Cooking up some classic cookie recipes
To lots of folks, the Christmas season starts when they begin to make cookies for the Christmas tree, and boxes which they send to their friends. Then their favorite recipes are taken out and housewives spend many hours in making a goodly supply of fruity, spicy, nutty cookies that are relished by young and old.
These cookies require the very best ingredients — plenty of fruits, nutmeats and spices. If you prefer, bake cookies plain and then dress them up with delicately tinted frostings, ornamental candies, colored coconut and sugar and grated sweet chocolate.
As soon as they have been baked and cooled, cookies should be stored in tightly covered jars in a cool place until time for packing.
A “cookie tree” — a Christmas tree trimmed entirely with cookies — will make a fine holiday treat for the children.
Classic sugar cookies recipe
Ingredients
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1-1/2 cup pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon extract or spice of choice
Directions
Cream sugar and shortening and add eggs, beating mixture thoroughly. Sift together dry ingredients and add to mixture with flavoring extract. Form into a roll, chill and slice. Use 2-1/2 tablespoons less flour for drop cookies. Bake on greased baking sheet in hot oven at 425 F for about 8 minutes.
Chocolate cookies: Add 1 square chocolate, melted, to sugar and shortening mixture of sugar cookie recipe, or add 1/3 cocoa to dry ingredients.
Nut cookies: Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts to classic sugar cookie recipe.
Seed cookies: Add 1-1/2 teaspoons anise, caraway, or cardamom seeds to sugar cookie recipe.
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Filled cookies recipe
Filling:
1 cup chopped raisins
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup boiling water
Mix in order given and cook all together until thick. Cool before using.
Dough:
1 cup sugar
1 egg, well-beaten
1 cup sour cream
4 cups pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
Mix together sugar, beaten egg and sour cream. Sift together dry ingredients and add to first mixture. Add lemon extract. Roll thin and cut in rounds. Place 1 teaspoon of the filling on half the cookies and cover with the remaining cookies. Press together lightly, sprinkle tops with sugar, and bake in a hot oven of 400 F for 10 minutes.
Classic hermit cookies
Ingredients
3/4 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
3 eggs, well-beaten
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/2 cups pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
Cream the shortening and sugar and add the well-beaten eggs. Sift 2 cups of flour with the soda and spices and add to mixture. Add raisins and nuts mixed with rest of flour. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake in a hot oven of 400 F for 10 minutes.
Molasses cookies recipe
Ingredients
1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup molasses
1 cup sour milk
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon vinegar
5 cups pastry flour (approximately)
Directions
Cream the shortening and blend with the brown sugar; add the molasses and sour milk. Sift together 3 cups, of flour with soda, salt and spices. Add to first mixture together with vinegar. Add the rest of flour, taking care to keep the dough soft. Chill 3 to 4 hrs. or overnight. Roll medium thin and cut in desired shapes, or shape dough before chilling and slice. Bake on greased baking sheets in a moderate oven of 350 F for 15 minutes.
MORE: 8 great classic gingersnap recipes
Classic soft oatmeal cookies
Ingredients
1 cupful hot, cooked oatmeal
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cupfuls pastry flour (about)
Directions
Mix in order given, and drop 2 inches apart on a well greased baking sheet. Bake in a moderate oven of 350 F for about 10 minutes.
Classic crisp oatmeal cookies
Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Cream together rolled oats, shortening and sugar. Add milk gradually and continue beating until creamy. Sift together dry ingredients and add to first mixture. Add vanilla. Chill. Roll thin. Cut in desired shape and bake in a moderate oven of 350 F for about 10 minutes.
Peanut macaroons recipe
Ingredients
2 egg whites
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup pastry flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cupful peanuts, coarsely chopped
Directions
Beat egg whites until stiff and dry. Add gradually confectioners’ sugar, flour, and salt. Fold in chopped peanuts. Drop from the end of a teaspoon on a greased baking sheet about 2 inches apart and bake in a hot oven of 400 F for 10 minutes.
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Sand tarts cookies
Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 egg, well-beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-1/2 cups pastry flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg white
1 tablespoon sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Nuts, candied cherries or candied pineapple
Directions
Cream together sugar and butter, add beaten egg, vanilla and flour which has been sifted with baking powder and salt. Shape into roll and chill in refrigerator 1 hr. or more. Roll very thin and cut. Place on greased baking sheets, brush top of each with slightly beaten egg white, and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place in the center of each a blanched almond, pecan, a piece of candied cherry or a bit of candied pineapple. Bake in a hot oven of 450 F for 10 minutes.
Sour cream cookies recipe
Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cupful chopped nuts
Directions
Cream shortening and sugar together; add beaten egg and nuts. Sift together dry ingredients and add to mixture alternately with cream. Mix well and drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheets. Bake in a hot oven of 400 F for 15 minutes.
MORE: Christmas gifts from the kitchen: Classic homemade candy and cookies (1936)
