There just ain’t any cookie that satisfies every taste bud September 23, 2009

I made, what in my opinion, super sweet m&ms chewy cookie. Well, I was under the impression that it’s one of the best recipes and was hoping that this will be a keeper. I was so wrong.

Anyway, have a look at the source of the recipe and you’ll understand why I was ‘conned’.

I brought them to office and these are what some testers said:

• Tester 1 (avid baker too): These taste great! Can I have another one? (he went on to help himself to his 3rd helping while I wasn’t looking, or so he thought! 🙂 )
• Tester 2 (Face in cramps): Szu, these are very sweet! (Yes I know, I warned you)
• Tester 3: mmmm… these are good! Homemade ones are better than Betty Crocker anytime.
• Tester 4: Very sweet? Nah, I’ll pass.

Personally, I like cookies that are not so sweet, has to be chewy, hopefully not too fattening too. I’m still in search of the one cookie that I feel is worth the calories-overload that’s why while I like cookies, I don’t eat them often.

Perhaps it’s the same for everyone. We each have a mental picture of how cookies should taste, its texture, fillings, thickness, size etc, and each is unique.

One day, I will succeed in making the type of cookies I want. One day, that uniquely-cookie day shall arrive. I hope it’s the same for you if you haven’t found yours.

Swedish Thumbprint Cookies August 23, 2009

I was given this recipe by Hazel (ex-colleague) and wanted to give it a shot cos it was so simple I could even involved Hazel (my 2 yr-old daughter) in the process. The coincidence was unintentional 😛

In the process, I realised there really isn’t much a 2 yr-old could help except pouring in the ingredients into the mixing bowl / holding the bowl. Her little thumb was also too tiny to help with the indentation. Nonetheless, I got her involved and boy, she enjoyed licking the raw dough off her finger which was nothing but butter, sugar and flour! Then she decided that it was time to take her nap and I was left to complete the rest on my own – a blessing in disguise.

This is so easy to make and you can reap much satisfaction from it. Even hubs who doesn’t have a sweet tooth loved it. Hazel the picky eater could finish 5 of these in a go and tell me they’re “very nice”! If you could do with more motivation to keep your baking bug going, this is the recipe to try. A true keeper!

The colour looks great, but jam was a little sour for my liking. I use Hero brand.

Nutella speaks for itself. This is an all-time favourite 🙂

Ingredients
225g butter, softened
100g icing sugar or castor sugar (Icing sugar results in a smoother, lighter crust which almost creating that ‘melt in the mouth effect’. I’ve not tried castor sugar, can’t comment on that.)
250g plain flour, sifted
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or almond essence (really up to you)
Enough jam / nutella (or any other preserves that you fancy)

Method
1. Preheat oven to 180C
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add sifted flour and vanilla extract, and mix well
3. Shape dough into 1/2 inch diameter balls and place on a lined cookie sheets
4. Imprint your thumb in the center to make an indentation
5. Fill with your favorite jam or preserves
6. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown at the edges
7. Remove to cool on wire rack

For detailed step-by-step guide, go to my Facebook album.

The original recipe can be found here. I also found many other variations from my favourite recipe source if you search for “thumbprint cookies”. Just to highlight some of them that are just as easy to make:

• Raspberry and Almond Shortbread – additional dressing looks nice.
• Thumbprint Shortbread cookie – adding the fillings after cookie is baked sounds like a great idea for choc version. For jams, I still encourage adding prio to the baking process as it will boil then sink nicely into the indent so the cookies all look uniform.
• Jam-filled Thumbprint Cookies – wonder how by adding 2 egg yolks will do to the cookie.
• Cream Cheese Kolacky – an easy recipe using cream cheese. You don’t have to roll out the cookie dough suggested in the original recipe, you can use the thumbprint method to roll dough into a ball and make an imprint.

Hope you have fun trying your hands at this recipe! 🙂