Icebox Spice Cookies and more from Lake Tahoe
27 Nov
Happy Black Friday! While most of the country is scrambling to start their Christmas shopping amidst the crowds and confusion, I am sitting here sipping a cafe latte overlooking Lake Tahoe.
Feel free to hate me now.
Seriously, there is (allegedly) a snow storm on the way – a storm large enough, in fact, that it may impede our ability to leave tomorrow. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing, except that I am supposed to deliver 30 soccer-themed edible image cupcakes Sunday morning.
Well, c’est la vie. Whatever happens, happens.
Since today is Friday, it’s time for the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies! This week, I am featuring Icebox Spice Cookies.
The recipe, which I adapted from Gourmet, features a plain butter cookie dough (which is delicious just by itself), spiced up with honey, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg – and while you can go the slice-and-bake route, I used my 1 tablespoon cookie scoop and portioned out rounds instead. I find that the cookies come out much nicer looking that way.
Either way, do try these – you won’t be disappointed.
Icebox Spice Butter Cookies
1/2 prepared Basic Butter Cookie Dough, at room temperature
3 tablespoons honey or molasses
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
In bowl of a standing electric mixer beat together dough, honey or molasses, and spices until just combined well. Halve dough and on sheets of wax paper form each half into a 12-inch log. Chill logs, wrapped in wax paper, at least 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
With a sharp knife cut logs into generous 1/8-inch slices and arrange 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets. Bake cookies in batches in middle of oven until pale golden, about 12 minutes, and cool on racks.
Basic Butter Cookie Dough
4 sticks (1 pound) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3 large egg yolks
2 tsp. vanilla
4 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
In large bowl of a standing electric mixer beat together butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in yolks, 1 at a time, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Beat in flour gradually, beating dough until just combined well.
I won’t be a hater. But I am extremely jealous!
And those cookies sound (and look) really delicious!
I love your idea of using a cookie scoop! Is this a crispy cookie or a soft cookie?
So jealous! But happy to report I have a ski trip coming up in March
. Your pics make me look forward to it all the more.
Gorgeous! I haven’t been to Lake Tahoe, but it’s on my (long) list of places I’d like to visit.
The cookies look delicious. I like your idea of using a cookie scoop. I sure can’t slice anything uniformly!
These sound so simple and yet so delicious! I love spiced cookies.
I am quite jealous of you. I want a pre-winter vacation! (And a winter vacation, and a mid-winter vacation, and a why-hasn’t-spring-come-yet vacation…). Good luck getting home tomorrow and have a safe trip!
The cookies look great, honey sounds like a yummy addition. Oh, and Tahoe looks beautiful too. I don’t know why I don’t go there more often; it’s not that far and I have relatives there. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving there.
Sounds like you’re having a fabulous time and getting some much needed R&R. Enjoy the snow when it comes!
Wow Megan! I’ve always wanted to go to Lake Tahoe. It looks so beautiful! I love the idea that you didn’t slice and bake these, but used your cookie scooper instead. This helps me out a lot because I usually stay away from slice and bakes for that very reason.
I love Lake Tahoe–such a gorgeous spot. Hope you are enjoying it. The cookies look spicy and delicious!
Mmm, love that spicy goodness!
These sound tasty! Yours are definitely more attractive than the slice and bake version.
All my favorite flavors in a rich butter cookie. What could be better? A trip to Tahoe perhaps!
OOHHH, these look really good!! That view is beautiful!
Butter cookies are my favorite and these sound extra good!
Oh wow, these sound so good! I love that they use honey plus spices. Adding them to my already incredibly long list of cookies to make this holiday season
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!