Holiday Cookie Making Brings the Family Together

I would love to share my favorite recipe called “Cookie Crunch”

Introduction

Thirteen years of my professional life were spent as a family and consumer sciences teacher before spending most of my career as a school and district-level administrator and education professor. When I began that phase of my career, that educational area was known as home economics.

While my initial goal was to have my own cooking show on television when I was a young woman, I became a teacher instead. Back then, I only presented cooking demonstrations on a few local television shows because there was no market for a cooking show on television. The idea of having a complete program devoted to food and cooking was an old-fashioned one back then. Times have really changed these days because there are several networks exclusively devoted to cooking. Many food personalities have popularized cooking and baking along with things related to foods and beverages. Recipe sharing has become very trendy today.

Even though my professional goal really changed, something in my life has remained very steady and consistent. I enjoy cooking, baking, and sharing recipe ideas. As the holiday season is now upon us, I would love to share a very delicious cookie recipe with you. It is quick and easy. Most importantly, it will fill your kitchen with creative family fun.

Cookie Crunch

I call my basic cookie recipe

“cookie crunch”

because it fills your mouth with crispy and crumbly goodness with every bite you take. It while it bakes into a thin treat, it is sturdy enough to add candy treats, nuts, and dried fruits to the dough. This cookie also holds decorations added on top of it after it bakes.

My sweet, buttery recipe is inexpensive to make, too. It is a versatile cookie that can be dressed up for the holidays by adding different flavorings and food coloring to the dough right before shaping the dough and baking it. Also, the dough becomes interesting by rolling small pieces in sweet coatings like bits of your favorite chopped candy bar and sugar crystals. It is easy to make the cookie crunch recipe as a fun holiday favorite treats for the entire family.

My Recipe…A Gift for You

1 cup sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 egg

2 teaspoons of the extract or flavoring of choice like vanilla, butter, peppermint, almond, lemon, lavender, orange, and so on; sweetened or unsweetened cocoa may also be added

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

your choice of the following cookie coatings: cinnamon sugar, toffee, chocolate, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips, colored sugar, shredded coconut, chopped nuts or dried fruit, sweetened cocoa or hot cocoa mix, miniature M&Ms, or crushed peppermint candy

1. Mix the butter or margarine, egg, sugar, and flavoring or extract.
2. This is optional: add your food coloring of choice to the butter mixture according to the flavor of the cookie dough.
3. Add the remaining ingredients except the cookie coating.
4. Roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls.
5. Refrigerate for one hour.
6. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
7. Roll each ball into the coating of your choice. (This recipe makes 6 dozen cookies!)
8. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper 2-inches apart.
9. Use the bottom of a glass to flatten it.
10. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
11. Immediately remove cookies from the tray and cool.
12. Freeze the cookies in a covered container or plastic bag until ready to place in gift containers.
13. Be creative with the choice of the gifting package like using:

• sturdy gift boxes lined with tissue paper;
• stacking the cookies in decorated freezer paper with ribbon closing each end;
• arrange the cookies in a small gift basket;
• place the cookies on a holiday cookie plate purchased at a dollar store and place them in a large cellophane bag secured by a colorful ribbon; and
• an inexpensive, plain cookie jar that has been decorated.

Conclusion

Special family memories can easily be created in the kitchen during the holiday season. Mixing, baking, and decorating my tasty cookie crunch recipe is the perfect way to make that happen.

My gift to you is giving a copy of the recipe to you.

I invite you to share the directions and the delicious cookies that you make with others. Most importantly, be sure to leave some for Santa!

I wish you a happy, safe, and blessed Christmas and holiday season.

Here is my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.

Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1DPhBeA29UlybU9jzDkdQ.