Three Cookie Recipes to Celebrate National Cookie Month During October

October is National Cookie Month, so it is time to break out the mixer and cookie cutters to celebrate the event! Cookies have a way of making life better. They are easy to transport and can be taken to work, shared with neighbors, and used to raise funds for charity events.

It is believed National Cookie Month began in October 1992, but little information is revealed about the origins of this celebration. It probably doesn't matter much because this holiday gives us reason to indulge in cookies.

I have many fond memories of cookies. My mom was a wonderful baker who loved sharing cookies, pies, and cakes with neighbors and co-workers. Every teacher and classmate I encountered from kindergarten through high school was treated to mom's cookies. Needless to say, I was a popular kid back in the day.

As a parent, I carried on mom's tradition of cookie sharing and sent my child to school touting cookie tins for all of her teachers. Perhaps one day my daughter will carry-on with the cookie torch. Until then, I'd like to share my three favorite cookie recipes that were passed down to me from my mother.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yields: 60 cookies (2-inch round)

The following chocolate chip cookie recipe is adapted from the Original Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies. I altered the ingredients to provide a healthier version of this sweet treat.

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup Oat Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 cup unsalted Organic Butter, softened
1/2 cup organic Applesauce
3/4 cup unbleached, unrefined organic Whole Sugar
3/4 cup Sucanat Sugar (can substitute with brown sugar)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 large organic Brown Eggs
2 cups organic semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup organic pecans, chopped (can substitute with walnuts or hazelnuts)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Combine whole wheat and oat flours, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl combine butter, applesauce, whole sugar, sucanat, and vanilla and beat together using a hand mixer.

4. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat into cookie dough until well mixed.

5. Add flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, and beat until well mixed.

6. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

7. Gather dough using a tablespoon or cookie dough scoop and drop onto ungreased baking sheets.

8. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Remove from oven and cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to wire racks until cooled completely.

Snickerdoodles: Cinnamon and Sugar Cookies
Yields: 36 cookies (2-inch round)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted Butter, softened
1-1/2 cups all purpose Flour
1 cup granulated Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tartar

Sugar-Cinnamon Coating:

2 Tablespoons granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon ground Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. In a large mixing bowl combine butter, half of the flour, sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Beat until ingredients are well combined and scrape sides of bowl occasionally.

3. Stir in remaining flour. Cover and chill cookie dough for 1 hour.

4. In a shallow bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon.

5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, than roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.

6. Place 2-inches apart onto ungreased cooking sheet.

7. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

8. Remove from oven and cool 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to wire racks until cooled completely.

Magic Cookie Bars
Yields: 24 bars

My mom used to make Magic Cookie Bars for my Brownie troop, so this recipe has been around for over four decades. A bit of research revealed the recipe at Borden's Eagle Brand website.

Magic cookie bars include butter, graham cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and chopped nuts. They are super easy to prepare and make a great gift for teachers, co-workers, family and friends.

Sources:
Sunspire Natural Chocolate Chips and Baking Products