Monday, December 15, 2008

Cookies for Christmas

Suddenly I am bit by the holiday baking bug. I had a thought to put up a cookie recipe a day starting 13 days before Christmas, a 12 Cookies of Christmas kind of thing but since I am already to late for that I thought I would share a recipe that I am wanting to try. I haven't made it yet, so if you do and it's a bust please don't throw rotten cookies at me! I'll post another few recipes (that I've made!) here and there for the next week incase anyone else is feeling particularly domestic. I've invited Mom ( http://my7kids.blogspot.com ) and my sister to take a day off from unraveling and dying sweaters to come over one day this week to bake at least 4 different kinds of cookies.

Here's the recipe I haven't made yet, but will when they're over. It's from the book Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke.

Molasses Crackles:
Do not preheat your oven, the dough needs to chill

Ingredients:
3 sticks melted butter (1 1/2 cups)
2 cups sugar (white)
1/2 cup very dark molasses
2 eggs (beaten up lightly with a fork)
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
4 cups flour (all purpose)

Directions:
Melt butter in a large bowl. Then add sugar and molasses and stir. Let cool slightly, then add the eggs, baking soda, salt, innamon and nutmeg; stirring after each addition. Add flour one cup at a time, stirring after each cup. The dough will be quite stiff.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hrs but overnight is fine.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.) with the rack in the middle position.

Put some sugar in a small bowl.
Roll the chilled dough into walnut sized balls and roll them in the sugar. Place them on a greased cookie sheet (12 to a standard sheet). Press them down lightly so they won't roll off when you carry them to the oven.

Bake 10-12 minutes. They'll flatten out by themselves. Let cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Note: these cookies freeze well. Roll them in foil, put in a freeze bag and they'll keep for about 3 months.

5 comments:

  1. Ok I can say I have made this recipie before, Becuase its a maybe the same or similar to what my grandma made and they are delish! I may have to make some now darn you, I did promise Barbie (my little one for those who read this and dont know she is my child) Gingerbread men so if you happen to have a good recipie for that I would love it!!! Huggs Marion

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  2. We may have to try these, my kids love to help bake, cook etc. I think we will do some baking during there break. Friday is there last day. I am glad as I have so much to still do. :-)

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  3. Sound really yummy! We're going to be baking soon!

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  4. I made these a few years ago and they were awesome! Tiring to stir though. How did yours turn out?

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  5. I actually didn't get to these! Bummer! We forgot to get some molasses.

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