Cookies

I've always had tons of good memories surrounding homemade cookies. Certain family members baked up batches of them at holiday times, while others (namely my maternal grandmother) would bake up a batch almost any time. I have many happy memories of sitting around her table with a pot of hot tea and a plate of freshly baked cookies, or, several times when I was home sick from school, when she'd bring over cookies and regale me of stories of her youth. (Her tale of meeting Buffalo Bill Cody when she was an 8-year old, waiting on a train with her parents to head from Denver to New York State was one of my favorite stories of her childhood. Turns out Buffalo Bill was friends with Grandma's teacher, who knew a certain 8 year old who was sad about leaving her friends and classmates in Denver.)

So, that said, here are six yummy cookie recipes for you to check out, including Molasses Cookies and two of my grandmother's cookie recipes - her Oatmeal Cookies and her Peanut Butter Cookies. Enjoy!

GRANDMA'S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES





This was one of my grandmother's recipes, along with the oatmeal cookie recipe that follows. You can find them in my e-cookbook, Off The Wall Cooking.

Ingredients

1/2 C butter

1/2 C peanut butter

1/2 C sugar

1 egg, well beaten

1 1/4 C flour

3/4 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

Cream butter and peanut butter together. Add sugar gradually and cream thoroughly. Add egg. Sift flour once before measuring. Sift flour, soda, baking powder, and salt together and add to creamed mixture. Chill dough well, then form into balls the size of walnuts. Place balls on lightly greased baking sheet. Flatten with fork dipped in flour, making criss-cross pattern. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

GRANDMA'S OATMEAL COOKIES



Another one of my grandmother's recipes. When it came to baking, cookies were her specialty. You can also find these in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking

Ingredients

1 C flour

1 C brown sugar

3 C quick cooking oatmeal (NOT the instant oats!)

1 C butter or margarine

1/4 C boiling water

1-1/2 tsp. baking soda

Directions

Mix flour and brown sugar. Add oatmeal; stir. Melt butter; add to dry ingredients. Mix baking soda into boiling water; add to other ingredients, stirring well. Place batter into loaf pan, lined with aluminum foil and place in freeze for several hours. Slice and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Oatmeal Cookie dough, taken from the freezer; showing first cuts before baking



Then cut down the center, like so:



Placed on parchment paper-covered baking sheet, for easier handling



GINGERY BROWNIE CRINKLE COOKIES

This is from Susan Spungen at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Susan wrote, “These chocolate cookies are irresistible warm from the oven, when the chips or chunks inside are still luxuriously liquidy. They then cool to a fudgy, brownielike texture with a chewy edge — if any manage to stay around that long. Both fresh and candied ginger lend sophistication, but feel free to leave them out if you want a pure chocolate experience. These cookies are also ideal for late-night cravings: You can be eating them 30 minutes after you start measuring the cocoa powder.”

Yield: 20 cookies; Time: 30 minutes

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020655-gingery-brownie-crinkle-cookies.

Ingredients

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (70 percent), broken or chopped into pieces

1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick)

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (about 2/3 cup)

8 to 10 pieces candied ginger slices (about 2 1/2 ounces), thinly sliced crosswise

Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl, and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Combine the 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate and the butter in a small heatproof bowl that fits on top of a small saucepan without falling in. Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in the saucepan over high, reduce to a simmer, then set the bowl on top. Stir occasionally until completely melted. Remove bowl from saucepan to cool slightly.

Combine eggs, granulated sugar and light brown sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment. Beat on medium speed to combine, scraping down the sides once. Increase speed to high and beat until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the ginger and vanilla. Beat to combine.

Add the melted chocolate mixture and beat on medium speed to combine. Add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Remove bowl from mixer, scrape sides and fold a few times to make sure everything is well combined. Add the 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips and fold to combine.

Use a small cookie scoop to scoop dough (which will be pretty runny) into generous 1-tablespoon portions. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, setting each scoop 3 inches apart. Top each cookie with a good pinch of candied ginger. Bake until surface is crinkled and edges are firm, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating sheets from front to back and top to bottom halfway through.

Let cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, and transfer them to a wire rack to cool further. Scoop any remaining dough onto one of the baking sheets — it’s O.K. to reuse the parchment — and repeat. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.

MOLASSES COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 23 servings; Serving size: 3 cookies

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/molasses-cookies.

