Monday, February 15, 2010

Lesson #1: Cream Cheese Cutout Cookies







I asked my Grandma (Mable) to help me bake some cookies for Valentine's Day. We decided to meet at her house on Friday, February 12th. She called me that morning to see if we could meet at my mom's house instead since Grandpa was a little under the weather and didn't want to get my 3 month old (Easton) sick. Luckily, mom (Tina) was willing to let us invade her kitchen.

Grandma had made a batch of cookie dough the night before so that we could get started right away. The dough had to sit for an hour and a half so this was good forethought on her part. I got to make a batch as soon as I got to my mom's under Grandma's supervision! She had brought all of the ingredients. Once I was finished mixing my dough it went into the fridge and I began rolling out the dough Grandma had made the night before. My mom and sister (Misty) laughed at my rolling skills. I'm embarrassed to say that IF I have ever used a rolling pin in my life it has been a long, long time! Grandma stepped in and showed me the proper way to do it and everything went smoothly after that.

We melted red chocolate and some chocolate chips (separately) to decorate the cookies. It took me a few cookies before I got my dipping technique down but once I got on a roll it was pretty easy. We added some sprinkles to most of the cookies since they were mostly for kids.

Here is the recipe:

1 cup butter, softened
1 8oz package cream cheese, softened
1.5 cups sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
half tsp almond extract
3.5 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder

In a large bowl beat butter and cream cheese until combined. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat well. Add dry ingredients (mix in with spoon once too tough to use beaters). Divide the dough in half and refrigerate for about an hour and a half.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Roll out dough to about one-eighth inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut out and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Makes about 7 dozen.