2012 - It's Not Just About the Cookies

Here it is December 20, and I'm making another batch of Pumpkin Bread! It goes so fast around here — just like the Chex Party Mix. You'd think we were partying all the time but we don't need an excuse. I love to snack on Chex Mix and Charlie takes it for lunch. The Pumpkin Bread is great for breakfast, a snack, or dessert, so it's no wonder that it disappears so quickly (even though I start baking it before Thanksgiving!). Not only do we love it, but Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin Muffins make the perfect Christmas food gift. I keep festively wrapped loaves in the freezer and in a basket near the door, ready for giving away. However, the idea is to have it all done and dusted (with powdered sugar?) so I'm not baking Christmas week! It's so easy to make though, I don't mind.

Pumpkin Bread loaves at the ready.

I'm finished baking cookies though. I made (pictured below, from top left):  Dutch Spice Cookies, Brownie Thins, Lime-Glazed Cookies, Dunkable Brownies, Vanilla-Bean Butter Cookies, Cinnamon-Swirl Cookies, Nestlé Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies, Grandma's Overnight Cookies, Lemon Poppy-Seed Cookies and Sugar Cookies. Hard to believe that I didn't get to make everything I wanted but there's always next year!

I've enjoyed this year's baking even more than usual because it's gone hand-in-hand with getting Our Cookie Journal online. So, not only have I been baking and keeping track of it all in the Journal as always, I'm putting the Journal online in blog form. It's funny, really: I've been "blogging" about Christmas cookies since 1993, when my sister Lisa gave me the journal to keep track of our baking adventures. I've tried to keep copious notes but it hasn't always worked that way. Sometimes life (or death) took over and there was little to say about cookies. Other times, the baking couldn't start until the Journal was produced, perused and left open for a new year of recording.

Our Cookie Journal is filled with memories.

I always tried to take photos of the cookie trays or us baking, but never to the extent that we do nowadays. In fact, I struggled to find photos to accompany the blog entries for some years. As I went hunting for visual representations, I'd get lost among the albums and boxes of old photos, looking for pictures to go with certain entries. Eventually, I became more organized with my recipes and photos, and the closer we got to the digital age, the more plentiful the choices became.

My sister Lisa and I baked cookies every Christmas.

Some days the photos made me cry; some days the Journal entries led me to call family members to corroborate a memory, or to find a photo of Grandma baking, or double-check a recipe. Often the past years would rush by as I transcribed the entries; and I relived each one, laughing, crying, remembering. And I realized that it's not just Our Cookie Journal, it's "Our Family Journal." The cookies were filled with love for our families and friends, with whom we shared our homemade treats. And even though it started out being about the cookie-baking experiences of my sister and me, it became about the whole family.

Since Christmas 2013 will mark the 20th anniversary of Our Cookie Journal, I'm determined to bake and blog every day in December. I know I will be baking the classic faves: Hedgehog Cookies, Dunkable Brownies and Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies. And I'll incorporate some new entries that I discovered last Christmas: Cinnamon-Swirl Cookies and Brownie Thins, to name a few. But I'm always looking for new favorites to add to the lineup. That's where you come in: What's your favorite cookie at Christmastime? What cookie holds the most memories for you? Please leave your comments here so I can plan this year's cookie tray. As we get closer to December, I'll be sharing those recipes and your comments in this year's Journal entries, as I bake and highlight 20 different cookies to mark the 20th anniversary of Our Cookie Journal.

I hope you've enjoyed these entries and that I've inspired you to fill your kitchen with cookies and memories for your own family. Thank you for your continued support, kind comments and loyal following.

2012 - Mince Pies Not Words

I'm not sure if these Mincemeat Pinwheels can be called cookies but they certainly qualify as Christmas goodies. Personally, I don't like mincemeat — in the form of pies or otherwise. But my English husband considers it an integral part of Christmas. He usually just buys the mass-produced mini-pies available at every supermarket at this time of year. But I watched Lorraine Pascale's "Last Minute Christmas" on BBC2 and saw this recipe, so I thought I'd give it a bash.

