Cookies

It seems that everyone (or, maybe I should say almost everyone) like freshly baked cookies. I have great memories of my grandmother's visits, especially when she'd show up with a batch of her homemade cookies. The stories she'd regale my sister and me of her younger life while we had her cookies and tea. (Her parents had immigrated from England at the turn of the twentieth century, so afternoon tea was important; if it came with freshly baked cookies, that was even better!)

And now, without further chit-chat, are six yummy cookie recipes, including Grandma's Peanut Butter Cookies and Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies. Enjoy!

LEMON BUTTER COOKIES

This is from Diana Rattray on The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “These lemon butter cookies are delicious little snowballs full of vibrant lemon flavor. Fresh finely grated lemon zest and lemon juice flavor the cookies perfectly, and the powdered sugar coating makes them extra special. I add chopped walnuts to the cookies but they may be made with chopped pecans or no nuts at all.

“Bake these easy lemon butter cookies for a special occasion or family treat. They're perfect for a party or holiday. Bake them for Easter or a spring or summer event.

“The recipe is easily scaled up for a party or bake sale event. See the tips and variations for a few more ideas and tips for freezing cookies.”

Total: 30 mins; Prep: 15 mins; Cook: 15 mins; Yield: 2 to 3 Dozen (24 servings)

To view this yummy, lemony recipe online, click here.

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour (8 ounces)

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter (unsalted, softened)

2/3 cup sugar (granulated)

2 teaspoon lemon peel (finely grated)

1 large egg

3 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh)

1/2 cup walnuts (finely chopped)

1/4 cup powdered sugar

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease the pan lightly.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Blend thoroughly with a spoon or whisk. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Beat the egg and lemon zest into the creamed mixture, and then add the lemon juice.

Gradually stir the flour mixture into the first mixture until well blended.

Fold in the chopped walnuts.

With floured hands, shape the dough into small balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. The cookies will spread just slightly.

Bake the lemon cookies for about 12 to 16 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned on the bottoms.

Remove the cookies from the baking sheet to a rack and let them cool.

Using a mesh sieve or sifter, sprinkle the cooled cookies with confectioners' sugar.

Makes about 2 to 3 dozen cookies.

Tips and Variations

If you'll be freezing the cookies, omit the powdered sugar coating. Put the cookies in containers separated with sheets of wax paper and freeze for up to 4 months. Defrost the cookies and place them on a rack. Sift powdered sugar over them.

Omit the chopped walnuts or replace them with chopped pecans or toasted coconut.

Add a teaspoon of dried ground lavender flowers to the flour mixture.

If you are using salted butter, reduce the salt slightly to a scant 1/2 teaspoon.

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



CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO OATMEAL COOKIES

Makes 48 cookies.

From the December 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 75. This begins, “Take chocolate chip cookies to the next level with this espresso-spiked dough that's laced with chewy oats.”

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour or oat flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

4 oz. (1 stick) margarine, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cooled espresso or strong coffee

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups oats

1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in bowl.

Cream margarine and sugar together with electric mixer in bowl. Beat in espresso and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time, adding up to 1/2 cup more if necessary to make thick dough. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.

Divide dough in half. Transfer each dough half to large sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper. Use plastic wrap to shape dough into 2 2-inch-diameter logs with plastic wrap or wax paper. Wrap tightly, and chill 2 hours, or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Slice dough logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer slices to greased or parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Bake 8 to 11 minutes, or until cookies look dry on top. Cool cookies 3 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack.

nutritional information Per Cookie: Calories: 56; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 43 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; vegan

OATMEAL CRANBERRY COOKIES

This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.

Ingredients

1/2 Pound Unsalted Butter (2 Sticks)

1-1/4 Cups Brown Sugar

1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

2 Large Eggs

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

2 Tablespoons Milk

2 Cups Rolled Oats

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Salt

2 Cups Dried Cranberries

Directions

Cream butter and sugars until fluffy, beat in eggs, vanilla and milk. In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and stir until combined. Stir in cranberries. Divide dough in half, roll into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Refrigerate until firm. Heat oven to 350, slice logs into cookies, bake on parchment lined cookie sheets leaving 1 1/2 inches between cookies. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

RAISIN OATMEAL COOKIES

This is from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list, though it looks like it was from a diabetic list.

Yield: 2-1/2 dozen cookies (1 per serving)

Ingredients

6 tablespoons margarine, softened

1/4 cup fat-free sour cream

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup raisins for baking

Directions

Mix margarine, sour cream, egg, and vanilla in large bowl; mix in brown sugar. Mix in combined oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix in raisins.

Drop dough onto greased cookie sheets, using 2 tablespoons for each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees F. until browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 cookie): Calories: 90, Fat: 2.7 g, Cholesterol: 7.1 mg, Sodium: 57 mg, Protein: 1.5 g, Carbohydrate: 15.3 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat

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