Martha Stewart Monster Cookie Food

HOLIDAY MONSTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl until evenly combined. Combine the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, then add the eggs and yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour mixture and beat on low until the dough just comes together. Add the chocolate candies, oats, pretzels, peppermint puffs and white chocolate chips and stir with a large spoon until evenly mixed.
• Scoop eight 1/3-cup portions of dough, roll into balls and divide between 2 baking sheets, spacing the cookies evenly apart. Press the dough balls into thick disks with the palm of your hand. Bake, rotating the baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until the cookies are golden brown at the edges and barely brown in the very middle, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 1 minute, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high until light and fluffy, 6 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low and beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Mix in flour mixture just until incorporated; fold in chocolate chips and chunks.
• Using a 1/4-cup ice-cream scoop or a large spoon, drop dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (you should have 24) and refrigerate 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Arrange 6 unbaked cookies, 3 inches apart, on each of two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until edges are light golden brown, 17 to 18 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Bake remaining dough using new parchment.

GIANT COWBOY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in top third. Whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a large bowl, beat butter with both sugars on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Beat in chocolate, pecans, and coconut until just combined. (Dough can be made up to this point, covered in plastic, and refrigerated up to 3 days.)
• Line baking sheets with parchment. Using a 1/4-cup ice cream scoop, drop dough onto prepared sheets, about 3 inches apart. Flatten each with palm of hand. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges of cookies begin to turn golden, 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.

GIANT KITCHEN SINK COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Place butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Mix in vanilla.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. With mixer on low, gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well combined. Add oats, coconut, apricots, dark chocolate, cherries, and pecans; mix on low until just combined.
• Arrange 3/4 cup balls of dough on prepared cookie sheets, about 3 inches apart. Use the palm of your hand to flatten into 4-inch rounds. Bake until golden brown, rotating cookie sheets halfway through, about 16 minutes. Let cookies cool on pan 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

LADIES' FINGERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats) or parchment paper, and set aside.
• Place food coloring in a shallow bowl. Using a small paintbrush, color one rounded half of each almond. Set aside to dry.
• Separate 1 egg. Set aside the white. In a small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add egg mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour, and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into 15 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife. Transfer fingers to prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
• When all fingers are formed, brush lightly with egg white. Position almond nails; push into dough to attach.
• Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool completely.