Basic Nut Cookies Recipes

BASIC COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cream the butter in a large bowl with a wooden spoon or in a stand mixer until it is soft. Add the sugar and keep beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Sift in the flour and add the optional ingredients, if you're using them. Bring the mixture together with your hands in a figure-of-eight motion until it forms a dough. You can freeze the dough at this point.
• Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls and place them slightly apart from each other on a baking sheet (you don't need to butter or line it). Flatten the balls a little with the palm of your hand and bake them in the oven for around 10-12 mins until they are golden brown and slightly firm on top. Leave the cookies on a cooling rack for around 15 mins before serving.

RICH NUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixer with a paddle attachment combine all the ingredients except confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth. Roll dough into balls about 1-inch in diameter, place on a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart, and bake for 15 to 20. They should just be turning golden brown. Roll in powdered sugar while still hot.

BANANA NUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas and baking soda. Let sit for 2 minutes. The baking soda will react with the acid in the bananas which in turn will give the cookies their lift and rise.
• Mix the banana mixture into the butter mixture. Mix together the flour, salt, and spices and sift into the butter and banana mixture and mix until just combined.
• Fold into the batter the pecans or chocolate chips if using. Drop in dollops onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until nicely golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.
• Makes about 30 cookies.