Recipe for Anything Cookies

[arndis]

You know those chocolate, gingerbread, rose-cherry, or _______ cookies I make? This is the recipe I use for them. I haven't actually tested all the flavourings let alone the combinations, but they're all things that are likely to work, or have been used in other recipes in the past.

Sorry Kit, this is not the addictive chocolate chip cookies recipe, but they're very similar, and this one is more reliable and versatile. To simulate the chocolate chip cookies, try these flavourings: vanilla, corn syrup or honey, and chocolate chips.

Core Ingredients

Wet

• 1/2 c. Crisco shortening
• 2/3 c. white sugar
• 1 egg

Dry

• 1 c. flour
• 1/4 c. oatmeal
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Steps

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and sugar. This works best with a large tough fork. Then cream in the egg and wet flavourings.
2. Combine in another container (e.g. 2 cup measure): flour, oatmeal, salt, and dry flavourings. Stir.
3. Mix the wet and dry ingredients, then stir in the sprinkles. Adjust the batter consistency with flour, oil, or syrup if necessary.
4. Shape the batter into 40 cookies and lay them out on 2 standard cookie sheets in 4x5 grids. You should be able to do this with your hands. Rolling the cookie into a ball and squooshing it gently between your palms is a quick way to make them look nice.
5. Bake at 350°F for 7 minutes. (That's in my oven; you may need to adjust this.)
6. After taking them out of the oven, let the cookies solidify a minute or two on the baking sheet before you lift them onto a cooling rack.
7. Devour fresh cookies immediately.

Flavourings

Wet

2 tbsp. of syrup:

• corn syrup (neutral flavour)
• fancy molasses (goes well with spices, rum, and coffee)
• honey
• rose petal jam (to die for when used with chopped cherries)
• orange marmalade (should be smashing with spices, but I expect the flavour will be delicate at best.)
• maple syrup (only gave a delicate flavour)

1 tsp. flavour extract

• vanilla (good with chopped fruit and chocolate things)
• rum (should be smashing with spices)
• dissolved instant coffee (try dissolving it in hot syrup. will go well with molasses, chocolate, and maybe spices)
• mint (great with chocolate)
• maple (only gave a delicate flavour)
• orange (should be smashing with spices, but I expect the flavour will be delicate at best.)

Dry

Chocolate:

• 1/4 c. baking cocoa (balance with extra wet ingredients -- syrup, oil, or shortening.)

Gingerbread spices:

• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom

Chai spices:

• everything from gingerbread
• 1/4 tsp. finely ground pepper

Sprinkles

A handful or so of:

• chocolate chips
• white chocolate chips
• chopped dried apricots
• chopped dried cherries
• dried currants
• chopped dried cranberries
• chopped candied ginger
• orange zest
• candied peel

Dip shaped cookies in:

• coloured sugar
• demerara or turbinado sugar
• baking cocoa
• icing sugar