A Spice Cookie To Share Recipes

A SPICE COOKIE TO SHARE

Steps:

• Whisk together the flours, coffee and spices; set aside.
• Working with a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), mix the pieces of cold butter, both sugars and the salt on low speed for about 3 minutes, until the mixture forms clumps and then comes together. You'll see pieces of butter here and there - you're supposed to. Add the dry ingredients all at once, and then pulse the mixer on and off, just until the risk of flying flour has passed. Mix on low-medium speed until you've got a bowl of crumbs, about 3 minutes. Lightly whisk the egg and honey together. With the mixer on low, add the egg mixture gradually, and then continue to mix until the dough forms clumps. Squeeze a bit of the dough, and it will hold together. Reach into the bowl, and press the dough into a ball. Turn it out onto a sheet of parchment paper.
• Press the dough down, cover it with another sheet of paper and roll it out until it's about 1/8-inch thick. It can be any shape - round, oval, rectangular, raggedy-edged or pristine. It will probably be about 12-by-15 inches, but the thickness is more important than the dimensions. Being neat doesn't buy you anything with this cookie. Slide the sandwiched dough onto a baking sheet, and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour (or up to 3 days). If you prefer, you can wrap the dough well and freeze it for up to 2 months; keep it at room temperature for about 20 minutes before baking.
• When you're ready to bake, center a rack in the oven, and heat it to 350. Remove the top sheet of paper; leave the dough on the paper-lined baking sheet. If you're using the sanding sugar, sprinkle the dough with about 2 tablespoons' worth.
• Bake the cookie for 20 to 24 minutes - the edges will be darker than the middle. Press the center of the cookie, and it should be firm with just a tiny bit of give; it will feel firmer as you work your way out. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack, and allow the cookie to come to room temperature. If you're not eating it immediately, you can wrap the cookie well, and keep it at room temperature for about 4 days. Make sure the room is dry - humidity is a crisp cookie's nemesis.
• You can serve the cookie whole, letting everyone break off pieces (of course, there will be crumbs - they're part of the cookie's charm), or you can break or cut it in the kitchen and serve the pieces as you would any cookie. Chocolate or caramel sauce (or both) for dipping is optional, but scrumptious.

GERMAN SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add the brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon and pepper. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the egg mixture. Stir in raisins and walnuts. , Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until surface cracks. Remove to wire racks to cool.

SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Combine the brown sugar & butter.
• 2. Mix in the egg, spices, baking soda & vanilla.
• 3. Add the flour gradually.
• 4. Chill at least 2 hours.
• 5. Roll into tablespoon size balls.
• 6. Place on greased cookie sheet about 2" apart.
• 7. Bake at 350' for 10-12 minutes.

ORANGE SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat both sugars, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, and cream cheese together until creamy, at least 5 minutes. Add egg and mix well. Mix in molasses. Mix in vanilla, orange, and maple extracts.
• Stir flour, orange zest, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, cloves, and nutmeg together in another bowl until well combined and no clumps of zest remain. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir together just until incorporated; don't overmix.
• Drop spoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet briefly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

APPLE SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F; grease 2 cookie sheets.
• Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and nutmeg; set aside.
• Beat the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until well blended.
• Beat in the eggs and apple juice.
• Gradually add the flour to the butter mixture, beating at low speed until well blended.
• Stir in the apple and pecans.
• Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 13 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool on wire rack.