The holidays and cookies go hand-in-hand, and children love helping in the kitchen. We asked our Facebook Fans to share some of their favorite cookie recipes.
Ginger Snaps
Ingredients:
- ¾ c. butter or margarine, softened
- 2 c. white sugar
- 2 well-beaten eggs
- ½ c. molasses or sorghum
- 2 t. vinegar
- 3 ¾ c. flour
- ½ t. ground cinnamon
- 2 t. ground ginger
- ¼ t. ground cloves
- 1 ½ t. baking soda
Instructions:
Cream together the butter and sugar. Stir in eggs, molasses and vinegar. Sift and add flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves. Let the dough stand at room temperature 15-30 minutes. Form the dough into ¾ inch balls. Bake on greased cookie sheet about 12 minutes at exactly 325 degrees (too hot will cause the cookies to brown too much). The cookies are done when they have an even honey-brown color all over the surface. They will begin to swell at first as they get brown, and will then begin to sink around the edges. Let them cool at least a minute or two before removing from the pan, then they will flatten out and crinkle like gingersnaps! ~ Evelyn Bartlow, Kansas City
Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
- ¾ c. peanut butter
- ½ c. butter (softened)
- 1¼ c. packed brown sugar
- 3 T. milk
- 1 T. vanilla
- 1 egg
- 2 c. flour
- ¾ t. baking soda
- 6 oz. chocolate chips or M&Ms (optional)
Instructions:
Combine peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add egg. Beat just until blended. Combine flour and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern with tines of fork. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool two minutes on sheet. ~ Claire Burback, Kearney
Chocolate Crinkles
Ingredients:
- ¾ c. butter, melted
- ½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 c. sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 t. vanilla extract
- 2 c. flower
- 1 t. baking powder
- 1 t. baking soda
- ½ t. salt
- 6 oz. mini semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ c. confectioners’ sugar
Instructions:
In large bowl, mix together the melted butter, cocoa powder and sugar. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract. In a medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Use a large spoon to slowly add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture. Stir in the chips. Refrigerate dough for two hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Form the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll them in confectioners’ sugar. Bake the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet for 10 minutes. Set baking sheet on wire rack for 5 minutes, then lightly dust the cookies with remaining confectioners’ sugar. Transfer to rack to cool completely. ~ Vicki Henson, Overland Park
Create Gifts and Memories This Holiday Season
Plan a gift making night with your children! It just takes a little planning and an hour or two to put together some inexpensive edible gifts in a jar to give away or even use at home for quick, easy meals throughout the hectic season ahead. Edible gifts have always been a good way to show appreciation for teachers, coaches, grandparents or other special people in your children's lives. Unlike a freshly baked item that recipients must eat soon or freeze for later use, these food gifts can be stored for up to 6 months for convenient use anytime. Choose your favorite recipes from cookbooks such as the “Gifts in a Jar” titles including Everyday Dinners or Soups & Breads, available from CQ Products (www.CQProducts.com). Turn on some music and set up an assembly line beside a long table or countertop to “build” the gift jars quickly. The kids will enjoy helping and the recipients will enjoy their tasty and thoughtful homemade gift.
Oatmeal Coconut Crispies Mix (to assemble the gift jar)
Ingredients:
- ¾ c. shredded coconut
- 1 c. quick oats
- 1½ c. all-purpose flour
- ¾ t. baking soda
- ½ t. salt
- ½ c. brown sugar
- ½ c. sugar
Instructions:
In a 1-quart container of your choice, layer the above ingredients in order given. Pack each layer into the container before adding the next ingredient. Securely close container and, if desired, decorate with fabric, ribbon or raffia. Create a personalized gift tag with the following mixing and baking directions and attach to your container.
Oatmeal Coconut Crispies (to bake the cookies)
Ingredients:
- 1 jar Oatmeal Coconut Crispies Mix
- ⅔ c. shortening
- 1 egg
- 1 t. vanilla
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°. In a large mixing bowl, pour sugar and brown sugar from top of jar (if brown sugar is hard, microwave 10 seconds). Add shortening and mix at high speed until lightened in texture. Add egg and vanilla and beat at high speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients from jar and beat at low speed just until combined. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.