by Jessica Pigza
So I’m pretty sure I’m in denial. You see, in my mind, I still had a few more weeks until the kids get out of school to get things done, but in reality, I don’t. I have one week until their holiday break to get my act together so I can spend that time enjoying my kids being home. And one of my favorite things to do with the kids over the holiday break is to bake cookies! I love everything about this holiday adventure, the smells, the laughing and of course the cookies! So for this month’s Word of Mouth, I asked our GYPO team:
What is your favorite cookie recipe?
Suzannah – Linzer Cookies
I’m of German and Austrian descent, so in my house, we love Linzer Cookies! Linzner cookies consist of a delicious almond-based dough with preserves in the center and we can’t get enough of them!
Coty – Chocolate Chip Cookies
When I was a kid, my dad and I would bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends (I blame him for my sweets addiction!). It was a classic recipe from the Joy of Cooking Cookbook, but it was easy to memorize. I still know the recipe by heart and now it’s my daughter’s favorite thing to do on the weekends! We sometimes like to add other ingredients, like: walnuts, coconut, toffee chips, and milk or white chocolate chunks. Yum!
Chocolate Chip Cookies – Joy of Cooking – Makes about 36 cookies
Preheat the oven to 375. Grease or line 2 cookie sheets.
Whisk together:
1 cup plus 2 Tbs all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
Beat in a large bowl until well-blended:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
Add and beat until well combined:
1 large egg
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Stir in the flour mixture until well-blended and smooth. Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips (I added an extra 1/2 cup).
Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until the cookies are just slightly colored on top and the edges are brown, about 8 – 10 minutes. Let stand briefly, then remove to a rack to cool.
Alison – Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Shortbread Cookies
My favorite Christmas cookies are these Rasberry Almond Thumbprint Shortbread Cookies because they remind me of my childhood. It’s impossible for me to smell almond extract without thinking of my Grandma Bussard’s house. Her neighbor Mrs. Miller made the most amazing Christmas cookies in every variety imaginable! Some of my favorites were her pinwheels and of course, her raspberry almond thumbprints. These cookies are so buttery, they melt in your mouth. I love the tart raspberry spread with the sweet shortbread cookie.
Jill – Chips and Salsa
So……I actually don’t eat sugar or flour so cookies are out for me. Cookies weren’t really my thing before anyways, I would have traded a chocolate chip for some chips and salsa any day.
Lauren – Ginger Molasses Cookies
I didn’t have to think twice on this – ginger molasses cookies are my favorite! This cookie has been my go-to cookie at Starbucks for years, it pairs perfectly with my soy vanilla latte. They actually discontinued the cookie for a while in 2015 and you better believe I sent them an email begging for its return. During that dark time when I couldn’t get my fix at Starbucks, I found an amazing dupe recipe from The Busy Baker that is just as good as the Starbucks version, maybe even better! They freeze beautifully too so you can always have one handy for your afternoon cup of coffee. You can thank me later. 😉
Kathryn – Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip, please! I’ve recently discovered a delicious cookie recipe from Sugar Spun Run that calls for mini and regular chocolate chips. I’m in chocolate heaven and unfortunately can’t get enough.
Jessica – Peanut Butter Blossoms (Kissing Cookies)
Peanut Butter Blossoms are one of my favorite cookies, but in our house, they are more affectionately referred to as Kissing Cookies. A recipe of my mother-in-law’s, these cookies are a staple in our home every holiday season and the kids have been helping me make them since they were tots. My oldest daughter who will be 10 in March, started calling them kissing cookies when she was three and now the kids don’t know them as anything else. Kissing cookies are the perfect ratio of chocolate to peanut butter and the texture is amazing! They pair wonderfully with an ice cold glass of milk, a cup of coffee or tea and even hot chocolate!
Peanut Butter Blossoms – (Kissing Cookies) – Makes 24 yummy cookies!
Preheat Oven to 375
Mix together
1/2 Cup Oleo (Margarine)
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
Then mix in one at a time,
1 Egg
2 TBSP Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 and 3/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
Roll dough into balls about an inch in diameter and roll through a bowl of sugar and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 min. Pull out of the oven, add a Hershey kiss to the middle of the cookie and return to oven for 30 seconds. Take out and allow to cool on a cooling rack.
