Cookie recipes

Brownies

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Ginger cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar
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Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Raisin cookies

1 cup raisins
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 tablespoons white sugar
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Directions

In a small saucepan, bring the raisins, water, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to a boil. Remove from heat, and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
In a medium bowl, cream the shortening and sugar together. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Drain the raisins and stir them into the mixture.
Put the 3 tablespoons of sugar into a small bowl. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in the sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, cookies should be firm.


Flourless Peanut Butter cookies

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
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Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Combine ingredients and drop by teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool. Recipe doesn't make very many, so you could double recipe as you desire.

OR...

2 cups peanut butter
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
In a medium bowl, stir peanut butter and sugar together until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the baking soda, salt, and vanilla. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Press a criss-cross into the top using the back of a fork.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate crinkles

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. I like to use a number 50 size scoop. Coat each ball in confectioners' sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Chocolate Chip cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.

Grace's ginger cookies

This is a fascinating recipe on many levels. It is fascinating because it varies so much, depending on the type of fat used. It is fascinating because of its personal history...

Grace Biffen was matron of Nairobi Hospital before and after the birth of my children. Not difficult, as she was there over 20 years and was awarded an MBE (or OBE - can't remember!). We were privileged, not only to count her as a friend but to be part of the same Bible study group. The end of every discussion was marked with the serving of tea or coffee in elegant thermoses, accompanied by her trademark mayonnaise chocolate cake or ginger biscuits. The chocolate was delicious, but a waste of good mayonnaise, so here is the biscuit recipe.

These are, quite simply, the best ginger biscuits EVER.

Mix together 
1lb flour
1 lb sugar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tablespoons ground ginger
half a pound of margarine,
1 large egg
2 tablespoons of Peter Paterson's honey.  (Peter is Jonny's godfather. He is an expert beekeeper. His honey is the most delicious we have ever tasted. It's not possible for us to get it any more, so golden syrup is an acceptable substitute.)

The mixture seems very dry, but does eventually allow itself to be squeezed into a soft dough. Form marble-sized, or larger if desired, balls.

Place on a baking tray at least 1 inch apart. ("They spread," said Susanna Church, Grace's niece. "All that fat!")

Bake in a hot over (say 180 - 200 degrees C) for 10 - 15 minutes until well spread and GOLDEN brown. NOT dark brown.

Loosen carefully from the tray, leave for a few minutes to cool slightly and ease off carefully onto a cooling rack. (Too rough, and they become dreadfully hurt and misshapen.) When cool, they are wonderfully crisp.  Make miniature versions, with double the amount of ginger, for ginger nuts.

So, how are they fascinating?  /It all depends on the fat. Use soft or spreadable margarine (which has a far lower fat content than hard margarine), and the dough is impossibly soft and greasy. It will need a lot more flour added to it and the resultant biscuits are more like cookies - slightly cake-like and soft.

Add crystallized or stem ginger to larger balls of dough, baking only until pale golden for softer cookies.