All you need is puff pastry (pre-made, of course!), mincemeat and an egg. Maple syrup and powdered sugar are optional. I used pre-made mincemeat too! However, I doctored it up with a bit of orange zest, port and vanilla.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out the puff pastry sheet so that it measures 30x30 centimeters. Cut it into nine squares (10x10 centimeters each). I saved the scraps and cut stars from them to decorate the top of the pinwheels.

Place one tablespoon of mincemeat in the center of each square. Whisk up an egg yolk mixed with 1 tablespoon of water; brush the edges of the squares. Then cut the pastry from just outside the mincemeat to each corner with a knife. Now pull up every other corner to the center, creating a pinwheel. Brush the top with egg wash and affix a star to the center.

Place the pinwheels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Brush the top of each pinwheel with maple syrup and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

I really enjoyed making these and my husband was quite pleased with their fresh, zesty flavor. If you like mincemeat pie, you'll love these!

2012 - Slice and Bake — and Partake

After a shopping trip to Oxford, I came home and baked Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies two ways. Charlie doesn't like nuts and mine have pecans; I made two dozen each.

I made the dough yesterday and left it to rest in the fridge in paper towel tubes. The rolls hold their shape better when I slice them that way. (Also, I turn the roll as I slice, so that one side doesn't get flattened in the process.)

I decided at the last minute to try sprinkling them with sanding sugar . It's an improvement in taste and looks. I also followed my own advice from last year too and used more pecans (in mine!).

The dough for Cinnamon Swirl Cookies was ready to be worked today too. I had two rectangles in the fridge. These are rolled out to larger rectangles, then topped with a filling of cinnamon, sugar, pecans and orange zest. I debated whether I wanted to zest or not and kept it in the end.

The dough was a bit fiddly, so I kept some of the scraps handy for repairs! After I spread out the filling, I rolled the rectangles into logs, patched and sealed them, popped them into paper towel tubes and refrigerated for an hour or so (while I baked Overnights).

They were superb! Especially warm and fresh from the oven. They're better than Snickerdoodles because you get a blast of cinnamon in every single bite. The filling is sweet and soft and buttery; the cookies tender and chewy. I'll have to test them again when they're cooled and ready to be put away.

*They tasted great about an hour later. And they tasted great even later when I packed them up for the freezer. These are definitely going on the list for next year's Christmas cookies.

2012 - Lemon Cookies Popping With Flavor

I always like to have a citrus cookie to balance out the Christmas cookie tray, so I decided to try Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies from Martha Stewart's "Cookies" book this year. These were great to make today because they can go straight into the oven (unlike cookies that need refrigerating first). So while I was baking these, I made the doughs for Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies and Martha's Cinnamon Swirls. The Overnights are roll cookies that will be sliced and baked; and the Swirls dough is a rectangle that will be filled, rolled and sliced tomorrow.

Naturally, there are poppy seeds in the dough of the Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies. But you also sprinkle poppy seeds on the top of each cookie. However, once they came out of the oven and cooled, the seeds didn't really stay put. So, when I make these again, I will have to remember to gently press down on the seeds. Otherwise, they're tangy and sweet and the seeds provide a nice crunch.

After mixing up the buttery, lemony dough, I combined sugar with loads of lemon zest to make a luscious coating for the dough balls to roll around in. Then the balls go on a cookie sheet, where they're flattened with a glass.

I haven't made the Cinnamon Swirls yet but I have high hopes. A Snickerdoodle just doesn't cut it with me — they're too mild. I've complained here before about not getting enough cinnamon taste and I've tried about a dozen variations (including another pinwheel sort and a crescent-shaped variety). We'll see tomorrow.

I decided to go with just a half-batch of Grandma Baker's Overnight Cookies too — they make SO many. "That's why your grandma liked them," Mom said. My dad was one of six kids and they lived (and worked) on a farm, so you could never have too many cookies. But even though I give them away and can eat my fair share, six dozen Overnights will be plenty!

2012 - Spill the Beans (or the Dragées)

I've been really busy putting Our Cookie Journal online for the past month or so but I managed to get going (in real time!) again today with Vanilla-Bean Butter Cookies. I've made them once before and they were delicious and they're so complementary to the many chocolate varieties that I usually wind up baking.

