More Favorite and Vintage Cookie Recipes

When I am invited to a wedding or bridal shower I always know the general kind of gift I'm going to give. I just have to find the right one. I like to give cookie jars. They are one item that everyone can remember having on their kitchen counter when they were growing up. Also, there is very seldom a duplicate gift. I have even gone to consignment shops or online to find one that looks like one their mom had. That is always fun.

Is there a cookie jar in your kitchen? Or, in the rush of everyday living, have you forgotten what fun it is to have cookies (of your own making) ready to serve to an unexpected caller, for the kids and their friends, or to have as a bedtime snack with a glass of milk?

Drop cookies, cut-out cookies, fancy cookies made with a cookie press--pinwheels, squares, bars, trees...there is no end to the variety of these homemade yummy's.

Use powdered sugar instead of flour on the pastry board, rolling pin and cookie cutter when you are making cut-out cookies. It will disappear during the baking, improve the flavor and add crispness. There are 3-D cutters made in shapes for all the holidays. The deep outlines make it easy to follow the design in frosting and ornamenting the cookies. A rich cookie dough of the shortbread variety is the best dough to be used with 3-D cutters, because it will not spread or lose its shape during baking.

Follow the recipes that comes with a cookie press for the best results. You will be amazed and delighted with the professional-looking fancy cookies that you can make so easily with one of these presses.

Certain types of cookies, like brownies, bar cookies and some drop cookies make good travelers. A clean 3 lb shortening container or a coffee can filled with cookies and packed in a box with lots of newspaper will travel well and keep the cookies fresh. Use transparent tape to secure the cover. The container will serve as a cookie jar until the cookies are gone--a fact that will be appreciated by the "givee". If you can---remove the original label from the can and replace it with fun looking decals to make it attractive.

So, grab your apron, wash your hands, preheat the oven, gather the ingredients together and start baking a batch of cookies!

Molasses Walnut Cookies:
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
3 tablespoons water
2 eggs, well-beaten
3 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cream shortening; add brown sugar; cream thoroughly. Add molasses and water. Add eggs; mix thoroughly. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda; add with nuts to egg mixture; mix well. Drop by tablespoonfuls on a greased baking sheet. Bake 10 - 12 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Scotch Shortbread: Cream 1 cup butter. Add 3/4 cup powdered sugar, slowly. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, dash of salt. Stir in 2 cups sifted flour; work smooth. Roll out 1/2 inch thick; cut with fluted cutter. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Banana Oatmeal Cookies:
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup shortening
1 egg, well-beaten
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 bananas)
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 3/4 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift together first 6 ingredients into a large bowl. Cut in shortening. Add egg, mashed bananas, nuts and rolled oats. Beat until thoroughly mixed. Drop by teaspoonfuls, about 1 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Top with whole walnuts, if desired. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light brown. Remove immediately from pan; cool on rack. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.

Drop Cookies: Cream 1 1/4 cups shortening and 1 cup sugar until mixed. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Sift together 3 1/4 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt; add gradually to egg mixture; stir until smooth. Drop by teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheets; flatten with back of spoon or tines of fork pressed to form a cross. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen.

Peanut Butter Cookies:
1/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 eggs, well-beaten
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream shortening; add sugar and cream thoroughly. Add peanut butter; mix well. Stir in eggs, milk and vanilla. Sift together flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon; stir into egg mixture. Fold in raisins and rolled oats. Drop by teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until brown. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Cheese Pinwheel Cookies: Blend two 3 ounce packages cream cheese and 1 cup butter; cut into 2 cups sifted flour with 2 knives or a pastry blender. Knead into a soft ball. Wrap in waxed paper. Chill well. Roll out to 1/8 inch thick in oblong. Spread with 1/2 cup softened tart jelly. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts. Roll up like a jelly roll. Cut crosswise in thin slices. Bake on a greased baking sheet in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until delicate brown. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Brownies:
1/2 cup butter
2 squares unsweetened chocolate
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sifted cake flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 inch square pan. Melt butter and chocolate together. Beat eggs; add sugar gradually while beating. Add chocolate mixture to egg mixture. Add vanilla and beat hard for 1 minute. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir into chocolate mixture. Add nuts; mix well. Pour into the pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until browned. cut into squares or strips. Makes about 16 brownies. (Not in my house. We like our brownies BIG)

Fruit Bars:
3/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, well-beaten
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup chopped pitted dates

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square pan. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; add sugar; mix well. Combine shortening and eggs; stir into dry ingredients and blend well. Stir in nuts and dates. Pour into the greased pan and bake for 30 minutes or until browned. Cut into bars while hot.

Mincemeat Squares: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square pan. combine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1 1/4 cups rolled oats, 1 1/2 cups sifted flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt; mix well. Cut in 3/4 cup shortening with 2 knives or pastry blender until it has the consistency of coarse crumbs. Spread half the mixture in the greased pan; combine 2 cups mincemeat and 1/2 teaspoon each lemon and orange flavoring; spread over first mixture in pan; top with remaining flour mixture. Bake 20 - 25 minutes. Cool slightly and cut in squares.