Month: December 2014

Caramel Chocolate Swirl Fudge

Caramel Chocolate Swirl FudgeHappy New Year’s Eve!  Tonight I am featuring the sixth and last treat we make on my family’s annual cookie making day.  I have already featured Colleen’s Candy, Almond Bark Pretzels, Star Cookies, Spritz Cookies, and Cut-Out Sugar Cookies.  This fudge is a wonderful mix of caramelized sugar and chocolate chips.  You will love this soft and rich fudge, making it the perfect addition to any cookie platter.  It is very easy to make.  All you need is a candy thermometer.

In a heavy pan combine 1/4 cup of softened butter, 3 cups of sugar, 2 tablespoons of white corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup of cream.

sugar and butterStir everything together and put your candy thermometer in the mixture.

putting in thermometer in fudgeNow cook to soft ball stage or 235 degrees on the candy thermometer.  Stirring constantly while you are heating it up.

fudge at soft boilWhen the fudge gets to the soft ball stage on the thermometer, remove it from the heat.  If you don’t remove it right when it gets at this stage, the fudge will become too hard when it sets up. After removing the pan from the heat, stir the fudge constantly until is gets thick.

tirring fudge until thickenedOnce it has thickened, add the 1/3 cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.

stirring in chipsStir the chips for just a minute and then pour the mixture into an 8×8 inch buttered pan and swirl the chips around with a knife.

finished fudge

Let the fudge set out for about an hour to cool and set.  Then you can cut it and serve it or put it in containers in the freezer.  This fudge freezes very well just like the other 5 recipes we make on my family’s annual cookie making day.  

Caramel Chocolate Swirl Fudge

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of sugar
  • 1/4 cup of butter
  • 1 cup of cream
  • 2 tablespoons of white corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 of a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. In a heavy pan combine 1/4 cup of softened butter, 3 cups of sugar, 2 tablespoons of white corn syrup, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup of cream. Stir everything together and put your candy thermometer in the mixture. Now cook to soft ball stage or 235 degrees on the candy thermometer. Stirring constantly while you are heating it up. When the fudge gets to the soft ball stage on the thermometer, remove it from the heat. If you don't remove it right when it gets at this stage, the fudge will become too hard when it sets up. After removing the pan from the heat, stir the fudge constantly until is gets thick. Once it has thickened, add the 1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir the chips for just a minute and then pour the mixture into an 8x8 inch buttered pan and swirl the chips around with a knife. Let the fudge set out for about an hour to cool and set. Then you can cut it and serve it or put it in containers in the freezer. This fudge freezes very well just like the other 5 recipes we make on my family's annual cookie making day.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2014/12/31/caramel-chocolate-swirl-fudge/


 

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Cut out sugar cookiesThis is the fifth cookie of the six cookies that we make on my family’s cookie baking day.  I have already featured Colleen’s Candy, Almond Bark Pretzels, Star Cookies, and Spritz Cookies. Tomorrow I will feature the last treat we make which is Carmel Chocolate Swirl Fudge.  This cookie is by far the best Cut-Out Sugar Cookie recipe you will ever find.  Have you ever been tricked at a party by great looking cut out cookies?  You finally give in to trying them based off their great looks only to find they are flavorless. Well that will never happen to your guests with this recipe. This cookie is soft and full of flavor. You can make it at any holiday: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St.Patricks’s Day, the 4th of July, Halloween and so on.  They are also a hit for other events like birthday parties, etc.  My sister has baked these cookies for almost every holiday and party event.  For example, she loves to make pumpkins at her Halloween party and hearts at her Valentine’s party.  She always has the cookies all baked, and when the kids arrive, they can frost them as an activity at the party.  So let’s get started making Cut-Out Sugar Cookies. 

First cream the softened butter and sugar together.

sugar cookie batterBeat eggs in a bowl and stir into batter.  Next dissolve your salt and soda in 1 Tablespoon of warm water. Now add this mixture to the batter. Then add the vanilla.  Now gradually add the 3 cups of flour to the batter.

adding flour to sugar cookiesScoop the dough in a freezer safe bowl and chill in the freezer for at least an hour.  We actually had ours in the freezer for a week.  

puting batter in bowl to refrigerateAfter chilling in the freezer, get a portion of the dough out and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.  Put the remaining dough back into the freezer until you are ready to use it.  It is very important to put the remaining dough back in the freezer between each rolling out of the dough or it will be too sticky to work with.

flour on surface for cut out cookies putting dough on surface to roll out

 

rolling out doughThen get out your favorite cookie cutters and cut out your shapes. We cut out all the shapes that will fit on the rolled out piece of dough, then we take scrap dough that is leftover from around each cookie cutter and put it all together as a ball so we can roll out the dough for a second time.  After the second roll out you can throw away the scrap dough.  This keeps the dough from getting too much flour incorporated into it.  Then you can get out your next portion of dough from the bowl in the freezer and repeat the rolling out process until you use up all of the dough.

cutting out cookiesPlace the cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

cut out cookies ready to bakeBake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  

We always frost them with buttercream frosting.  In a mixer blend 1/3 cup of softened butter, 1 lb. of powdered sugar, 1/4 cup of milk, 1 tsp. of vanilla and 1/4 tsp. of salt until smooth. You may have to add a little more powdered sugar if the frosting is a little too runny or a little milk if it is a little too thick.

frosting for pumpkin bars

Then we add food coloring to the frosting.

mixing frosting

Now you can frost the cookies and add colored sugar and sprinkles.  This recipe also freezes well.  We freeze the finished frosted cookies until we are ready to take them to parties or give them as gifts.

