I used to work at a local community college bookstore during their rush period when one semester would end and another one started. This included the weeks between December 1 and mid-January. Every year at Christmas time, an older woman who worked at the bookstore year-round would bring a huge platter of homemade cookies to work every single day, keeping them on the table in the back room for the employees. Workers who seldom had a reason to wander into the back room any other time of the year would find a reason (or a platter-ful of reasons) to go into the back room throughout their shift.
I'll be posting cookie recipes between now and the end of December for your party-going and gift-giving. Here are today's six recipes to get you started. Enjoy!
OAT AND RAISIN COOKIES (GLUTEN-FREE)
This comes from The Vegan Society, and starts off, “These easy oat and raisin cookies are healthy, quick to make and taste great. Serves 12.”
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup gluten-free oats
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup shredded coconut
2 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup coconut milk
Method
Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius and line a baking tray.
Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
Using your hands, form balls and place them on the prepared tray (the mixture will be running, so be careful).
Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, or until cookies are brown and firm to the touch.
Leave to cool and enjoy!
PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH COOKIES
This comes from the December 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 55. It starts off, “These sandwich cookies are held together by a rich (and ridiculously easy) chocolate filling.” Makes 24 sandwiches.
To view this online, click here.
Cookies
2 cups smooth natural-style peanut butter
4 oz. Earth Balance margarine (1 stick)
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup evaporated cane sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup plain soymilk or almond milk
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped
Filling
1/2 cup coconut creamer or soy creamer
8 oz. vegan chocolate chips (1 1/4 cups)
To make Cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, or coat with cooking spray.
Cream peanut butter, margarine, brown sugar, cane sugar, and vanilla 2 to 3 minutes with electric mixer, or until smooth. Beat in soymilk and 1/4 cup water.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and peanuts in separate bowl. Add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture, and beat just until dough forms.
Scoop 1 Tbs. dough onto prepared baking sheets 2 to 3 inches apart. Make crisscross pattern on top of each Cookie by pressing down with fork. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until edges of Cookies begin to brown. Cool on baking sheet.
To make Filling: Heat creamer in top half of double boiler over medium heat until steaming. Pour hot creamer over chocolate chips in bowl, and let stand 30 seconds. Mix creamer and chocolate with wooden spoon until chocolate is melted, then whisk until smooth.
Spread 2 tsp. Filling on flat sides of 24 Cookies. Top with remaining Cookies.
nutritional information Per Cookie sandwich: Calories: 344; Protein: 7 g; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 38 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 304 mg; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 18 g; Vegan
GRANDMA'S PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
This was one of my grandmother's recipes, along with the oatmeal cookie recipe that follows. You can find them in my e-cookbook, Off The Wall Cooking.
1/2 C butter
1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 1/4 C flour
3/4 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Cream butter & peanut butter together. Add sugar gradually & cream thoroughly. Add egg. Sift flour once before measuring. Sift flour, soda, baking powder & salt together & add to creamed mixture. Chill dough well, then form into balls the size of walnuts. Place balls on lightly greased baking sheet. Flatten with fork dipped in flour, making criss-cross pattern. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
GRANDMA'S OATMEAL COOKIES
Another one of my grandmother's recipes. When it came to baking, cookies were her specialty. You can also find these in my e-cookbook, Off the Wall Cooking
1 C flour
1 C brown sugar
3 C quick cooking oatmeal (NOT the instant oats!)
1 C butter or margarine
1/4 C boiling water
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
Mix flour & brown sugar. Add oatmeal; stir. Melt butter; add to dry ingredients. Mix baking soda into boiling water; add to other ingredients, stirring well. Place batter into loaf pan, lined with aluminum foil & place in freeze for several hours. Slice & bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Oatmeal Cookie dough, taken from the freezer; showing first cuts before baking
Then cut down the center, like so:
Placed on parchment paper-covered baking sheet, for easier handling
CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO OATMEAL COOKIES
Makes 48 cookies.
From the December 2011 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 75. This begins, “Take chocolate chip cookies to the next level with this espresso-spiked dough that's laced with chewy oats.”
To view this online, click here.
3/4 cup all-purpose flour or oat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 oz. (1 stick) margarine, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cooled espresso or strong coffee
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in bowl.
Cream margarine and sugar together with electric mixer in bowl. Beat in espresso and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time, adding up to 1/2 cup more if necessary to make thick dough. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
Divide dough in half. Transfer each dough half to large sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper. Use plastic wrap to shape dough into 2 2-inch-diameter logs with plastic wrap or wax paper. Wrap tightly, and chill 2 hours, or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Slice dough logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer slices to greased or parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Bake 8 to 11 minutes, or until cookies look dry on top. Cool cookies 3 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack.
nutritional information Per Cookie: Calories: 56; Protein: less than 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: less than 1 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 43 mg; Fiber: less than 1 g; Sugar: 4 g; vegan
SPICY GINGERBREAD PEOPLE
From the December 2012 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 57.
The recipe starts, "Fresh ginger gives these dark, molasses-laced cookies a spicy kick."
To view this online, click here.
Cookies
2 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
3 oz. Earth Balance margarine
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbs. egg replacer, such as Ener-G
1/3 cup molasses
Frosting
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/4 tsp. arrowroot powder
To make Cookies: Whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and salt in bowl. Set aside.
Cream margarine, sugar, and vanilla with electric mixer 3 minutes, or until smooth.
Combine egg replacer and 2 Tbs. water in bowl, and add to sugar mixture. Add molasses, and beat until smooth. Beat in flour mixture until soft dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, or coat with cooking spray.
Place dough between two sheets of parchment or wax paper, and roll out to 1/4-inch thick.
Cut with 3-inch gingerbread-man cutter, and transfer to prepared baking sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges of Cookies begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets.
To make Frosting: Whisk together confectioners’ sugar, arrowroot, and 2 Tbs. water in small bowl. Transfer to pastry bag fitted with small round tip, and decorate Cookies with Frosting. Allow to set 30 minutes, then transfer to airtight container.
nutritional information Per Cookie: Calories: 115; Protein: 1 g; Total Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 135 mg; Fiber: 2 g; Sugar: 10 g; Vegan
