggs
1 ts Watkins Vanilla
6 oz Oil
1 ts Salt
1 1/2 ts Watkins Baking powder
2 ts WatkinsCinnamon
1 c Sugar
1 1/4 c All-purpose flour
1 c Carrots; grate fine
1 c Walnuts; well-chopped
1/2 c Light raisins; optional
Cream cheese icing
6 oz Cream cheese; softened
1/4 lb Butter
1 lb Powdered sugar
1 1/2 ts Watkins Orange extract
1 ts Watkins orange peel
1 tb Light corn syrup or pancake
1 tb Cornstarch or flour

Combine first 8 ingredients with electric mixer on medium-high.
Beat 3 minutes scraping down sides of bowl often. Remove beaters.
Stir in last 3 ingredients. Grease and flour 9" square pan.
Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 325~ about 50 minutes. Cool
in pan about 30 minutes. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting and
sprinkle with additional walnuts. ICING-Cream the cream cheese
with the butter until light and fluffy, using med-high spped of
electric mixer. Add half of the sugar, increasing speed to high.
Add extract and peel and beat about 1 minute. Scrape down sides
of bowl often. Resume beating adding remaining powdered sugar.
Beat smooth. Frost sides and top of cake.

Chocolate Coconut Crunch Cookies

2 c Flour
1 ts Watkins Baking soda
1/4 ts Salt
1 c Butter; unsalted, softened
3/4 c Brown sugar
2 Eggs; lightly beaten
2 ts Watkins Vanilla
1 ts Watkins Almond extract
2 c Coconut; shredded
12 oz Chocolate chips
1 1/2 c Almonds; lightly salted
-dry roasted, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 300. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and almond extract. Mix on low speed until blended. Add the flour mixture and mix just until blended; do not over mix. add the coconut, chocolate chips, and almonds and stir just until blended. Drop the dough by rounded tbsp 2" apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.

Yield: 4 dozen

Almost Snickers

12 ounces Low fat ice cream -- softened
1 cup Low fat Cool Whip
1/4 cup Crunchy peanut butter
1-2 servings Watkins Chocolate pudding mix
3 ounces Grape Nut cereal

Mix together ice cream, Cool Whip, peanut butter and pudding.
Fold in Grape Nuts.
Spread in 8x8 inch pan and freeze.

Hot Cinnamon Candy Apple

2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups corn syrup
1/3 cup hot cinnamon hearts candy
1 cup water
3/4 teaspoon Watkins cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Watkins vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Watkins cloves
3/4 teaspoon Watkins red food coloring
6 of your favorite type of eating apple, medium size
6 wooden skewers (often found in the produce dept.)

First prepare the apples for candy coating by washing them and removing the stems. Take a skewer and stab it right into the middle of the apple at its blossom end, and repeat for each apple. Be careful not to poke the skewer through the other side of the apple though. If wooden skewers are unavailable, a Popsicle stick with one end sharpened can be used in a pinch.

In a small or medium sized saucepan set on medium heat combine sugar, corn syrup, cinnamon candies, and water. Stir and keep stirring until everything is dissolved. Then stir some more just to make sure it's all dissolved. Once everything is dissolved, add cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and food coloring to the mix.

Now boil mixture to 300°F on the candy thermometer, or until the syrup is slightly brittle when tested in cold water. Remove from heat and quickly dip your apples into your candy coating and be sure to coat them well. Slowly twirling the apple will help spread the syrup over the apple.

Place them with the skewer pointing up on waxed paper or a greased cookie sheet and allow them to harden. They will be quite hot for a while so make sure you let them cool completely to room temperature before eating!

Chocolate-Dipped Cinnamon Crisps

Ingredients:
4 small flour tortillas
Cooking Spray
1/2 cup/125 ml sugar
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 ml Watkins Organic Cinnamon
1/2 cup/125 ml semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp/10 ml vegetable shortening

Cut each tortilla into eight wedges. Spray with cooking spray and place on baking sheet. Bake at 400ºF/205ºC for 4 to 7 minutes or until light golden brown. Meanwhile, combine sugar and cinnamon in plastic bag. When tortilla wedges are brown, spray again with cooking spray and place a few at a time in sugar/cinnamon bag; shake to coat well. Place on a piece of waxed paper. In small saucepan or in microwave, melt chips and shortening. Place pan in warm water to keep chocolate soft. Tip wide end of each tortilla wedge into melted chocolate; place on waxed paper and allow chocolate to harden.

