Best Sugar Cookies
Makes 5 dozen 2-2 1/2-inch cookies
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond flavoring
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
Instructions
Mix sugar and butter well. Add egg and flavorings, mix thoroughly. Fluff or sift flour before measuring. Stir together dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then blend into wet ingredients. Shape dough in flat round circle, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2-3 hours.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough in half and roll 3/16-inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut with cookie cutter; sprinkle with sugar or decorations before baking (or use icing after baking).
Place on parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake 7-8 minutes or until lightly golden.
Grandma Iris' Orange Drop Cookies
Makes about 4 dozen
Ingredients
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
4.5 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
Grated Rinds and juice from 2 oranges (about 1/2 cup)
Salt to taste
1 cup sour milk (Don't use buttermilk; add 1 Tbs vinegar/lemon juice and enough milk to equal 1 cup - stir and let stand 5 minutes before using.)
Instructions
Cream together shortening and sugar, add eggs and blend together. Then add remaining ingredients and mix.
Drop by large spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Frosting:
With a mixer beat together:
Grated rind and juice of one orange
1 stick butter (can use 1/2 cup Crisco)
1 box powdered sugar
Orange juice to make desired consistency to spread on warm cookies
Note: These cookies are delicious, but they are a bit temperamental in my experience. I think it may be because the recipe was one of those that never got written down until Grandma Iris was really elderly, and she liked her secrets.
Best Oatmeal Cookies
Makes 4 1/2 dozen
Ingredients
1 1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1-1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cups Quaker Oats
Instructions
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add combined flour, baking soda, salt and spices; mix well. Stir in oats. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8-9 minutes for a chewy cookie or 10-11 for a crisper cookie. Cool one minute on cookie sheet and remove to wire rack for complete cooling.
Cream Cheese Kifles
Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Mix well, roll into quarter sized balls and refrigerate overnight.
Filling
Equal parts finely ground nuts and sugar, about 1/4-1/2 cup each, with just enough milk to make a sticky paste, 1-2 tsp, added slowly.
Spread powdered sugar on a hard surface and roll out dough balls very thin. Spoon 1/2 tsp of filling onto dough round and roll dough up around it, pinching ends to form a crescent shape. Place on undressed cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Remove and cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.