Bake and Share

Gifts from the kitchen for special occasions and just because

A gift of homemade cookies is a present from the heart. The new neighbors will appreciate a plate of baked goods to welcome them to their home. So will a friend who has been struggling or another who is celebrating a promotion at work. What about the family with a new baby, a friend who is turning 30 or a recent graduate? Cookies, cookies, cookies.

There are many occasions to bake for family and friends, and sometimes you don’t even need a reason to share a gift from the kitchen. How nice to split a batch with co-workers or even the dedicated person who delivers your mail.

The recipes in this chapter bring something special to homemade treats that make them perfect for giving. Look through the recipes for inexpensive ideas to present them.

Brandied Apricot Chews
No Comments

Decorative plates: All through the year, and especially after holidays, collect inexpensive plates to use for giveaways. They are easy to find on clearance just after the holidays, but dedicated shoppers will see cut-rate plates and platters through the year. Garage sales are also good sources. Besides cookies, a plate stash comes in handy when you’re delivering a Bundt cake to a new neighbor or taking lemon squares to a potluck. The plate is part of the offering.

The brandy in the icing is optional but it’s what gives these distinctive cookies their special flair.

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 1/2 cups uncooked oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped dried apricots
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts
  • Brandy icing:
  • 1 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 teaspoons brandy extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Beat together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add egg. Combine dry ingredients and blend into butter-sugar-egg mixture. Stir in apricots and nuts.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until edges are light brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets and then remove to wire rack.

Cool completely. Combine icing ingredients until well blended and drizzle over cookies.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

Freezeworthy: The icing doesn’t hold up in the freezer. It’s better to make these cookies and give them away as soon as possible.

Marjorie Schneider

© 2010, Cookielicious. Seaside Publishing All Rights Reserved.

 
Amaretto Butter Balls
No Comments

A friend with sophisticated tastes will appreciate a plate-full of these sweetly spiked morsels.

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup amaretto liqueur
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped almonds (optional)
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Stir in the flour and salt until well blended, then mix in the amaretto liqueur. Fold in chopped almonds if desired. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Roll cookies in remaining 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar while still warm.

Makes 24 cookies.

Freezeworthy: Yes, but you’ll get best results if you wait to roll them confectioners’ sugar after they thaw.

Janet K. Keeler

© 2010, Cookielicious. Seaside Publishing All Rights Reserved.