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1 pinch Pinch of salt

1/2 cup trans-free margarine

1/4 cup SPLENDA Brown Sugar Blend

1/4 cup dark molasses

1 egg white

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat several cookie sheets with non-stick cooking spray. On a sheet of waxed paper, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt. Stir with a fork to blend. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat margarine until smooth. Add SPLENDA Brown Sugar Blend, molasses, and egg white. Mix slowly to incorporate, then beat until smooth. Gradually stir in the reserved flour mixture until well blended. Dough will be soft but not sticky.

Using your palms, roll dough into 3/4-inch balls (1 level teaspoon). Place, separated, on prepared pans. Use the back of a fork to press down on tops of cookies in an X, making a crosshatch pattern.

Bake for 8 minutes, or until edges are set. Let stand on the sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a rack to cool. Continue until all the dough is baked.

Notes:

This whole grain cookie, with the rich flavor of dark molasses, goes great with a glass of cold milk.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70; Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 0.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 130 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Sugars: 3 g

NO-BAKE COOKIES

This is from Margaux Laskey in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Margaux wrote, “These classic no-bake peanut butter and chocolate treats are also known as cow patties or preacher cookies. The story goes like this: If a housewife looked out the window and saw the preacher coming up the mountain on his horse, she could whip up a batch of these cookies in the amount of time it would take him to reach the front door. True or not, it’s a good story — and a great cookie that’s a cinch to put together. Combine all the ingredients in a pot over medium heat, then drop spoonfuls on a sheet pan and chill until set. Be sure to use quick-cooking oats, not instant, when making these cookies. The less-processed oats provide delightful texture and chewiness.”

Time: 15 minutes; Yield: 3 dozen cookies

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020688-no-bake-cookies.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 cups quick-cooking oats

2/3 cup smooth or crunchy peanut butter (not natural)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

Line two large sheet pans with parchment paper. In a pot, combine the sugar, milk, butter, cocoa powder and salt. Bring ingredients to a rolling boil over medium heat, stirring constantly and being careful not to let the mixture burn, then cook until the cocoa powder and sugar have fully dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Add the oats, peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until well combined, then let cool for about 15 minutes. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls onto the prepared sheet pans, gently pressing the center to flatten slightly. (You should have about 36 cookies.) Chill for a few hours until firm. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

DIRTY CHAI EARTHQUAKE COOKIES

This comes from Susan Spungen at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Susan wrote, “In case you’re wondering about the name of this cakey, chewy-edged cookie, which nearly explodes through its sugary crust, it’s a nod to a coffee bar creation in which a shot of espresso tops off a cup of masala chai, the Indian spiced tea. It’s right at home on a traditional holiday cookie plate, thanks to its festive cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves. Feel free to add a little freshly grated nutmeg, if you’re so inclined. A strong coffee flavor adds nuance; black pepper lends a spicy kick; and malted milk powder, browned butter and brown sugar all contribute toasty warm notes to this craveable treat.”

Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling; Yield: 2 dozen cookies.

This was featured in “12 Stunning Cookies That Will Impress Everyone You Know,” and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020652-dirty-chai-earthquake-cookies.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon finely ground espresso (not instant espresso) or finely ground coffee

1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick)

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons malted milk powder, such as Carnation brand

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

2 large eggs

3/4 cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract or paste

1/4 cup granulated sugar, for rolling

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted, for rolling

Preparation

Put espresso or coffee in a small metal bowl. Put butter in a small saucepan, and cook over medium-high heat, swirling and stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula, until nutty brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the butter to the bowl with the espresso and stir to combine. Set aside to cool, stirring occasionally, while you prepare the rest of the cookie.

Combine the flour, malted milk powder, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine thoroughly and set aside.

Combine eggs and light brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until well combined and slightly paler, about 3 minutes, scraping bowl as needed.

Add the vanilla and the butter mixture, then mix on low speed until combined. Add the flour mixture, then mix again on low until combined. Transfer dough to a resealable glass or plastic container, and chill thoroughly, at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put granulated sugar and confectioners’ sugar into two separate bowls. Use a small cookie scoop to portion dough into heaping tablespoons (about 25 grams each). Roll into smooth balls and drop a few at a time into the bowl of granulated sugar, rolling to coat. Transfer to the bowl with the confectioners’ sugar. Roll gently, coating well, then transfer to a parchment- or silicone mat-lined baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches between cookies. Place in freezer until firm, about 10 minutes.

Bake until cookies are golden underneath but still quite tender (they will firm up as they cool), 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool a few minutes on the baking sheets and transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week.

Comments

Popular Posts