|
The only kind of recipe that may be more common than peanut butter is sugar cookie recipes. Sugar cookies are the ultimate "simple sweet," without much flavor of their own other than the sugar and a light, pleasing texture that makes it possible to munch them by the handful. During holiday time, when everyone's cookie factories crank up in their home kitchens, sugar cookies are turned out by the tens of dozens. Because the dough is so simple to make, large batches are usually prepared at once and kept refrigerated until it's time to dish them onto the baking sheet. Some people even make the dough weeks ahead of time and freeze it until it's time to bake, although the results from that can be mixed. This year, before holiday time, do a little experimenting. Sugar cookie dough is cheap to make, so you won't be risking any major investment doing so. First off, try some flavorings. Almond extract is a great flavor to try, just a teaspoon or so per batch. For an extra special touch, place a slice of almond on top of each cookie right when they come out of the oven, while the top of the cookie is still hot and a little bit sticky. Vanilla is a classic flavor, as is lemon. In fact, many sugar cookie recipes have lemon or vanilla extracts already listed as ingredients. For a change of pace, try amaretto, peppermint or any other extract you'd like to explore. The only limit is your imagination. Add-ins are another great way to explore. Be careful here, though. Sugar cookie dough isn't as durable as chocolate chip cookie dough, so you can't cram in quite the volume of extras you would normally. But that's fine, as you want the flavor of the cookie to come through with your addition. Try chopping up dried or candied fruits to add flavor and color. A little ground or chopped almond, pecan or walnut is also a great choice. Again, your options are as varied as your creativity can make them. Don't be afraid to explore! Ann Marie Krause has been making cookies for over 30 years, at persent I am retired, for over 23 years I owned a Gourmet Bakery called The Cheese Confectioner.You can visit my site at http://www.annsgoodies.com NOTE: You are welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the about the author info at the end). |
|
