Monday, November 17, 2008

I Smell Cookies!

I think one of my favorite staples of this time of year are cookies. I love to mix them up, look up and try new recipes, bake them and of course eat them. My top two taste-testers are Jeter and Barber - their favorite responsibility.

Simms' mom used to make Chocolate Mint Squares every year. It was just part of the Campbell's tradition. This has been lacking since 2002. I still don't have her recipe but I think I finally may have found one that, if not exactly the same, sounds like it matches pretty well! I'm planning on trying it out this week. Simms will be the official taste-tester on this one. Meanwhile, here is the recipe:

Chocolate Mint Squares - from The Little Big Cookies Book

Preheat the oven to 350 and butter a 11x7 inch baking pan.

Base:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbs butter
1 large egg, beaten with 6 Tbs water

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt into a large bowl.
Stir in the sugar.
Cut the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Mix in the egg mixture.
Firmly press the mixture into the prepared pan to form a smooth layer.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until firm to the touch.

Filling:
2-1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 Tbs mint extract
1-2 Tbs milk

Mix the confectioner's sugar and mint extract until well blended.
Stir in enough milk to achieve a spreadable consistency.
Spread the peppermint mixture over the base.

Frosting:
4 oz semisweet or dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 Tbs butter

Melt the chocolate and butter over barely simmering water.
Pour the frosting over the peppermint layer.
Make a swirling pattern with a fork.
Let stand for 30 minutes until set.
Cut into squares.

So...what is one of your favorite cookie memories? Do you have a traditional recipe for this time of year? We'd love for you to leave us a comment and share.

4 comments:

The Gang's Momma! said...

One of my favorite memories is baking with SG's family when we were all kids. 8 kids and two moms around their big counter and farm table with flour everywhere. Only got to do it a couple times, but it was fun!

And our favorite recipe? SG's recipe for German Christmas Cookies. A brown-sugar cookie cut-out recipe, topped with The Boss's mom's recipe for buttercream frosting. Mmmmmmmm!

Anonymous said...
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Promises said...

My favorite recipe? Anything that you make! :)

Mrs. C said...

I used semi-sweet rather than dark chocolate for the topping and Simms thinks that is the main difference. Oh well. I guess I'll have to make another batch - but this time with the dark chocolate. I think I will also tint the mint on this batch - easier to distinguish between the two.

BTW...Promises, I've already made two other recipes besides and the boys are huge fans. Lots of variety with the cookies this year!