Vanilla beans can be costly — but worth it!

The recipe calls for three vanilla beans (which can cost a lotta beans!). Charlie helped by taking photos of me scraping the seeds from the beans. I drive him crazy because I always want several photos from which to choose.

Use the back edge of a knife to scrape out the seeds.

The dough had to chill, so I waited until the next day to bake them (after I made a blog entry!). The last time I made these, I used a snowflake cookie cutter, which was too intricate for this delicate dough. It's so precious, you have to keep re-freezing it — after you roll it out, and again after you cut it out.

But since I used a simple star cutter this time, I skipped the second freezing and popped them straight into the oven. They were fiiiiiine! In fact, I've just eaten two!! It also knocked the baking time down to 10 minutes. So, keep an eye on these until you figure out how long they should bake (when the edges are golden). The recipe yielded 4 1/2 dozen sumptuous stars.

I also spilled about a million dragées and the sound of them cascading all over the kitchen floor was absolutely sublime!

Don't worry about putting these back in the freezer.

Vanilla-Bean Butter Cookies

1 c butter, softened

1 1/2 c powdered sugar

3 vanilla beans, split lengthwise

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2  1/2 c flour, sifted

1/4 tsp salt

colored dragées

sanding sugar

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter and sugar. Scrape in vanilla seeds. Beat on high until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add egg and vanilla; beat to combine.

Add flour and salt, beat on low till incorporated.

Divide dough into half; flatten into disks. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. On lightly floured surface, roll out disks to 1/4-inch thickness. Place dough on separate baking sheets and chill in freezer for 20 minutes.

Line baking sheets with parchment. Using 2-inch star-shaped cutter, cut out stars. Place a dragée in center of each star; sprinkle generously with sanding sugar. Freeze until firm, 10 to 20 minutes.

Bake until golden, rotating sheets halfway through, 18 to 22 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

2012 - National Brownie Day

Six dozen Choc-Oat-Chip in the front and
six dozen Toll House in the back.

 Oh boy! As if I need another excuse to bake! 

I celebrated National Cookie Day on Dec. 4 by baking Choc-Oat Chip Cookies and Nestle's Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies. I marked St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6 by making a batch of Dutch Spice Cookies. And now we have National Brownie Day, which I commemorated in my kitchen in my usual cookie fashion.

The origins of brownies are uncertain and the stories are varied. Some sources credit a Bangor, Maine, housewife who forgot to add leavening to her cake but served the gooey squares anyway to her guests' delight. Wikipedia credits a chef at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel as the creator of modern-day brownies. They featured walnuts and an apricot glaze and are still being made at the hotel, using the original recipe. Still others say that Fannie Merritt Farmer is responsible for the first brownie, which appeared in the 1896 version of her cookbook. However, these were not true brownies, as they were molasses cakes baked individually in tin molds. Whoever is responsible, I thank you!

There are many varieties of brownies - not to be confused with blondies, which omit the chocolate and use brown sugar. (National Blondies Day is celebrated on Jan. 22.) Popular mix-ins include walnuts, pecans, chocolate chips, coconut and caramel — and the ever-controversial (and illegal) cannabis.

Brownies, whether they be cakey or fudgy, are classed as cookies — of the bar variety. I have had some difficulties with brownies in my illustrious cookie-baking past, simply because it can be hard to judge when they are done. Over-bake them and they become cracked and hard, losing their aroma and flavor. If they're under-baked, though, they are not chewy and fudgy, they're just icky!

Dunkable Brownies are yummy and foolproof.

I have written here about two varieties with which I fared better - Barb's Brownies and Brownies Cockaigne. But my favorite "brownie" is Baker's One Bowl Chocolate Brownie Cookies, which we call Dunkable Brownies.

I also tried a new version today from a recipe I found at epicurious.com. Brownie Thins are definitely worth a bash. They are described as tasting like the very top layer of a brownie. They take only 30 minutes and the flavor is outstanding. I like them for Christmas because the recipe calls for chopped pistachios to be sprinkled on top. My only disappointment — they made a measly 18 cookies! The recipe said I would get two dozen. (A personal pet peeve of mine is 'yields' in recipes - they ALWAYS lie!)

