We are introduced, at an early age, to the sweet wondernous of a cookie. From teething cookies to soothe the swollen aching gums of incoming incisors, onto animal crackers purchased in rectangular-shaped boxes bearing a string handle for easy toting by little fingers. Deciding which part of the animal should be eaten first-the trunk of the elephant or the tail of a lion-depended on how hungry one was. Savor each and every one or simply gobble them down as fast as possible.

My next cookie memory would be the ever famous, possibly all-time favorite, the chocolate chip cookie. There is nothing better than to bite into a round circle of baked dough sprinkled with gooey melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. A chocolate chip cookie can dry tears, heal broken hearts, mend scraped knees and elbows and solve sibling arguments. Most of the problems in the world could likely be solved by a properly baked, right out of the oven, chocolate chip cookie. The power of a cookie is underestimated.

I will attempt in the next 365 days to prepare and comment on a year’s worth of different cookies-one for each day. My goal is to share with others my extreme love of cookies-baking them and especially eating them! Feel free to send me your favorite recipe, your earliest cookie memories, or how cookies may have influenced your life. Cookies Rule!


Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Cookie Recipe #3 - Snickerdoodles


Tip: Try to use 2 baking sheets allowing the first one to cool after removing baked cookies before putting on unbaked ones.

Snickerdoodles are a variety of a sugar cookie only rolled in a delectable, palate-pleasing, cinnamon and sugar mixture. Rolling things in cinnamon and sugar is almost as delicious as covering anything in chocolate...almost...

Snickerdoodles recipe: 2 Tablespoons sugar & 2 teaspoons sugar for dipping; 1 cup butter (at room temperature), 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 3/4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Start by combing the 2 T. sugar and 2 t. cinnamon in a small bowl; set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat butter with electric mixer for 20 seconds. Add sugar and continue beating. Drop eggs in middle of mixture; stir the eggs for a few seconds then gradually beat the butter/sugar mixture into the eggs. Add vanilla. Sift in the flour, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar; beat until completely corporated.

Using floured fingers, roll into 1-1 1/2" balls then drop into the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll around until completely covered then place on ungreased baking sheet,about 2 inches apart.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 6-7 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

When I baked these today I was trying to hurry and let my butter melt a little too much so the cookies turned out a little flatter than I like. It's so important when you use a microwave to soften butter that you start out with only a few seconds, then increase as needed. Less is more...

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