Harvest Spice Cookies Food

AUTUMN HARVEST COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cream together butter and the brown and white sugars in a bowl until smooth. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and orange extract.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice; stir flour mixture into the sugar mixture. Add the rolled oats, walnuts and cranberries and mix thoroughly. Using a small ice cream scoop or teaspoon, drop rounded scoops of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

SCREAMING SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Whisk the flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a handheld mixer until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the sugars, and continue beating until light, about 3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract, beating until smooth. Gradually add the dry ingredients while mixing slowly to make a smooth dough. Divide dough in half and press each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Transfer 1 disk of dough to a floured work surface and roll about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into cookies with a pinched tuna can (see below). Transfer cookies with an offset spatula to a nonstick or silicon lined baking sheet.
• Cut out eyes and a mouth with a pastry tip, fat straw, or a knife. Press the lollipop sticks into the narrow end of each cookie, if using. Repeat with remaining dough. Press excess dough together, roll and cut into cookies. Refrigerate cookies for at least 30 minutes.
• Evenly space the racks in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Put the candies in a small plastic bag and hit with a rolling pin to break into little pieces.
• Bake the cookies just until they are set, about 20 minutes. Remove baking sheets from the oven and carefully sprinkle the broken candies into the eyes and mouth of the cookies. Continue to cook until the candy liquefies, about 3 minutes more. Cool cookies on pan for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Cool cookies on a rack.
• For the icing: Whisk the water, egg white powder and orange extract in a medium bowl until foamy but smooth. Gradually whisk in the confectioners' sugar to make a smooth icing. Spread a layer of icing over the entire surface of the cookies with the back of a teaspoon. Let rest until the icing sets, about 30 minutes. Serve or store in a covered container for up to 3 days.

EXOTIC SPICE COOKIES WITH GINGER, CARDAMOM AND ROSE WATER

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, pepper and salt in a medium bowl until blended. Mix in the crystallized ginger. Set aside momentarily.
• In a large bowl beat the brown sugar, butter and shortening with an electric mixer until fluffy (do not over-beat, it will add too much air). Add the egg, honey and rosewater and beat until blended. Stir in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon, mixing until just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray 2 cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon the turbinado sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 to 3 inches apart.
• Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch, about 11 to 13 minutes. Cool on sheets 1 minute. Carefully transfer cookies to wire racks; cool completely.

PERSIMMON SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Puree the persimmons in a mini food processor or blender until smooth; set aside.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined, then beat in 3/4 cup of the persimmon puree until combined. (The mixture may look curdled.) Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Fold in the raisins with a rubber spatula. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are golden brown, about 13 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheets.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar and milk in a small bowl. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the glaze over each cookie, then sprinkle with the pistachios. Let set, 10 minutes.

DUTCH SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, anise, cloves, ginger, salt and pepper into a medium bowl, then whisk to combine.
• Beat the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add half of the flour mixture and beat until combined, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add 3 tablespoons water and the remaining flour mixture and beat until just combined. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap, pat into a disk, wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Dust the dough with confectioners' sugar, then transfer to a piece of parchment paper and roll out until 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes using 2-to-3-inch cookie cutters. Transfer the cutouts to 2 ungreased baking sheets and press sliced almonds decoratively on top. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Transfer the cookies to the oven and reduce the temperature to 275 degrees F; bake, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until crisp and golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool 3 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

MRS. FIELDS PUMPKIN SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Combine flour, soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl. Mix well with a wire whisk and set aside.
• In a large bowl, blend sugars with an electric mixer. Add the butter and beat to form a grainy mixture. Then add egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Add the flour mixture, raisins and walnuts. Blend at low speed until combined. DO NOT OVERMIX.
• Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until cookies are slightly brown around the edges.

MRS. FIELDS PUMPKIN HARVEST COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the flour, pumpkin pie spice, and baking soda.
• In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture until just combined. Stir in the white chocolate and pecans.
• Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until just set. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Note: A friend said she cooked them at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes to shorten baking time, but I haven't tested that temp/time combo yet.

HARVEST PUMPKIN COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and all spice in medium bowl.
• Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla.
• Gradually add flour mixture.
• Beat at low speed until well blended, stir in chopped pecans and cranberries with spoon.
• Drop heaping tablespoonsfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Flatten slightly with back of spoon, and press one pecan half into center of each cookie.
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
• Let cookies stand on cookie sheets 1 minute; transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• Store tightly covered at room temperature or you can freeze up to 3 months.