It’s the cookie time of year! This holiday season, instead of making the same old sugar cookies, try something out-of-the-box like Terra’s Kitchen’s White Chocolate Ginger Cookie recipe. Combining the unusual, yet delicious flavor of ginger with the sweetness of the white chocolate chips, these cookies are sure to be an instant classic with friends and families. Whether you’re making them for gifting, entertaining, or just eating a batch yourself while watching holiday movies {calories don’t count at the holidays… :)} I’m sure everyone will love them!
4 Simple Ways to Jazz Up a Sugar Cookie
How to Spice Up a Basic Sugar Cookie
I admit it – sweets are my weakness. But, while I love to bake – I have much more enthusiasm than skill, lol. So I rely on lots of clever shortcuts, and am more of a Semi-Homemade type of girl. Buying store-bought desserts is no fun – but jazzing up some cookies from a mix is something that I CAN handle – and it makes me feel like less of a failure in the kitchen. If you’re not cooking show material either – or maybe are just looking for some simple ideas to use when you don’t have time for baking from scratch, keep readin’ sister.
McCormick Look Book Baking Inspiration
For those of you who are better homemakers than I am, and regularly bake desserts for your family from scratch – you will find some AMAZINGLY delicious ideas in the new McCormick Look Book. It’s filled with perfect picks for spring entertaining – and you can search by Cakes & Cookies, Brunch Gathering, Spring Cakes, and more. I pinned a TON of good stuff onto my cakes, cookies, pops – oh my! board, and you can find more yummies on the Spring Baking Pin-spiration board from McCormick too. {Because you needed another reason to hop onto Pinterest today, right?} Since there were so many great ideas there, I used them to inspire some shortcuts to great treats, using some of my favorite supplies from McCormick! I tested out a ton, and let the family pick their favorites. Here are the winners:
- Cinnamon & Sugar: I loved the idea of this cookie; it reminds me of a snickerdoodle. McCormick has a great recipe in the Look Book that you can try. For a simplified version – use refrigerated sugar cookie dough, and simply roll it in a mixture of sugar and McCormick Cinnamon, then bake as directed. Yum!
- Colored Cookies: This is a similar idea – use the great recipe in the Look Book for Colorful Sugar Cookies; or for an easy alternative, substitute refrigerated cookie dough, but follow the steps to make the colored sugar using McCormick’s easy to use food coloring. This would be fun to match a kiddo’s birthday party colors!
- Lemon-Coconut Cookies: This one isn’t from the Look Book – but I wanted to create something fun for spring using McCormick’s Lemon Extract. I used a boxed sugar cookie mix, then added 1 tsp of the extract, and a 1/2 cup of toasted coconut. Soooo good! {Also, you can experiment with using ANY of McCormick’s extracts into a sugar cookie mix – they’ll fool people into thinking you made them from scratch.}
- Colorful Cookie Glaze: Want to add a glaze to your cookies? You can use this great recipe from the Look Book for Cookie Glaze – or if you need a lazy girl option, you can simply add a few drops of their food coloring to regular store-bought frosting, then melt it a bit in the microwave. It’ll pour on just like a glaze!
So, whether you’re a totally skilled baking ninja, a busy mom just looking for some short-cuts to save time, or a bit of a kitchen klutz like me – you’ll find some great spring baking inspiration and ideas in the new McCormick Look Book!
What’s YOUR favorite Baking Tip?
Do you have a great short-cut idea to share? I’d LOVE to hear them! Did you find a new recipe to try in the Look Book? {I’m going to try the Orange-Kissed Brownies next!} And do you use McCormick for your baking too – what’s your fave to use? {Obviously I’m a big fan of the extracts! They totally help me make store-bought supplies a lot sassier!} I love hearing from you guys.
{Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for McCormick. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for participating. Photo Credit.}
Super Simple Peek-a-Boo Cookies!
Can you say, Yummm??
This is from the super fun, super easy, super frugal-friendly recipes over at Mr. Food! I’m such a fan of the Mr. Food cookbooks, that’s definitely my style of cooking – simple and quick! I’ll share some ways to get bunches of his recipes FREE in a minute, but first – lets get to the important part of the post, how to make these amazing cookies….
These bakery-worthy homemade sandwich-style Peek-a-Boo cookies have yummy jam that peeks out from holes in their sugar-coated tops. Whether you make ’em to enjoy at home or for a bake sale, these will go fast!
Peek-a-Boo Cookies
Makes: 4 dozen cookies
Cooking Time: 10 min
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup jam or preserves (see Options)
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, beat butter, granulated sugar, egg, vanilla, and salt until creamy. Gradually add flour, beating until well mixed. Cover and chill 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Divide dough into 4 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles and place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Using a plastic drinking straw, randomly cut out circles of dough from half the cookies.
- Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes, or until light golden. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
- Spread jam evenly over solid cookies. Sprinkle remaining cookies with confectioners’ sugar. Place the cookies with holes over the jam-topped cookies. Serve, or store in an airtight container.
Busy Mom Tips:
- In a hurry? Or, like me, and hate getting out a mixer? Use a refrigerated cookie dough instead!
- These cookies are delicious and adorable! Try putting out a plate of these along with mugs of steaming cider. Mmmm…..
- Any flavor jam can be used, but we like to use an assortment so there are different colors peeking through the holes in the cookies.
- You can also make these with frosting, chocolate syrup, caramel sundae topping… Get creative!
Love it?
Super simple, super yummy, and they are just so cute and fun – perfect for holiday entertaining, or to give as gifts.
Get the FREE Recipe Books!
Sign up for these great free recipe books, and you’ll also be able to get the once a week FREE newsletter from them too – filled with really fun ideas. That’s actually where I got this cookie recipe from!
- Free eCookbook – Mr. Food Best Brunch Recipes: 29 Easy Brunch Recipes to Celebrate Any Occasion, featuring 45 pages of easy Easter recipes for entertaining! Click Here.
- Free eCookbook – Blue Ribbon Casseroles: 23 Easy Casserole Recipes, featuring 31 pages of easy casserole recipes to comfort you all year ‘round. Click Here.
- Free eCookbook – No Bake Desserts: 18 Easy Dessert Recipes from Mr. Food, a tempting collection of triple-tested quick and easy no bake recipes, features all of your favorite no bake desserts – no oven required! Click Here.