Snicker Doodles

Sometimes I wonder how people have a "favorite cookie".  Seriously, you can pick one?  How can you single out one type of cookie when there's chocolate chip, peanut butter, pumpkin snicker doodles, white chocolate cranberry?  You must be a real cookie expert... Unfortunately I haven't reached that status yet.  Better keep sampling them all.

A couple weeks ago there was a bake sale at school.  Imagine that! Kids, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, donuts.  It just goes together way too well. Let me tell you, if the government had a bake sale in every school across the country just one day, they'd be out of debt.  Possibly even have some extra Benjamin's to spare! Kids love food!

Let me rephrase that... Who doesn't love cookies, brownies, cakes, donuts, chocolate covered whatever, etc.???? You're just not American if you don't!  Once again getting myself way off topic.  Anyways, I made these for the bake sale at school.  No, not for the government bake sale, a senior project bake sale.  One teacher in particular absolutely LOVES these cookies.  Like they are her FAVORITE.  One and only favorite. Yes, just one type!  She always has to buy one a couple plateful.  Next time I'll just bring an extra tray with her name one it.  One for the bake sale and one for her!

Snicker Doodles

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071086

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter flavored Crisco shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• Cinnamon Sugar

Instructions

In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the first six ingredients.

Stir in flour, adding more if batter is too sticky.

Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake at 350* for 8 to 10 minutes.

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Molasses Cookies

As a kid, these cookies really confused me.  They tasted just like a gingerbread...but were in a circle.  And they were decorated with sugar...not icing.  Someone got lazy and didn't wanna cut out gingerbread men?

Not the case.  While they can satisfy a gingerbread craving with half the work, Molasses Cookies are not the same as Gingerbread Men.  

Mom and I usually don't make them, but in a close second place behind pitzzelles, these are my Grandma's second favorite cookies.  So we decided to whip up a batch this year.  What a daughter won't do for her mother.  

Molasses Cookies

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071082

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup margarine
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg, well beaten
• 4 tablespoons molasses
• 2 3/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Instructions

Mix all ingredients well. Chill dough at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350° F. Roll dough into balls and roll in white sugar.

Press down with fork and bake 10 to 12 minutes.

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Snicker Doodles

If you haven't guessed it already, I absolutely love Christmas! Not because I get presents and go shopping (well...those are pretty great too) but mostly because I get to give everyone gifts. Really. I look forward to it all year.

But since I have so many teachers it's hard to get them something they'll use that's not too expensive. Last year I may have given my teachers the best gift yet.  Everyone gives baked goods or little homemade treats. But unbaked goods? Now we're talkin!

Yep that's exactly what I did!  I gave each of my teachers a box of cookie dough balls. They loved it too! Why? Because who wants more sweets over the holidays? Since these were unbaked they could be saved for later.

Just one thing...make sure you include baking instructions...

Snicker Doodles

:Ingredients:

1 cup butter flavored Crisco shortening

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon cream of tarter

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/4 cups flour

Cinnamon Sugar

:Directions:

In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the first six ingredients.

Stir in flour, adding more if batter is too sticky.

Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Bake at 350* for 8 to 10 minutes.

Copyright © 2014, Grace George. Simple and Sweet Creations. All Rights Reserved.

Click for printable recipe.

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

These are my aunt's favorite cookies!  When we make them for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner she swears she could eat them all.  Sometimes she even makes us hide them from her!  Yes, they're that delicious.

I made these for my bake sale last week (red, white, and blue stars for Veterans) and they were a hit.  An elementary teacher came over and bought (not lying) at least a dozen.  By Saturday night she said they were all gone.  So much for freezing them for the holidays...

I'm pretty picky when it comes to cookies.  Nothing too crunchy, too sweet, too dry, too soft.  Let's just say I'm pretty hard to please.  (You can blame my mother for that one!  I've been spoiled since day one with delicious homemade cooking!)

These may be the only sugar cookies I'll eat.  They're firm, but not too hard.  Soft, but not fall apart in your hand.  Sweet, but not that you can't finish the whole cookie.  (You could will easily eat more than one!)  

Oh...and don't forget to sample the dough!  You can always tell if a cookie is going to be good by tasting the dough. :)

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071080

Ingredients

Cookie

• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

• 3 cups confectionery sugar
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer.

Cover and chill several hours before rolling.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Roll and cut out on a generously floured surface.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Allow to cool before frosting.

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Baked Apple

It's official...I'll be able to survive in college!  Last night I perfected the most important microwave meal of the day...DESSERT!  Here's what my diet will consist of: Microwave Eggs for breakfast (and lunch, and dinner) and then this baked apple for dessert. :)  What college kid would complain about that?

Unfortunately, I won't be able to enjoy my mothers apple pies, crisps, and dumplings in a college dorm.  They'd get stolen before I had a chance to take a bite!  Mmmmm...I can taste 'em right now! 

I love how simple this little treat is to make.  Literally in 3 minutes it's all done.  And it only makes a single serving!  I had it for dessert last night, but it could make a great pre-workout or after-school snack, or even a mid-day treat.  Pair it with some greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, or milk for a breakfast too.

Cut your apple in half and scoop out the core.

Place cut side down in a microwave bowl with some water.

Microwave 1 1/2 minutes, flipping the apple over halfway through.  Be careful!  The apple and water may be hot!

Place apple on plate and stuff the centers with oats and brown sugar.  You can use honey or another sweetener instead of brown sugar.  I'd drizzle about a 1/2 tablespoon of honey over each core.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and microwave another 30 seconds.  Look how delicious :) But be careful...mine was pretty warm...

Baked Apple

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071075

Ingredients

• 1 small apple
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon instant oats
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar (or other sweetener)
• cinnamon

Instructions

Cut apple in half and remove core.

Place cut side down in a microwave bowl with water.

Microwave 1 1/2 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Place apple on plate and fill centers with oats and brown sugar.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and microwave 30 seconds.

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