Evelyn's (Thackeray) Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 375

Ingredients:

2 sticks softened butter

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar

Mix then add:

2 eggs

1 t vanilla

Mix then add:

3 c flour

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix then add:

2 c semi sweet chocolate chips or 12 oz

Bake at 375 for 12 minutes( depending on you oven  I just made sure they were starting to brown a bit around the edges)

Applesauce Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1/2 c. shortening

2 eggs

1 t. soda

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. salt

2 c. flour

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

1c. applesauce

1 pkg semi sweet chocolate chips (mini chips work great too)

1 c nuts (opt)

 Preheat oven to 400°.  Combine applesauce and soda.  Mix sugars, shortening and eggs.  Add applesauce mixture. Add flour spices and salt that have been sifted together.  Add chocolate chips and nuts.  Drop on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 9-12 minutes.  These cookies are soft.  Makes about 4 dozen.

Rice Krispy Treats  Microwave 

So nice to be able to make rice krispy treats in the microwave.    Extra marshmallows make these extra yummy.  You will need a larger microwaveable bowl.  Julie's recipe.

1    9X13 buttered dish

3- 10 oz. bags of marshmallows

1 stick of butter

1 12 oz box of Rice Krispies cereal

Put 1 stick of butter sliced in thick chunks and 2 bags of marshmallows in bowl and microwave for 1 minute.  STIR  repeat this step until marshmallows are melted.  Add extra bag of marshmallows and stir. 

Microwave 30 sec more stir.  A few marshmallow chunks make this even yummier.

Add  box of rice krispies stir until coated and press into  buttered 9X13 dish.

PEANUT BUTTER VERSION:  add 1 cup of peanut butter with the first 2 bags of marshmallows and the butter.  Continue recipe.

Silver Dollar City Ginger Cookies

 These cookies are amazing.  This recipe is a knock off of the Ginger/Molasses cookies you can buy at Silver Dollar City.

Ingredients:

2 C Flour

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

3/4 c shortening

2 T molasses

1 t baking soda

1 t ginger

1/2 t salt

1 c sugar

1/4 c sugar set aside for rolling cookie

1 large egg

Cream shortening and  sugar.  Add molasses and egg. Mix dry ingredients together and  slowly mix with wet ingredients. Shape into balls( med ice cream scoop and roll in the 1/4 c of sugar, then slightly flatten.  Bake 12 cookies on a parchment lined  cookie sheet.  Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  These are thick cookies and so delicious.

Soft Gingerbread Cookies

I have never been fond of gingerbread cookies until now.   I love these.  They are so soft and tasty.

 Ingredients:

• ½ c butter flavor shortening
• ½ c butter
• 1c granulated sugar
• 1 ¼c unsulphered molasses
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. flavoring extract such as vanilla or orange
• 5-5 ½c all-purpose flour {sometimes even six}
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 3 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ tsp ground cloves
•  2 tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼- ½ tsp ground white pepper {optional}

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together shortening butter and granulated sugar. Add the molasses and eggs and whip until light and fluffy. Sift all of your dry ingredients into a large bowl then use a measuring cup to add the dry ingredients about a cup at a time. Seperate the dough into three equal piecesthen wrap in plastic wrap and chill for an hour or two. Roll out on floured parchment paper to about 1/4 an inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Place the cut out cookies into the freezer for ten minutes or so before baking. Bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes for small cookies, 8-10 minutes for medium, and 10-15 minutes for large. Let cool, then decorate with vanilla royal icing.

Notes

Cookies can be decorated with royal icing or glaze. 

Ovens vary and gingerbread has to be watched. This year, my baby cookies took about 8 minutes and medium-ish ones ten. I really watch them. It’s kind of hard to tell when gingerbread is done because you cannot see browning. If you wait until you do, you have gone too far and will have hockey pucks rather than cookies. So, watch those baking times, stay near the oven until you figure out what it’s going to do.

Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

1.5 c pecans toasted and chopped
2 sticks  unsalted butter, room temp
1 c dark brown sugar
1 c sugar
2 extra large eggs, room temp
2 t pure vanilla extract
1.5 c flour
1 t baking powder
1 t ground cinnamon
1 t salt
3 c old fashioned oatmeal
1.5 c raisins

Preheat oven to 350°.  Toast pecans on cookie sheet in preheated oven for 5 minutes, until crispy.  Cool and chop.
In mixer beat sugars and butter until light and fluffy .   With mixer on low, add eggs 1 at a time. Then add vanilla.
Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together and add slowly to batter in mixer.  Add oats, raisins,  and pecans.  Mix

Drop from a 2 inch cookie scoop on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Flatten slightly with a damp hand.  Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned.  Cool on wire rack.

Chocolate Chip Butter Pecan Cookies

Ingredients:

2 T unsalted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

2.5 c flour

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

4.5 T sugar

1 c light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

2 T buttermilk or whole milk

1.5 t vanilla

1 c semi sweet chips

Melt 2 T butter in skillet and  toast pecans about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.

In mixing bowl whisk together flour, soda and salt.

Melt 2 sticks butter in microwave and add sugars. Mix in mixer.  Add egg and egg yolk, milk, and vanilla.  Mix

Stir flour mixture by hand until just combined.

Stir in pecans and chocolate chips.

Cover and chill at least 1 hour.  Overnight is best.

Preheat oven to 375°  Use parchment lining or silpat.  Use cookie scoop and bake 9-11 minutes until cookies are golden brown.

Let sit on cookie sheet for abt 2 minutes then transfer to wire cooling rack.

You can scoop thes cookies and freeze on a cookie sheet.  When frozen pop in a zip lock bag and save for hot fresh cookies at anytime.  Let thaw a bit before baking at 375° until golden brown.

Cereal Bars/ Camp Cedar Bars

These were made by Rosemary Thackeray for the Thackeray Family reunion at Camp Cedar Utah.  I am not sure this is her recipe but it is close. Great for Primary parties or Ward and family barbecues.

Ingredients:
 1 stick salted butter
9 c mini marshmallows
5 c fruity pebbles or rice krispies
5 c fruit loops
5 c captain crunch with crunch berries

Pan spray a 10 x 14 pyrex dish.

Melt butter over medium heat.  Stir in marshmallows  until melted, use wooden spoon.  Stir in cereal.
Pack down firmly in greased pyrex dish.  Push really hard to compact bars.
Refrigerate until cold and cut with a serrated knife.

Filled Cookies

These are Kerry's favorite cookies.  His mother made them especially for him.


Filling:  Put all ingredients in a sauce pan, and cook until thick.  Add chopped nuts.

1 c raisins, chopped
1/2 c or less of sugar
1 T flour
1 T lemon juice
1/2 c water
1 c chopped pecans, toasted

Sugar Cookie Dough:

4 c flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 t vanilla
1/2 c less 3T milk

1 t soda
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 c sugar
1 c butter

Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.  Cut butter into flour mixture. Mix sugar, beaten eggs, soda, vanilla, and milk.  Mix with flour mixture. Chill, roll out on floured surface 1/8" thick and cut into 2 1/2 inch circle.  Put a teaspoon of filling in each circle.  Top with another circle. Pinch edges together and bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until light brown. Cool and then frost with Brown Sugar Caramel Frosting.

Brown Sugar Caramel Frosting:

7 T  butter
2/3 c brown sugar
1/4 c milk
2 1/4 c powdered sugar
3/4 t vanilla

Melt butter in a small pan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar. and cook until sugar dissolves.  Add milk.  Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla.  Beat well.  If the mixture appears to thin add more powdered sugar.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

1 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 t baking soda
2 c flour
1 c peanut butter
1 t vanilla
1/2 t salt.

Cream together sugars, shortening, eggs and vanilla.  Add to dry ingredients and mix.  Roll into balls and press flat  with wet or sugared  fork.  Bake at 350° for 11-13 minutes. I like mine crunchy on edges so I wait until cookies are light brown on edges.

Coconut Chew Bars

These were another Elsie favorite at Thackeray picnic's in Etna, CA.

Ingredients:

3/4 c powdered sugar
3/4 c shortening
1 1/2 c flour

 Heat oven to 350°.  Mix and press into an un greased 9X13.  Bake crust for 12-15 minutes.

Mix remaining ingredients:

1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 t baking powder
2 T flour
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
1/2 c chopped nuts
1/2 c coconut.

Pour over baked crust layer.  Cook 20 minutes.    Cool, Cut, Frost

Frosting:

1 1/2 c powdered sugar
2 T butter
3 T orange juice
1 t lemon juice

Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

2 c butter flavored shortening
3 c sugar
4 eggs
2 t vanilla
1 t almond extract
4 t cream of tartar
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
5 1/2 c flour

Mix wet, add dry. Chill dough.  Roll into balls and then balls in cinnamon sugar.  Bake 400° for 9  minutes.  They finish flattening out as they cool. Recipe from Joe Rogers

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups of flour
1 cup sugar
1 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t nutmeg
3/4 c butter, softened
1 egg
2 ripe bananas mashed
1 3/4 c quick oats
1 c semi-sweet  or milk chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°
Mix together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Beat in softened butter until crumbly.
Add banana, egg and quick oats, mix well.
Add chocolate chips and nuts(opt)
Spoon onto greased cookie sheet
Bake for 13-15 minutes.  Then place on rack to cool.

Lemon Squares

Crust
1 cup butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Mix and press into a 9x13 glass dish. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes.

Topping/Filling
4 eggs
4 T lemon juice
4 T flour
2 cups sugar

Mix for 2  minutes in mixer on high then pour on top of crust.  Bake for 25 minutes. Sprinkle  powdered sugar with sifter over top.  Wait until cool to cut.

Kindra's Perfect "Shape-Holding" Sugar Cookies

Kindra's Perfect "Shape-Holding" Sugar Cookie

Cookie Recipe
If you are looking for a sugar cookie to decorate, these are for you! These hold their shape!!

Ingredients
2 1/4 cup  flour
1/4 t salt
3/4 cup  sugar
12 T butter
1 egg
1 t vanilla

Instructions
Whisk together flour and salt and set aside.  In another bowl mix butter and sugar until  smooth and creamy.  Add egg and vanilla. Add flour.
Refrigerate dough in plastic wrap.
Roll 1/4 inch thick.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 min

Royal Icing Recipe
For the frosting, I suggest cutting the meringue powder in half for a slightly softer icing. It will take a day or so to dry if you do, but it won't crack.  Makes 5 cups

Ingredients
2 pounds {one bag} confectioner's sugar {907 grams}
5 tablespoons meringue powder {approximately 53 grams}
2-3 teaspoons oil-free extract or emulsion...  vanilla
1/2-3/4 cups warm water

Instructions
Begin by stirring the flavoring into half the water. Using a paddle attachment, gently mix the sugar and meringue powder. It's not necessary to sift the sugar beforehand, but you can if you like.
With the mixer on it's lowest setting slowly add the water/flavoring mix to the dry ingredients. As the water is added, the icing will become thick and lumpy. Continue to add the remaining water {this may or may not be the entire amount} until the mixture reaches a thick, honey like consistency. At this point, turn the mixer to medium speed and whip 2-4 minutes until this icing is thick and fluffy. Mixing time can vary greatly so watch carefully and stop mixing when the icing is this enough to form a soft peak.

Notes:
Don't be afraid to experiment by adding corn syrup, glycerin, or cream of tartar to the mixture. Use a fan for a smooth shiny finish. Royal icing can be affected by many variables. With a little time and patience, you will find your perfect match.

Alana's Sugar Cookies - Lofthouse Copycat

Alana's Sugar Cookies     Mom's favorite for 30 years

Lofthouse Copycat Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Bake for 15 minutes

Cream ;
1 cup of shortening
2 cups of sugar

Then add;
6 T milk
2 teas. of vanilla
3 eggs beaten

Sift ;
4 1/2 c of flour
1 t salt
3 t baking powder

Add dry ingredients into wet a little at a time mixing with mixer until all flour has been added.
Chill
Roll out about 1/4"-1/2" thick on floured surface. 
Frost with a butter cream frosting. (Kindra has a frosting listed with one of her cakes)  These are better than the ones at the grocery store.

