Snickerdoodles

Although I am very opposed to using shortening in anything I make, the only recipe that had the right texture for snickerdoodles was one containing shortening! So here it is!

2 ½ cups flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

½ cup butter, softened

½ cup shortening

1 ½ cups sugar, plus ½ cup for rolling

2 large eggs

1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

Whisk flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer, mix butter, shortening and 1 ½ cups sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated. While mixer is on low, beat in flour mixture until combined. Combine ½ cup sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Make balls of dough using about 2 tablespoons and roll in sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place two inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375* until edges are just beginning to brown but centers are still soft, puffy and cracked, about 10-12 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets for 10 minutes and remove to cooling rack.

Dough balls can be frozen up to a month in the freezer. Bake the frozen dough balls in 300 degree oven for 18-20 minutes.

Molasses Spice-Lemon Cookies

 I got this recipe from the book "The Perfect Cookie." People at work loved them!

Whisk together in a bowl:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cloves

In another bowl whisk together until combined:
12 Tbsp. melted butter (a cube and a half)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg

Stir flour mixture into molasses mixture until incorporated. Cover bowl lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls and roll in a small bowl containing 1/2 cup sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until tops are just beginning to crack. Cool on pans for 5 minutes.

For filling, mix together:
3 Tbsp. softened butter
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. lemon juice

Spread a heaping teaspoon or so in between two cookies. Let filling set about an hour before serving.

Horner Family Chocolate Chip Cookies

I got this recipe from my baby brother's mother-in-law. It has morphed over the years, but it's only gotten better!


Blend together:
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs

Add:
1 1/3 cups softened butter
1 1/3 cups shortening
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla

Sift together and add:
7 cups of flour (if 2 cups are oat flour, it's really good!)
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt

Stir in:
3-4 cups chocolate chips

Scoop out in 1 1/4 inch balls and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Makes about six dozen or so.