But for frosted, traditional brownies, today I'm using Betty Crocker's boxed mix and I'm not too proud or vain to admit it. They're easy and delicious and my son, Charlie, likes them because they are plain.

I hope you'll bake some brownies today and I urge you to try one of my cookie versions for fuss-free, perfect brownies. Don't forget the glass of milk!

Brownie Thins

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/2 c sugar
1 large egg
3 Tbsp plus 1 tsp all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
Pinch of coarse kosher salt
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
1/4 c chopped pistachios

Brownie Thins

Position rack in lowest third of oven; preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter 2 baking sheets. Place butter and chocolate in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium-high until almost completely melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until smooth. Add sugar and egg; whisk until smooth, about 1 minute. Add flour, both extracts, and salt; stir just to blend. Let batter stand 10 minutes.

Scoop rounded teaspoonfuls batter onto prepared baking sheets, spacing apart. Spray sheet of plastic wrap lightly with nonstick spray. Place, sprayed side down, over cookies. Using fingers, press each mound into 2 1/2-inch round. Remove plastic wrap. Sprinkle pistachios over rounds. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until slightly darker at edges and firm in center, about 7 minutes. Cool on sheet 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack; cool completely.

NOTES: I toasted my pistachios in a skillet for about 5 minutes, stirring them often. Feel free to use walnuts or pecans (or omit nuts altogether).

I hate fooling with greased cookie sheets, so I did a practice cookie on parchment paper. Thank goodness it worked just fine. I suggest you do the same, or use a Silpat (non-stick silicone baking mat).

I also skipped the shenanigans with the plastic wrap, using the back of my spoon to smooth out the rounds sufficiently. (The plain one is for Charlie to sample).

I didn't use the almond extract but doubled the vanilla instead. Just a personal preference.

Unsweetened chocolate is not easy to come by in England unless I order it from skyco.uk.com (or Mom sends it to me). However, Waitrose recently started stocking Willie's Cacao, made by the Chocolate Man, Willie Harcourt-Cooze. These barrels of solid artisan chocolate come in several varieties, but I chose Venezuelan Black (100% Rio Caribe Cacao) for its complex nut and coffee notes.

During a break from baking, I talked to my cousin, Janet, and she promised to send pictures of her Christmas cookies. I can't wait to see them! When I called Mom, she said she couldn't sleep so she wound up making Chocolate Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies and something else.

Janet and Rob's Christmas cookies!

We got a care package yesterday from Mom, Aunt Catherine and Danielle! It was filled with all kinds of goodies: pickles, noodles, Velveeta Mexican, Lifesavers Story Book, more Chex cereals, Christmas candy, Nestle's Quik, albacore tuna and more! Aunt Catherine also sent an ornament for each of us: a dog for Charlie and a taxi for me! How funny! Thanks guys!!!


Now I'm off to make another (double) batch of Brownie Thins. Mmmmm!

2012 - 'She Bakes Cookies and Hands Them Out'

I've been busy baking brownies today because tomorrow (Dec. 8) is National Brownie Day! I'm going to blog about it for Our Cookie Journal and I wholeheartedly approve of this national day of observance!

A mound of Dunkable Brownies.

I started with one batch of Dunkable Brownies — boy, is that dough good! I toasted the walnuts this time, just for a richer flavor. And I rotated the trays midway, so I could inhale all that chocolate air in there! I yielded 4 1/2 dozen cookies, not counting the irresistible one that I ate.

Toasted walnuts add depth of flavor.

I want to make Brownie Thins too, so I had to walk to town for more supplies, including pistachio nuts for the Brownie Thins. 

I keep cookies and other treats ready to hand out.

On the way, I saw Mark, who usually delivers our care packages via Parcel Force. I gave him a bit of schtick over not having my package yet and he said he'd be around later with it. YAY! I told him he would get his annual package of cookies from me then. I was expecting him about a week ago, when I got my last care package from Mom but another guy brought it, so I gave him the cookies I had ready at the door for Mark. I told Mark about his loss and he laughed and said he told the guy, "You might like going there — she bakes cookies and hands them out!"

Mark knows he gets cookies at my house!