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!


Monday, November 1, 2010

Cookie Recipe #303 - Frosted Apple Drops


Today's recipe produces a spicy, soft cookie packed with bits of apple and chewy raisins and finalized with a scrumptious layer of apple frosting. Nuts may be added, if desired.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened, 1 1/3 cups firmly packed brown sugar, 1 egg, 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon EACH baking soda and ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon EACH salt, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg, 1/4 cup apple juice or milk, 1 cup EACH raisins and peeled, finely chopped apples. Apple frosting: 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened, 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, a dash of salt, about 2 tablespoons apple juice or milk.

Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy; beat in egg. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves and nutmeg. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with apple juice, mixing well after each addition; stir in raisins and apples.

Drop dough by level tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Prepare Apple Frosting: In a bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar until creamy. Beat in vanilla, salt and enough of the apple juice to obtain a good spreading consistency. Spread a generous amount over each cookie while still warm. Let cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

"Sunset Cookies", Lane Publishing Co., Menlo Park, CA, 1985.

Cookies Rule!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment