Super Soft Sugar Cookies

These are hubbster's FAVORITE sugar cookies. Not that I blame him - they are super soft but still able to hold a good amount of butter cream frosting. So easy to make for holiday decorating too.

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

2 eggs & milk to make 1 cup

1 tsp. soda - dissolved in 1/2 cup milk

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

6 cups flour

Directions:

(1) In a large mixing bowl cream the shortening and sugar.

(2) Beat in the egg and milk mixture.

(3) Beat in the soda and milk mixture. Add the baking powder, salt and nutmeg until well incorporated.

(4) Beat in 6 cups flour. Dough will be a little sticky.

(5) Roll dough onto a generously floured surface. Cut into shapes.

(6) On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, bake at 350 degrees for 11-12 minutes or until the edges are just golden.

(7) Cool on wire racks before frosting with http://theyankeesouthernbelle.blogspot.com/2012/02/butter-cream-frosting.html Butter Cream Frosting.

GGMa Reger's Sugar Cookies

During our vacation in Florida I had the privilege to sit down with Da'Hubby's grandma where she was kind enough to share some of her favorite recipes. According to GGma this is the only sugar cookie recipe that she uses.

It produces a light, flavorful, soft on the inside and crisp on the outside sugar cookie.

Ingredients:

5 cups sifted flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup shortening

2 Tbsp. cream

3 tsp. lemon rind

3 tsp. baking powder

4 eggs, beaten

2 tsp. vanilla

nutmeg

Directions:

(1) Sift dry ingredients together.

(2) Add lemon rind to shortening. Add sugar and cream mixture until fluffy.

(3) Add vanilla, eggs and cream. Beat well. Add flour gradually and blend.

(4) Chill.

(5) Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until just golden brown.

Caramel Nut Thumbprints

Chocolate, caramel and pecans. A heavenly combination if you ask me! These are great little cookies with a gooey caramel filling that will make you hungry for more.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg, separated

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 cups pecans, finely chopped

20 caramels, unwrapped

1/4 cup half-and-half

Directions:

(1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

(2) In a large bowl combine sugar, butter and shortening. Beat until light and fluffy.

(3) Add vanilla and egg yolk. Blend well.

(4) Add flour, cocoa and baking powder.

(5) In a small bowl beat egg white until foamy. Place pecans in another small bowl.

(6) Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Dip in egg white and roll in pecans.

(7) Place on ungreased cookie sheet. With thumb, make indentation in center of each cookie.

(8) Bake in preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until cookies are set.

(9) Immediately remove from cookie sheets to wire racks.

(10) In a small saucepan combine caramels and half-and-half. Cook until caramels are melted, stirring occasionally. Spoon caramel mixture into center of each cookie. Cool until caramel is set.

Cinnamon Stick Cookies

I absolutely love these cookies with a cup of coffee. They're even better when it's cold and dreary outside. Perfect for a day like today.
I found this recipe in Jane Hunter's cookbook and she states that she received it from a friend named Sue Jacobs. Well Mrs. Jacobs had a daughter named Brooke Sue and she and I were pretty good buddies throughout my middle school and high school years. So maybe that is also why I love these cookies - because they remind me of my friend.

Ingredients:
1 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
5 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
(1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
(2) In a large mixing bowl cream margarine and sugar. Add vanilla, 1 tsp. cinnamon and egg.
(3) Add 1 cup flour and mix well. Add rest of flour. Dough will be very firm and easy to handle.
(4) Grab a walnut size ball of dough and roll like a pencil. Roll in mixture of 5 Tbsp. sugar and 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon to coat. Place on un-greased cookie sheet.
(5) Bake for 10 minutes.

Helpful Hints:
(1) Store in loosely covered container.
(2) Can freeze

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

This cookie recipe is from my mother-in-love. Recently we were in Florida visiting Da'Hubby's grandparents. GGma had a plate of these cookies and Da'Hubby told her that these cookies always remind him of Christmas.

There are only 2 bad things with these cookies: (1) they're really good so you can't just eat one at a time (2) you have to chill the dough overnight (or if you're impatient like me, chill for just an hour or two).

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 squares of unsweetened chocolate, melted

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

2 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

(1) In a large mixing bowl combine the vegetable oil, melted chocolate and sugar.

(2) Blend in one egg at a time until creamy.

(3) Add vanilla and dry ingredients.

(4) Chill overnight.

(3) Drop one full tablespoon of dough into powdered sugar and roll to cover.

(4) Place cookie dough on ungreased cookie sheet and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

(5) Allow cookies to cool on wire rack.