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!
By: juju73 on November 27, 2009
at 11:05 am
I love your idea of using a cookie scoop! Is this a crispy cookie or a soft cookie?
By: Frieda on November 27, 2009
at 11:36 am
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.
By: Unplanned Cooking on November 27, 2009
at 1:26 pm
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!
By: Jill on November 27, 2009
at 1:46 pm
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!
By: Joanne on November 27, 2009
at 3:39 pm
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.
By: Margot on November 27, 2009
at 7:12 pm
Sounds like you’re having a fabulous time and getting some much needed R&R. Enjoy the snow when it comes!
By: Judy on November 27, 2009
at 11:24 pm
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.
By: Kim on November 27, 2009
at 11:42 pm
I love Lake Tahoe–such a gorgeous spot. Hope you are enjoying it. The cookies look spicy and delicious!
By: DebinHawaii on November 28, 2009
at 1:25 am
Mmm, love that spicy goodness!
By: Natashya on November 28, 2009
at 12:55 pm
These sound tasty! Yours are definitely more attractive than the slice and bake version.
By: basicallybaked on November 29, 2009
at 9:05 am
All my favorite flavors in a rich butter cookie. What could be better? A trip to Tahoe perhaps!
By: megan on November 29, 2009
at 2:21 pm
OOHHH, these look really good!! That view is beautiful!
By: April on November 30, 2009
at 6:23 am
Butter cookies are my favorite and these sound extra good!
By: Michele on November 30, 2009
at 8:52 pm
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!
By: Tracey on November 30, 2009
at 9:17 pm