Tired of baking bread? Today is for cookies!
You should never need an excuse to bake cookies, but today you've got one. In celebration of National Homemade Cookies Day, we bring you four self-proclaimed famous cookie recipes from the Avenue Living Communities team, so you can join in with the fun too.
Share your own recipes with us on Facebook, tag us @avenue.living in your homemade cookie pictures on Instagram, and use the hashtag #HomemadeCookiesDay so we can drool at your tasty treats. From our kitchen, to yours...
Jennifer's Chocolate Cherry Snowballs
What you need:
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1 cup butter, softened
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1/2 cup powdered sugar
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1/2 teaspoon almond extract
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1 cup (8 oz) candied cherries, finely chopped
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1/2 cup powdered sugar
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1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
How to make them:
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in almond extract. In medium bowl, mix flour and salt. On low speed, beat flour mixture into butter mixture until well blended. Stir in cherries.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. On non-greased cookie sheet, place balls 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Cool slightly. Measure 1/2 cup powdered sugar into small bowl. Roll each cookie in powdered sugar. Place on cooling rack to cool completely.
4. Place chocolate chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on High 45 to 60 seconds, turning bag over every 20 seconds. Squeeze bag until chips are melted and smooth. Cut small tip off one corner of bag, and drizzle over cooled cookies. Let stand at room temperature at least 30 minutes until chocolate hardens before storing.
Alex's Whipped Shortbread
What you need:
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1 cup butter
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1 ½ cup flour
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½ cup icing sugar
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¼ cup cornstarch
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1 tsp vanilla
How to make them:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Cream butter until smooth, add icing sugar and beat well.
3. Add dry ingredients, vanilla, and beat all together for several minutes.
4. If dough is too soft, chill in the fridge. Use a cookie press, or form into balls on a baking sheet with parchment paper and press down with a fork.
5. Bake for 10 minutes.
6. Decorate as desired.
Meg's "Cari's Favourite Cookies" (Almost Neiman Marcus Cookies)
What you need:
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2 ½ cups rolled oats
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2 cups flour
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1 tsp baking powder
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1 tsp baking soda
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½ tsp salt
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1 cup unsalted butter (soft)
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1 cup sugar
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1 cup light brown sugar
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2 eggs
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1 tsp vanilla
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Chocolate chips as desired
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4 oz. Milk chocolate (grated or chopped )
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Optional: Add coconut!
How to make them:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Blend the oats into a fine powder using a blender or food processer. In a medium bowl, whisk together the blended oats with the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a bowl cream together the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and add vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips, grated chocolate and maybe the coconut.
4. Roll the dough into 2-ounce balls and place on the baking sheets. Bake one sheet at a time until the edges are set but the center still looks undone, about 10 minutes. Cool the cookies completely on the baking sheets.
Enjoy! Or keep for later in an airtight container.
Fiona's Oatmeal Cookies (Credit to Julie)
What you need:
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1/4 cup butter, softened
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1/4 cup canola oil
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3/4 cup brown sugar
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1 egg
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1 tsp vanilla
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3/4 cup flour
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1 1/2 cups oats
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1 tsp baking soda
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1/4 tsp salt
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Additions: chocolate chips, raisins, coconut, nuts, dried fruit/berries, toffee pieces, whatever you like.
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Vegan option: use 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water instead of the egg; coconut oil instead of the butter.
How to make them:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream together butter, oil sugar, vanilla and egg.
3. Add dry ingredients and stir until mixed. Stir in your additions.
4. Drop big spoonfuls of dough on a baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden, but still soft. They'll firm up as they cool.
Enjoy these ALC team member favourites, and share them with friends and family. A good cookie can bring a smile to anyone's face!