Friday is snack sharing day at little C’s school. Of course this has put me in an absolute state thinking
of what to make. I don’t know anything
about pre-school and its customs. What
is de rigueur? What is taboo? My only other experience with pre-school was
when I actually went myself, and try as I might, I can’t recall too much
detail. I am quite familiar however, with
snacking, my most recent experience having been just this afternoon.
of what to make. I don’t know anything
about pre-school and its customs. What
is de rigueur? What is taboo? My only other experience with pre-school was
when I actually went myself, and try as I might, I can’t recall too much
detail. I am quite familiar however, with
snacking, my most recent experience having been just this afternoon.
But what snack to bring to pre-school? I figure something neat and portable and not
prone to spoilage. Something not too
junky, but yummy nonetheless and appealing to the little ones. Not one to be shy about asking for help, I
sought guidance from little C’s teacher.
Could I bring some chocolate chip cookies? I was thinking of these ones. They discourage chocolate though, so that was
out. Although, hmmm, I do seem to remember one
of little C’s classmates chomping on some Hello Panda. And then there was that one day that I found
fruit loops in her bag – not chocolate to be sure, but a wee bit lower on the
food chain than homemade chocolate chip cookies don’t you think?
prone to spoilage. Something not too
junky, but yummy nonetheless and appealing to the little ones. Not one to be shy about asking for help, I
sought guidance from little C’s teacher.
Could I bring some chocolate chip cookies? I was thinking of these ones. They discourage chocolate though, so that was
out. Although, hmmm, I do seem to remember one
of little C’s classmates chomping on some Hello Panda. And then there was that one day that I found
fruit loops in her bag – not chocolate to be sure, but a wee bit lower on the
food chain than homemade chocolate chip cookies don’t you think?
Anyway. I am not
going to complain because I love little C’s teachers. They are the sweetest things, as I imagine
all pre-school teachers must be. And I
am, in truth, grateful that the school espouses healthful eating, while, at the
same time, is not too boot-campish about it.
going to complain because I love little C’s teachers. They are the sweetest things, as I imagine
all pre-school teachers must be. And I
am, in truth, grateful that the school espouses healthful eating, while, at the
same time, is not too boot-campish about it.
So…what to make? This.
Brown Sugar Cookies
(adapted from Joy the Baker)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
– Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and
ginger in a bowl. Set aside.
ginger in a bowl. Set aside.
– Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an
electric stand mixer. Beat on medium
speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of
the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla
extract, and beat on medium speed for one minute more.
electric stand mixer. Beat on medium
speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of
the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla
extract, and beat on medium speed for one minute more.
– Add the dry ingredients, all at once, to the butter and
sugar mixture. Beat on low speed until
the dough begins to come together and the flour disappears. Stop the mixer and finish incorporating the
ingredients with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Once all the flour is thoroughly mixed in, cover the bowl with plastic
wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes (or transfer to a sealed container if your
mixer bowl, like mine, does not fit into the fridge).
sugar mixture. Beat on low speed until
the dough begins to come together and the flour disappears. Stop the mixer and finish incorporating the
ingredients with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Once all the flour is thoroughly mixed in, cover the bowl with plastic
wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes (or transfer to a sealed container if your
mixer bowl, like mine, does not fit into the fridge).
– After chilling, scoop dough into tablespoon-sized
balls. Place on a parchment-line cookie
sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake in a
pre-heated 350F oven for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned around
the edges. Remove from the oven and cool
on the pan for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool
completely. The cookies will last, in an
airtight container at room temperature, for up to 5 days.
balls. Place on a parchment-line cookie
sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake in a
pre-heated 350F oven for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned around
the edges. Remove from the oven and cool
on the pan for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool
completely. The cookies will last, in an
airtight container at room temperature, for up to 5 days.
