Cookies & Bars

Anise Nut Biscotti

This biscotti recipe was inspired by my mom when she discovered how much I loved anise biscotti, which I tried from a bakery.  You'll especially enjoy this with a hot cup of cocoa, coffee, or tea.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped hazlenuts
• 1 teaspoon anise seed
• 1/2 teaspoon orange peel

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder, and salt; beat until combined, scraping sides of the bowl occasionally.  Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.  

Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the electric mixer.  Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.  Add anise seed, orange peel, and nuts.  Stir until completely mixed in.

Divide dough into four even sections. 
With floured hands, shape each dough portion into a rope about 12-14 inches long.  Flatten ropes onto ungreased cookie sheet, about 4 inches apart.  Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Cool on cookie sheet about 1 hour or until completely cool.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  

Transfer ropes to a cutting board.  Cut each rope into 1/2 inch slices.  Place slices on the same cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Turn slices over.  Bake about 10 minutes more or until cookies are dry and crisp.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  

Yields:  about 60 cookies

These dry cookies are absolutely perfect to dunk in your milk or hot drink.  At our house, these 60 cookies usually last about 24 hours.  Delicious any time of the year!

Split-Second Cookies

I was reading through a Taste of Home cookbook, and I saw this recipe.  It looked absolutely yummy, so I decided to try it...and believe me, I wasn't disappointed at all!  It is simply scrumptious. Not only does it taste great, but it also has such an appealing holiday appearance.  Perfect for Christmas and New Year's parties.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup seedless jam (I used a combination of red and black raspberry.)

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.

 Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Divide dough into four equal portions; shape each into a 12-in. x 3/4-in. log.  Place 2-3 inches on greased baking sheet.

 Make a 1/2 inch depression down center of logs; fill with jam.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool 2 minutes;

Cut diagonally into 3/4 inch slices.  Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield:  about 5 dozen

These are so yummy - sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Grandma's Raspberry Chocolate Bar Cookie

This all-time easy favorite is quick and so scrumptious!  Of course since it's Grandma's recipe, it only requires 3 ingredients, but feel free to add chopped nuts or hot fudge or caramel topping to top it all off.  In a pinch--this is a cinch.  Just look at the ingredients!

Ingredients:

• 2 tubes sugar cookie dough
• 1/2 cup seedless jam (I used red raspberry.)
• 1/2 - 1 cup chocolate chips

Begin by lining a 9x13 pan with foil; this is necessary to make clean-up easier and is great if you plan on freezing.  Grease lightly.

 Cut one and a half of your sugar cookie dough into slices and line into baking dish as shown.  Overlap as necessary.

 Wet fingers and press dough into an even layer.

 Carefully spoon jam onto dough.  Using a knife, spread around.

 Sprinkle remaining dough on top of jam.

 Following, sprinkle the chocolate chips in openings.

 Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-37 minutes.

This delicious bar cookie can be made ahead of time and frozen.  Cut into 24 bars.  

Yummy!  So good.  Thanks, Grandma!