Samoa Cookies

What is better than a Samoa Girl Scout Cookie? A homemade one :) These are a bit of work, but worth it. Plus, with the shrinking number of Samoas per box, who can afford not to make their own?

Samoa Cookies

Makes about 3 1/2 to 4 dozen

The Cookie (base):

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

up to 2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt at a low speed, next, the vanilla and milk, adding in the milk only as needed to make the dough come together without being sticky (you may not need any at all). The dough should come together into a soft, pliable ball. Add in a bit of extra flour if your dough seems sticky.

It's easiest to roll the dough out in 2 or 3 batches (between pieces of wax (or parchment) paper to about 1/4-inch thickness (or a little thinner) using a 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make rounds. Place on a parchment lined (or on silicone mat) baking sheet and make a hole in the center. I used the small end of a large round piping tip. Nicole comments that you can use a knife, or the end of a wide straw, to cut a smaller center hole. Repeat until the dough is used up (it's okay to re-roll, this dough is shortbread-like and very forgiving.)

Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are very lightly golden brown around the edges.

Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, to allow them to firm up slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Coconut Caramel Topping:

3 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)

12-ounces good-quality chewy caramels

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons milk

8 ounces dark, semi-sweet or milk chocolate (chocolate chips will do)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F)

Spread coconut evenly on a rimmed baking sheet and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Watch carefully, especially near the end of toasting time; the coconut toasts very quickly once it begins to become golden.

Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula.

Using the spatula or a small offset spatula, spread topping on cooled cookies, using about 2-3 teaspoons per cookie. Reheat caramel for a few seconds in the microwave if it begins to firm up, to make it soft and spreadable once again.

While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. (I melted mine stovetop using double boiler method.) Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper (I used silicone baking mats instead). Transfer all remaining chocolate into a piping bag or a ziploc bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate. (Melt a bit of additional chocolate, if there is not quite enough for each cookie.)

Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

Recipe Source: OnceUponAPlate

Monster Cookies

These cookies have been on the blog for a while, but I thought it was time to give them a new picture and bring them all back to our attention. These are good. Peanut butter. Chocolate. Oats. Chewy cookie.

 
Monster Cookies

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter, softened
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 cup M&Ms (I used mini)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup raisins, optional

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Add baking soda, and oatmeal. Mix well. Stir in the M&Ms, chocolate chips, raisins. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not over bake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in an air tight container.

Recipe by Paula Deen

Rolo Cookies

I posted this recipe for rolo cookies a while a go. Come to find out, I was making them incorrectly. The new way is even better! I got the recipe from a friend and I followed the instructions to my interpretation. Because I had never seen the cookies, I didn't realize the rolo was to be completely enclosed in the middle of the cookie. It makes them much more delicious. A chocolatey, caramelly center... yum.

Rolo Cookies

1c sugar
1c brown sugar
1c butter
2t vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2c flour
3/4c cocoa
1t baking soda
1 bag Rolo

Cream together sugars and butter. Add vanilla and eggs. Separately mix together flour, cocoa and baking soda. Add to wet ingredients.

Drop 1 1/2" balls onto cookie sheet.  (I used my cookie scoop)

 

Press Rolo into center. Continue to completely surround the Rolo with the cookie dough. It should be in the middle of the dough ball.

 

Once Rolo is completely surrounded, roll cookie into a ball. Roll in sugar. Lightly press the top of the cookie with a cup so it will cook more evenly. 

Bake at 375 for 7minutes. Let them set on the cookie sheet for another 3-5min. Transfer to cooling rack. Best eaten when warm. Still good any time. 

Recipe Source: Maura Leavitt

Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have tried many different chocolate chip cookie recipes but I always go back to this one. The Russell's have used this recipe for as long as I can remember.

Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cup chocolate chips - one whole bag
Additional options - nuts of any kind

Oatmeal - if you add oatmeal, subtract the same amount from your flour. My sister, Tyre recommends 1/2 cup. (I have also seen some odd people blend their oats before adding them)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine flour, soda, salt - mix together, set aside. In a bowl combine sugars, add butter - mix until creamed together. Add eggs and vanilla - mix. Add flour to sugar mixture - mix. Add chocolate chips - mix. Bake for 22-24 min.