Another Foodie Friday submission from The Erratic Cook, a chef in her own mind from right here in Okotoks.

 

SUGAR AND SPICE COOKIES

½ cup softened butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

½ tsp vanilla

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp nutmeg

Pinch ground cloves

In bowl, beat together butter and sugar until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla. Stir together flour, baking powder, spices; gradually stir into batter until blended. Gather dough into ball; wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.

On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Transfer to parchment paper-lined, lightly greased baking sheets.

Bake in 350 F degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Remove to racks immediately and let cool. (Cookies can be stored in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks) They can also be frozen.

Makes about 50 cookies.

That is the recipe straight from The Canadian Living Christmas Book.

Ok, so all that being said and don’t get me wrong, I love Canadian Living recipes because they truly do test them and they are always good recipes….but you know that I always change recipes... just a little. I usually double it because I don’t know what size cookies they are making but we did not get 50. I also reduce the amount of sugar (with the icing that goes on top of these suckers you don’t need a cup of sugar in them) I also add more of the spices and added ginger and cardamom. I bake them on my Stoneware pans – of course I do. You probably know by now that I use those pans for everything that goes in the oven!

What goes on top? Icky sticky oh so sweet…

ICING PAINT

In bowl whisk together 4 cups of icing sugar and 1/3 cup water – yep that is it! You may have to add more sugar or water to make it paintable. This mixture can dry out if left open to the air too long so keep the icing covered with damp cloths as necessary.

Divide into as many small bowls as you want colors – add food coloring. Get out the sprinkles and any other candy embellishments you want.

Get some clean paint brushes and paint away! I say clean paint brushes because usually this time of year we also paint Christmas tree ornaments – sometimes we go from painting cookies to painting ornaments – you can see how this may go terribly wrong – paint does not improve the flavor of a cookie and icing does not work well on an ornament.

We have found that a gathering of kids to do the decorating works really well – if you like creative art and lots and lots of icing!!! I love the creative results and as for the sugar…well its only once a year so why not!

Have Fun!

Just to let you know that if you prefer your cookies without icing, this recipe makes a delicious, even adult friendly cookie, especially when you reduce the sugar and add more spice. Yum!

~ Tracy