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Showing posts with label sugar cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sugar cookies. Show all posts

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Christmas Cookie Selection

I almost didn't bake any cookies this year. It seems like everyone is watching what they eat so I didn't want to make cookies that no one will eat.
I was going to just make the 2 favorites, peanut blossoms and mint chocolate chip. Then I decided to make some not-so-traditional cookies for Christmas. 
Here are the ones that made the cut. 
  1. Candy cane Hershey's Kiss sugar cookie bars
  2. Gingerbread chocolate chip cookies
  3. Ricotta cheese cookies
  4. Mint chocolate chip cookies
  5. Peanut butter blossoms
  6. Oreo cream cheese cookies


This cookie is in a separate photo because I forgot it :(

~Enjoy
Michelle

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Communion Test Cookies

I love baking and I always use a recipe.  I follow the recipe exactly.  I'm a recipe kinda baker:)


When I saw these cookies I said that I want to try it ASAP. I thought that these would make a great cookie for my son's Communion party.  This is the testing phase, because I don't want to bake something for the first time for a party and have it come out horrible. I made these cookies for my first son's Communion and the boys didn't like them. So I have been in search for something else to try.

I followed the recipe and it said add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.  Well, I can't add 5 cups of flour at once to my mixer without a huge flour mess all over the counter.  And 'beat at low speed' hmm. that must mean that would be mix at low speed.  Well I added a cup at a time and used 6 cups plus a little because it still seemed sticky and glossy.  I popped it the fridge and made the cookies 2 days later.  I probably made them a little too thin and made the last batch a bit thicker and liked it a little better.

I made the frosting the next day... hmmm I didn't do such a wonderful job "following the directions".  I didn't have any vanilla so I used almond extract, I didn't have any heavy cream so I used milk and I saw 2 sets of directions regarding the shortening.... I didn't used any.  I also may have over-beaten it a little.  That is why I practiced the recipe.  And of course everyone at work enjoyed them very much. The End. :) ps My kids didn't really care for them.  (really, what do they like?)
Scroll down for the recipe.






saw the recipe here

Ingredients

for the cookies
6 cups flour, divided
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sour cream

for the frosting
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons heavy cream
(1/2 cup shortening)

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk 5 cups flour, baking soda and baking powder, set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with the flat beater attached, cream the butter and granulated sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.  Add the eggs, one at a time beating until each is incorporated.  Add the vanilla and sour cream and beat at low speed until combined.

Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed until just combined, scraping down the bowl as needed.  The dough needs to obtain the right consistency for rolling, so add additional flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until this is achieved (up to 1 cup more flour).  Divide dough into two sections. Flatten into rectangles about 1 1/2 inches thick, then wrap with plastic wrap.  Chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray. set aside.

Generously flour a work area and rolling pin. With a rolling pin, roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness.  Using a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles and transfer to a baking sheet.  Bake for 7-8 minutes, until pale golden.  Immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Frosting
Cream together the butter and vanilla.  Slowly beat in the powdered sugar.  Once smooth and creamy, add in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired spreading consistency is achieved.

Once the cookies have cooled completely, frost and add sprinkles.  Allow frosting to set, the store in an air-tight container.

~Michelle



Friday, April 22, 2011

Easter Sugar Cookies

I really wanted to bake something more complicated for Easter, like a chocolate Babka that I saw on a blog somewhere, hmm, I can't remember where. I bought these mini pink and yellow vanilla chips from Nestle. So I made a simple sugar cookie and dipped the cookies in the chips before baking.

The cookies are a little crispy for my taste. I will probably store them with a slice of bread in the container to soften the cookies up a bit. I heard that if you add some brown sugar to the recipe it will make the cookies a little chewier. I will try it next time. Also, the recipe calls for a medium ice cream scoop, which is what I used, the cookies are very large. I will try a smaller scoop when I make these again. They do taste good though.




Easter Sugar Cookies
Makes 32 medium sized cookies – from Savorysweetlife.com

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 cup salted butter
3 egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
mini chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream together butter and sugar until it is nice and creamy. Mix in 1 egg yolk at a time and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda, cream of tarter, and salt until cookie dough is completely mixed. Be sure to scrape down the bowl to be sure everything is mixed. Using a medium scoop, form dough balls and press them into the mini chips. Place cookies on a cookie sheet 2 inches apart from one another. Be sure not to flatten the dough. I pressed the cookies down and they did come out very large. I will try not to press them down next time. Bake for 12-14 minutes until the surface of each cookies have a cracked like texture. Remove from oven and allow cookies to remain on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

~Michelle

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Baking for School

A note came home from school with my son thanking me for volunteering to bring in cookies and to come in for the spring party on Friday. Signing up for things back in September always sounds like a good idea at the time. Next thing you know it's 7 months later and on a 70 degree day your baking cookies.

I decided to bake some cut-outs. I really don't like to make cut-outs because of the rolling and the mess. But, I thought it would be a fun idea to make some Buffalo Sabres cookies since they are playing game 1 in the first round of the playoffs today, and both of my sons Love hockey.











I made the dough and put it the refrigerator to chill. While the cut-out dough was chilling I made a batch of my favorite chocolate chip cookies as back-ups in case the cut-outs don't turn out.

I used this recipe for the sugar cookies and the frosting. Check out the cookies on her blog they are amazing.

I didn't know it was so hard to make dark blue frosting. I guess I need to get blue powder or something or order the colors I need online. Either way I think they turned out pretty nice. I didn't put the buffalo on them because I thought that would be a little hard for my first time using this meringue frosting.











I used the following recipe for the chocolate chip cookies.







Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
recipe courtesy of: Pillsbury: The Complete Book of Baking


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Ingredients


1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar (I use light)
1 1/2 cups butter (softened)
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
4 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 to 2 (12-oz) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375F. In large bowl, beat sugar, brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs; blend well. Add flour, baking soda and salt; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonsfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets
Bake at 375F. for 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown.
**Everyone that tries these chocolate chip cookies absolutely loves them. I have made these cookies so many times that my cookbook pages are falling out from opening to the same section so many times.

~Michelle

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