Moving Day

Originally published Thursday, July 05, 2007 at Tea at Three

Three Favorite Cookie Recipes

Today I am treating all three of my readers to three of my favorite cookie recipes!
First, every baker must have a cookie that she can whip up in a moment's notice. I have made these Chocolate Chip Cookies for years and actually, they were a best seller during my days as owner and proprietor of The Cottage Bakery. I have this recipe memorized. This recipe produces a soft cookie.
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
2 sticks of Blue Bonnet margarine
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. powdered buttermilk mix* this is usually found near the canned evaporated milk
2 cup milk chocolate chips
Directions:
Please read and follow. This is a little different than most cookie recipes.Mix the margarine, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla well. Mix in just 2 cups of the flour, the baking soda, and salt. Add the buttermilk mix powder (dry) and then add the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour. Mix well. This will be rather thick. Stir in chocolate chips. Make round balls of dough and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 at a time at 375* for about 10 minutes. Don't overbake. Remove from cookie sheet onto a wire cooling rack. This recipe makes about 3 dozen or so cookies.
Some extra information:I have tried this recipe with other brands of margarine and I made them with real butter. For some reason the Blue Bonnet margarine produces a better cookie in my opinion for this particualr recipe.Also, I have used chopped up pieces of Dove Milk Chocolate Candy Squares instead of regular milk chocolate chips. The Dove chocolate lends an entirely "richer" taste to these cookies.You can also use minature chocolate chips (I've only found these in a semi-sweet chocolate) and make minature cookies. To do this, simply use a baby spoon (small bowl with longer handle) to drop small amounts of dough on the cookie sheet. Bake for just 6 minutes and then check them. You might have to bake them a minute or two longer but just watch them closely. Miniature chocolate chip cookies tend to be very elegant, yet familiar for showers, club meetings and such.
Next I'll share a favorite from my youth. My great-aunt Mary made these soft, buttery delights all the time and when we'd go to visit Aunt Mary she'd put the cookie jar (do people even use cookie jars anymore?) and a pitcher of sweet tea on the table and life was good!
Coconut Cookies
Ingredients:
2 sticks of Blue Bonnet margarine
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 tsp. salt
1 cup flaked coconut
3 Tbsp. white sugar
Directions:Cream margarine, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in coconut.Roll dough into balls and roll in extra sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400* for 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven when just the edges are slightly brown.Extra information:If you let these cookies overbake they will end up hard and crunchy. I enjoy a soft cookie.To make "Snickerdoodle Cookies" omit the vanilla and coconut. Mix dough into balls and roll in a cinnamon/sugar mixture and bake as directed.
Need some chocolate? I love these Chocolate Drop Cookies. They are from my Gramma Jane's recipe box. I once read where warm cookies and cold milk in the afternoon are actually good for you. These cookies are scrumptious.
Chocolate Drop Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Blue Bonnet margarine
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts (can be omitted)
Directions:Cream margarine, shortening, sugar, and eggs. Mix dry ingredients in another bowl and then add this alternately with the milk and vanilla. Stir in walnuts. This will be rather thick. Drop by spoofuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes at 400*. You might have to grease the cookie sheet inbetween baking. Serve warm with cold milk for a delightful and child-like experience!
Enjoy! Let me know what you think about them!
Posted by ~~~~~~~~oney~~~~~~~~ at 6:46 AM 2 comments
Labels: The Cookie Jar, The Fancy Pantry