Makes 32 wedges, 4 per serving.

Bread Pudding

Ingredients:
4 cups/1 liter day-old French bread, cubed (fat-free if available)
1/4 cup/60 mL raisins
2 cups/500 mL skim milk
1/2 cup/125 mL sugar
3 egg whites or 1/2 cup/125 mL egg substitute
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Original Double-Strength Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL Watkins Organic Cinnamon
Dash Watkins Organic Nutmeg
Dash Watkins Organic Cinnamon


Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC. Spray a 1-1/2 quart/liter casserole with Watkins Cooking Spray. Add bread cubes and raisins; toss to mix. In medium bowl, combine milk, sugar, egg whites, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well. Pour over bread mixture, pressing down cubes with back of spoon until soaked with egg mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted toward center comes out clean. Serve warm or cold.

Makes 6 servings.

Apple Compote

4 apples, peeled and chopped

1 tbsp/15 mL melted butter

2 tbsp/30 mL brown sugar

1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Cinnamon

1/4 tsp/1.2 mL Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup/125 mL apple cider

Sauté apples in the mixture of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon until tender. Add vanilla and apple cider and simmer for one minute. Serve immediately.

Apple Bars

4 cups/1 liter peeled and sliced apples
1 cup/250 mL sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup/125 mL vegetable oil
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup/250 mL raisins
Water
2-1/2 cups/625 mL all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL baking soda
2 tsp/10 mL Watkins Cinnamon
3/4 cup/180 mL chopped walnuts
1/4 cup/60 mL sugar
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Cinnamon

Mix apples and sugar together in medium bowl. Let stand 1 to 3 hours to draw out juice. Add eggs, oil and vanilla. In small saucepan, add raisins and just enough water to cover; bring to a boil, then drain. Combine raisins, flour, soda, 2 tsp/10 mL cinnamon, and nuts. Fold in apple mixture. Spread in a greased 15 × 10-inch/38 × 25-cm baking pan. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over bars. Bake at 350°F/180°C for 20 to 25 minutes or until bars test done. If desired, bars can be frosted with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Makes 36 bars, 1 per serving.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 package (3 oz/85 mL) cream cheese, softened
1 tbsp/15 mL butter, softened
2 cups/500 mL powdered sugar
1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Pure Vanilla Extract

Combine all ingredients in small mixing bowl and beat until smooth.

Watkins Bavarian Apple Tart

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. Watkins White Vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp. Watkins Cinnamon
1 package (8 oz.) reduced-calorie cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 tsp. Watkins White Vanilla
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 tsp. Watkins Cinnamon
4 cups peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples

Cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla; beat well. Add flour and cinnamon; beat well. Spread onto bottom and 1 inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside. Beat together cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla; spread onto crust. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl; toss apples in this mixture. Arrange apples in an attractive pattern on top of filling. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degrees and bake 25 minutes; cool completely. Keep refrigerated. Makes 8 servings.

Watkins Fresh Fruit Tart

Pastry dough for 10-inch pie
1 package (8 oz.) reduced-calorie cream cheese
1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar, to taste
1 1/2 tsp. Watkins Vanilla
2 peaches or nectarines, pitted and thinly sliced
2 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries
2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. Watkins Orange Extract
1/2 to 1 tsp. water

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare dough and press onto bottom and up sides of a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Trim edges if necessary. Prick crust with fork. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and cool completely. In small bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla; mix well. Spread evenly in cooled tart shell. (At this point, tart may be covered and refrigerated overnight.) In large bowl, combine fruit; carefully spoon over filling. In small bowl, combine honey, orange extract and enough water to make a glaze. Brush glaze over fruit. Remove sides of pan before serving. Makes 10 servings.

Vanilla Dessert Squares

Graham crackers
1/2 cup Watkins Vanilla Dessert Mix
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. Watkins White Vanilla
Water
1 tbsp. Watkins Chocolate Dessert Mix
1/4 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Layer a 15 x 11 inch baking sheet with graham crackers. Combine Vanilla Dessert Mix, sugar and water; mix well. Stir in milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil and thicken. Pour hot mixture over graham cracker and let cool to room temperature. When cool, whip cream until stiff. Spread over dessert layer. Place another layer of graham crackers on top of whipped cream. In a small bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, White Vanilla and enough water to make a smooth glaze. Spread evenly over graham crackers. in another bowl, combine the Chocolate Dessert Mix, hot water, and enough of the powdered sugar to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle over dessert. Refrigerate for 24 hours before serving. Make 18 servings.

