Impressive Cookies - Easy Creative Cookie Ideas

Home baked cookies are a passion of mine and like most of us, I just love a good cookie. Nothing tells your family how much you love them more than a war cookie fresh from the oven, unless it is a jar full of these delicious snacks. Cookies, it is commonly believed, have been around since the 7th century.  These little sugar cakes were made possible by the cultivation of sugar by Persia.  By about the 14th century, you could find cookies everywhere. Today, the cookie has evolved into one of the world's favorite treats.  

With a little imagination you can bake up some treats that will impress even the most discriminating palate.  

Cookie Bake

Start with these minty delights.  A flour-free  mouth-watering cookie that will bring on the smiles in no time. Kids love them and so will you.

MERINGUE MINT BITES

You will need:  

2 egg whites

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (helps stabilize the egg whites)

3/4 cup of sugar

1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 small, 10 ounce, bag of mint chocolate chips

2 to 6 drops of green or red food coloring (this is optional). 

  I mix up 2 batches for the holidays, one red and one green.  They look as great on a cookie platter as they taste.But beware, you may be making these almost daily.  They are that good.

Lightly grease baking sheets, or line with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites and  cream of tartar until soft peaks form.  Slowly add sugar and continue beating until the egg whites are stiff.  This can take up to about 7 minutes, depending on your mixer.  Alternately you can do this by hand with a whisk.

Gently fold in the chocolate mint chips.  Folding is done by taking the spoon or preferably a spatula and plunging it into the egg whites. You then pull back up through the mixture and fold the mix from the bottom over the top.  Do this gently so as not to break down the egg whites you have beaten so successfully.

Drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets to form small mounds.  Bake for 30 - 35 minutes at 350 degrees  until dry to the touch.  Cool.  If you manage  to keep little fingers out of these you can store them in air tight containers.

PEPPERMINT KISSES

Follow the recipe above except, replace the chocolate mint chips with 2 large crushed peppermint candy canes, one with a red strips and one with a green stripe.  This version will melt in your mouth and give you the taste of the holidays.

LACE COOKIES are perhaps one of the most delicate additions to any cookie tray and one of our all time favorites.  If you decide to store them in a jar, do so stacked like poker chips in a clear glass container.  They are fragile and melt in your mouth but they are oh,so addictive.  A food processor makes the process quick and easy. You will need:

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon of salt

1 egg

1/2 cup butter, melted ( I suggest using real butter for these to achieve the best flavor and consistency)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Pecan Halves for garnish

In a food processor grind the pecans and sugar until grainy. The mixture will be granules about the size of sea salt. Place the mixture in a bowl and add the flour, salt and baking powder, stirring to mix.  In a separate bowl cream the butter and vanilla.  Beat in the egg until the mixture is light and creamy.  Stir in the flour mixture.

Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture about 3 inches apart on a greased foil-lined baking sheet.  You could also use a non-stick fiberglass & silicone sheet pan liner. Press a pecan half lightly into each mound.

Bake at 325 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.  The cookies should be golden brown and lacy looking.  Allow the cookies to cool completely before removing cookies carefully from the foil. 

For and extra special twist, sandwich these delicate cookies with a mixture of cream cheese and confectioners sugar flavored with a teaspoon of almond extract.  Just cream the cheese and 1/2 cup of the sugar.  Spread on one cookie and place another on top.  I usually make two batches, leaving the pecan half off of one.

I have many more recipes that you can try but for now this will keep your cookie jar overflowing with tender morsels and your family will think you have suddenly become a genius chef.  Enjoy.

Impressive Cookies - Easy Creative Cookie Ideas

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