Cookie Base Food

BASIC COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Cream the butter in a large bowl with a wooden spoon or in a stand mixer until it is soft. Add the sugar and keep beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Sift in the flour and add the optional ingredients, if you're using them. Bring the mixture together with your hands in a figure-of-eight motion until it forms a dough. You can freeze the dough at this point.
• Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls and place them slightly apart from each other on a baking sheet (you don't need to butter or line it). Flatten the balls a little with the palm of your hand and bake them in the oven for around 10-12 mins until they are golden brown and slightly firm on top. Leave the cookies on a cooling rack for around 15 mins before serving.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BASE

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking soda, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt into a bowl. Beat butter and sugars with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. On low speed, beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Add flour mixture in 3 additions. Beat in vanilla. Mix in chocolate chips.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop dough onto baking sheets, using the measurements listed below. Bake until edges are dark gold but centers are pale gold and look a bit underdone (for chewy) or until centers are set (for crisp), according to times listed below. Transfer sheets to wire racks. Let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks. Let cool completely.For 4-inch cookies: Use a 2 1/4-inch ice cream scoop (1/4 cup). Bake for 14 to 15 minutes for chewy or 18 to 20 minutes for crisp. (Makes 2 dozen)For 3-inch cookies: Use a 1 1/2-inch scoop (2 tablespoons). Bake for about 11 minutes for chewy or 14 to 16 minutes for crisp. (Makes 4 dozen)For 2 1/4-inch cookies: Use a 1 1/4-inch scoop (1 tablespoon). Bake for about 10 minutes for chewy or 14 to 16 minutes for crisp. (Makes 8 dozen)For 1 1/2-inch cookies: Use 1/2 teaspoon dough. Bake for about 10 minutes for chewy or 14 to 16 minutes for crisp. (Makes 12 dozen)

BASIC COOKIE MIX

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients.
• Sift the mixture twice.
• Store in a tightly covered, labeled container for up to 3 months in a cool, dry place.
• For Sugar Cookies use: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
• With lightly floured hands, shape the dough into 1" balls; arrange them about 2" apart on 2 lightly greased 13" X 9" baking sheets Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
• Let cool for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheets; using a spatula, transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 1 wk.
• For Chocolate Chip Cookies use: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, combine the Basic Cookie Mix, butter, egg, and vanilla.
• Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, distributing them well.
• With lightly floured hands, shape the dough into 1" balls; arrange them about 2" apart on 2 lightly greased 13" X 9" baking sheets Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
• Let cool for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheets; using a spatula, transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 1 wk.

SHORTBREAD BASE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut butter into 1/2-inch pieces. In a food processor process all ingredients until mixture begins to form small lumps. Sprinkle mixture into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and with a metal spatula press evenly onto bottom. Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden, about 20 minutes. While shortbread is baking, prepare topping.