Cheesecake filled Graham Cracker cookies!

I started thinking today wouldn't it be amazing to have cheesecake inside of a cookie.  Then was just trying to figure out what kind of cookie would be best.  I had never heard of a graham cracker cookie but that was the first thing that came to mind.  I felt like a genius!  So Abbey, Nathaniel and I immediately went in the kitchen to concoct something.  After eating these bad boys I'm so proud and have to share the recipe!

Yield: 2 dozen large cookies

The Cookie:

2 sticks softened unsalted butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 egg

2 cup AP flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

The Filling:

8oz softened cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.  Start by mixing all of the filling ingredients together.  I covered and put in my fridge while I was making the cookie dough.  

Cream the butter and sugar together.  Add the eggs one at a time scraping the sides of the bowl after each egg.  Add in flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla.  Mix in the graham cracker crumbs (you can buy them already ground up in the baking isle at any grocery store, or just finely grind up some graham crackers) Mix until combined.  

Take a ball of cookie dough (about 2tbsp) put 1tsp of the cheesecake mixture on it then add another cookie dough ball on top.  Make sure to seal the edges.  I rolled mine back into balls.  Put them on a foil or parchment paper lined pan about 2 inches apart.  ( I used foil because I was out of the parchment paper worked just as good and didn't have to spray any cooking spray) Bake for 8-10 minutes.  Let cool on a wire rack.  

I found they are good both after being in the fridge and leaving them at room temp.  I think it's totally up to your preference.  I hope you enjoy!!

Every time I look at this picture I want another one!

Pinkalicious 3rd Birthday!

Even though her bday was in November I thought I'd go ahead and post about it.  She is obsessed with the book Pinkalicious and the color pink so we had to throw a Pinkalicious party for her.  It was so much fun to plan!!
It all started with her invitations.  I took this picture and made an invitation on Shutterfly.  I just loved how they turned out!

I started making and planning for it months in advance.  I made wands for all the kids.  Pink for the girls and Green for the boys.  I made one a couple weeks early and let my kids play with it a bunch to make sure it wouldn't break so they would last a while!

I got some crowns for all of the kids in the dollar section at target.  Which I'm pretty much obsessed with.  We tried to keep everything as "Pinkatastic" as possible.

I made cupcakes to look like the ones Pinkalicious made with her mom in the book.  Then made some homemade marshmallow pops to match the cupcakes

I made a bracelet for each girl with their names on it for the goodie bags.  Most of them still wear them too:)

Since she was turning 3 and was more excited about her friends being there then playing a game I just decided while they were eating their cupcakes to read them the book just in case someone hadn't heard it before.  It was so fun I can't wait to start planning her next party!