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

  • Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Ingredients
  • -------------------------------------------------
  • 1 cup of softened butter
  • 1 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon soda
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups of flour

Instructions

  1. First cream the softened butter and sugar together. Beat eggs in a bowl and stir into batter. Next dissolve your salt and soda in 1 Tablespoon of warm water. Now add this mixture to the batter. Then add the vanilla. Now gradually add the 3 cups of flour to the batter. Scoop the dough in a freezer safe bowl and chill in the freezer for at least an hour. We actually had ours in the freezer for a week. After chilling in the freezer, get a portion of the dough out and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Put the remaining dough back into the freezer until you are ready to use it. It is very important to put the remaining dough back in the freezer between each rolling out of the dough or it will be too sticky to work with. Then get out your favorite cookie cutters and cut out your shapes. We cut out all the shapes that will fit on the rolled out piece of dough, then we take scrap dough that is leftover from around each cookie cutter and put it all together as a ball so we can roll out the dough for a second time. After the second roll out you can throw away the scrap dough. This keeps the dough from getting too much flour incorporated into it. Then you can get out your next portion of dough from the bowl in the freezer and repeat the rolling out process until you use up all of the dough. Place the cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2014/12/30/cut-sugar-cookies/
 

 

Spritz Cookies

spritz cookiesToday I am featuring the fourth cookie of the six cookies that we make on my family’s cookie baking day.  I have already featured Colleen’s Candy, Almond Bark Pretzels, and Star Cookies.  We added the Spritz cookie to our cookie baking day about 2 years ago, and were glad we did. It’s fun to have this traditional cookie, and it’s a favorite!  Spritz cookies are made from a buttery cookie dough which is squeezed out of a cookie press and baked.  They were originally a Christmas cookie from the Scandinavian countries.  In order to make Spritz cookies, you will need a cookie press to make the trees, wreaths, and other shapes.  You could make this cookie for any holiday party or for any fun occasion.  The butter and almond flavor will dazzle your guests!

Start by creaming your butter and sugar together in a mixer.

sugar and butter for spritz

Add in your beaten egg and almond extract.

egg and almond extract for spritz In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients together.  Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Then add it slowly to the butter and sugar mixture.

adding flour to spritzMix thoroughly.

fully mixed spritz cookies Fill cookie press.

filling spritz dipenserAdd the design to the top of the press.

sprits cookie topTurn the top of the cookie press to drop cookies onto a plain cookie sheet.  Do not use parchment paper and it needs to be ungreased.  

pressing out spritzAdd colored sugar sprinkles before you bake the cookies or the sugar will not stick.

adding sprinkles to spritzBake 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  Now you can share this traditional cookie with your family and friends.  This cookie like the other four cookies freezes very well so put any extras in the freezer.

Spritz Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of butter
  • 3/4 cup of sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 1/4 cups of flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • Colored Sugar to sprinkle on cookies

Instructions

  1. Start by creaming your butter and sugar in a mixer. Add in your beaten egg and almond extract. In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients together. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Then add it slowly to the butter and sugar mixture. Fill cookie press. Add the design to the top of the press. Turn the top of the cookie press to drop cookies onto a plain cookie sheet. Do not use parchment paper and it needs to be ungreased. Add colored sugar sprinkles before you bake the cookies or the sugar will not stick. Bake 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Now you can share this traditional cookie with your family and friends. This cookie like the other four cookies freezes very well so put any extras in the freezer.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2014/12/29/spritz-cookies/

 

Star Cookies


star-cookies
Today I am featuring the third cookie of the six cookies that we make on my family’s cookie baking day.  I have already featured Colleen’s Candy and Almond Bark Pretzels.  So today I will feature Star Cookies; they are a Christmas favorite!  These cute little cookies are quite addicting, especially if you have ever had the pleasure of snagging one while still slightly warm with the softened chocolate star pooling in the center.  They have a wonderful mix of peanut butter and chocolate flavor. 

First cream together your butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together in a mixer.

butter and sugar for star cookiesNext add one cup of creamy peanut butter.

peanut butter for star cookies

 Add two eggs that you have beaten and 1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla.

adding egg to star cookiesIn a separate bowl mix the 3 3/4 cups of flour together with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 1/2 teaspoon of soda.  Slowly add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture.

adding flour to star cookiesAfter the flour is thoroughly mixed in roll the dough into 1 inch balls, dip them in sugar.

rolling star cookiesBake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then remove them from the oven.  Then place a chocolate star on top of each cookie and return them to the oven for an additional 4 minutes.

chocolates in a bowl

 

putting star candies on cookiesAfter they have finished baking, place them on a rack to cool.

cookies on rackNow you will want to sample one straight out of the oven with all of its melted chocolate goodness and the rest you can freeze until you are ready to hand them out to family and friends.  This recipe freezes very well so go ahead and make a double batch.

Star Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of butter
  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 cup of white sugar
  • 1 cup of creamy peanut butter
  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 3 3/4 cups of flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon of soda
  • 1 (12 oz.) bag of Brach's Milk Chocolate Stars

Instructions

  1. First cream together your butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together in a mixer. Next add one cup of creamy peanut butter. Add two eggs that you have beaten and 1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. In a separate bowl mix the 3 3/4 cups of flour together with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 1/2 teaspoon of soda. Slowly add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. After the flour is thoroughly mixed in roll the dough into 1 inch balls, dip them in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then remove them from the oven. Then place a chocolate star on top of each cookie and return them to the oven for an additional 4 minutes. After they have finished baking, place them on a rack to cool.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2014/12/27/star-cookies/