Spiced Pumpkin Fudge

3 Cups (600 grams) Sugar
3/4 Cup (175 grams) Butter or Margarine
2/3 Cup (175 ml) Evaporated Milk
1/2 Cup (125 ml) Canned Pumpkin
1 teaspoon Watkins Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 bag Butterscotch Morsels 12 ounces (360 grams)
1 jar Marshmallow Creme (7 ounces ~220 ml)
1 Cup (250 ml) Pecan Pieces
1 teaspoon Watkins Vanilla

Greased a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 32-cm) baking dish.

In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, butter or margarine, milk, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

Continue to boil over a medium heat stirring constantly until mixture reaches 234F (112.2C) on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butterscotch morsels.

Add marshmallow creme, nuts and vanilla, mixing until blended. Pour (quickly) into the prepared baking dish spreading just until smooth.

Cool at room temperature, cut into squares. Wrap each square in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

Almond Roca

• 1 pkg. soda crackers (salted)

• 1 ¾ cups brown sugar

• 1 lb. butter

• 1 tsp Watkins Vanilla Extract

• 1 tsp. Watkins Caramel Extract

• ¾ cup sliced almonds

• 1 pkg. Chocolate chips (2 c)

Spray the bottom of a cookie sheet with Watkins Cooking Spray. Cover with a layer of soda crackers and set aside. In a saucepan, heat brown sugar and butter. Bring to a rolling boil & then add the extracts. Boil for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning. Remove from heat and stir in almonds.

Pour mixture over cracker base. Cook at 350 for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Place back in oven until chips start to melt (10-20 minutes). Let cool, then cut into squares. Freezes well.

Piña Colada Topping

1 can (8 oz/227 g) unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained
1 large ripe banana, peeled and chopped (about 1/2 cup/125 mL)
1/8 tsp/0.6 mL Watkins Rum Extract
1/8 tsp/0.6 mL Watkins Coconut Extract
2 tbsp/30 mL toasted shredded coconut

Combine pineapple, banana and extracts in small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use. Spoon over
frozen yogurt and sprinkle with coconut. Serve over frozen non-fat vanilla yogurt, low-fat ice
cream, angel food cake, waffles or pancakes.

Makes 1 cup/250 ml.

Maple Syrup

Quick Homemade Syrup

1 tsp/5 mL Watkins Maple Extract to 1 cup/250 ml light corn syrup

Hot Homemade Syrup

1 cup/250 mL sugar, 1 cup/250 mL water
Boil and add 3/4 tsp/4 mL Watkins Maple Extract

Coconut Fudge Sauce

3/4 cup/125 mL evaporated milk
1 package (6 oz/170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup/125 mL sugar
1-1/2 tsp/7.5 mL butter or margarine
2 tsp/10 mL Watkins Coconut Extract

Heat milk, chocolate chips, and sugar in large saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly
until chocolate is melted and mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat; stir in butter and extract. Pour into jars; cover tightly. Refrigerate no longer than 4 weeks. Serve warm or cold over ice cream.

Makes 1-1/2 cups/375 mL.

Note from Watkins Kitchen: Also try other Watkins Extracts, such as Raspberry, Orange and Peppermint in place of Coconut.

Cajun Caramel Corn

18 cups/4.5 liters popped popcorn
1-1/2 cups/375 mL firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup/125 mL butter
1/3 cup/80 mL light corn syrup
1 tsp/5 mL lemon juice
2 to 4 tsp/10–20 mL Watkins Blazin’ Cajun
Snack & Dip Seasoning
1/2 tsp/2.5 mL baking soda

Heat oven to 200°F/95°C. Pour popcorn into a large roasting pan.
In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, butter, syrup and lemon juice. Mix well.
Cook on medium, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil until mixture
reaches 260°F/125°C (hard ball stage). Remove pan from heat. Quickly stir in 2 tsp/10 mL
of Cajun seasoning and the baking soda. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat well. Bake for
1 hour in preheated oven, stirring every 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Empty
popcorn onto waxed paper. Break apart with hands. Sprinkle with additional Cajun
seasoning to taste, if desired. Store in a tightly-covered container.

Makes 18 (1 cup/250 mL) servings.