Recommended Cookie Recipes

[Paula]

Hello! I am looking forward to hosting my first cookie exchange (...with great help from this site!) next Sunday!

I am in the process of trying to choose a cookie recipe to bake (something that is usually a big hit, and not too difficult).

Any suggestions that you may have would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Razzbery1]

Hello,
This recipe is not only a keeper but one that is easy to prepare and freezes well. It is an Italian recipe that I got from my grandmother. They are great for a cookie exchange because they make quanity and one batch should bake enough for several people.
Some people call them Jeanettes but I call them delicious!
1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups of sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract OR 3 tsp. anise extract OR 2 tsp. Almond extract
5 cups flour
4 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup milk
Cream together the sugarand margarine until smooth and creamy. Add eggs , one at a time and continue beating. Add extract of your choice
Mix dry ingredients in another bowl.
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the milk to the sugar mixture. Mix well.
Let dough rest for a few minutes.
Drop 1/2 tsp of dough on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes at 325 degree oven.
When cool, you can frost them with confectionary sugar, milk and vanilla extract mixture.
You can add food color to the frosting in festive holiday colors, if you wish.
Store in tightly covered container. Hope you like them!

[AKC]

I love a lot of Ina Garten's recipes. This one is from her "Parties!" cookbook.


Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies


1/2 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup good smooth peanut butter
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound good semisweet chocolate chunks (Nestle)


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla and peanut butter, and mix. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt and add to the batter, mixing only until combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks.

Drop the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using either a 1 3/4 - inch ice cream scoop or a rounded tablespoon. Dampen your hands, flatten the dough lightly, then press the tines of a wet fork in both directions. Bake for exactly 17 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone). Do not overbake. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

[Paula]

Thanks so much, I appreciate your help! They both sound wonderful!