The recipe calls for 30 minutes of chilling but I have
actually both chilled these overnight, and not at all, and both batches came
out well. I adjusted the original recipe
somewhat – I lessened the ginger only because I was nervous about ginger and
pre-schoolers. I also decreased the
baking soda because the first batch I made, with the full 2 teaspoons, had a
slight soapy aftertaste (and the lessening did not seem to have any ill effects on the cookies).
actually both chilled these overnight, and not at all, and both batches came
out well. I adjusted the original recipe
somewhat – I lessened the ginger only because I was nervous about ginger and
pre-schoolers. I also decreased the
baking soda because the first batch I made, with the full 2 teaspoons, had a
slight soapy aftertaste (and the lessening did not seem to have any ill effects on the cookies).
If you’d like to make this for your child to take to
school, but are busy with work, just prepare the dough the night before (it
comes together in a snap I promise you) and bake it the next morning before
leaving.
school, but are busy with work, just prepare the dough the night before (it
comes together in a snap I promise you) and bake it the next morning before
leaving.
These make for a perfect snack — school or otherwise. They are much like
chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate, which some may find a bit tragic, but the
cinnamon and ginger make this a cookie in its own right. Plus, I love brown sugar. Use the darkest you can find! The cookies are fantastic with coffee or tea and, I
am certain, although I have yet to try it, they would be excellent with some
good vanilla ice cream.
chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate, which some may find a bit tragic, but the
cinnamon and ginger make this a cookie in its own right. Plus, I love brown sugar. Use the darkest you can find! The cookies are fantastic with coffee or tea and, I
am certain, although I have yet to try it, they would be excellent with some
good vanilla ice cream.
I couldn’t conduct a post-cookie survey with the
pre-schoolers so I will just take the sparse remains left in little C’s snack
container to be a positive review!
pre-schoolers so I will just take the sparse remains left in little C’s snack
container to be a positive review!
Brown sugar adds a lot of flavor to baked goods. Those cookies must be delicious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh I could snack on those. Can't remember details from pre-school … I'm lucky to remember yesterday's dinner 😉 and it was good.
These look really yummy! I bet they are moist and decadent on the inside!
Hi Rosa! I agree! I love brown sugar!
Hi Tanna! Hahaha! I know the feeling!
Hi Redd! They are 🙂 But not too decadent that it feels naughty…just enough 🙂
I completely understand (and admire) your enthusiasm, as to be honest I have similar (albeit less talented) tendencies. When we were asked to bring snacks for my boy's school activity, I made mini-pizzas. Was mortified when other parents arrived with buckets of Chicken Joy and boxes of Krispy Kreme (all yummy but I was just embarrassed for myself lol. Worse, I had to give hubby a good kick under the table when the first thing he reached for were the dioughnuts 🙂
Well I could certainly snack on those! Preschool has been a while for me too (understatement of the century! Ha!) and no idea what the fashion in snacks was at the time but I'd settle for these! 🙂
Simple, basic cookies that are always good to have – for kids and adults alike! I surmise that the cookies were a hit!
Hi jewelsandstuff! I applaud you for bringing homemade mini pizzas! 🙂
Hi Simone! These are good for any age! 🙂
Hi Jen! I think so because they ate most of it! 🙂 I agree, always good to have a basic simple cookie recipe 🙂
brown sugar and ground ginger? I can imagine the aroma. Your little one is so blessed! 😀
I love brown sugar-based cookies and these look delish!
I am sure they were a hit with the little ones.
Way better than chocolate cookies.
Hi Gio! It smells wonderful! Perfect to banish other, more pungent, kitchen smells!
Hi Patricia! Love the caramel-y taste brown sugar imparts 🙂
Hi Michelle! Thanks 🙂
I remember the brown sugar muffins in greenbelt makati before, this is a great idea! yum!
Well done, Jo! I never bring anything to snack sharing day, terrible mother that I am, because Little A's class all bring "real" food – lunch!
Hi Hilda! I never tried those brown sugar muffins…sounds yummy! Do they still sell them?
Hi Iyor! Little C's class doesn't cross lunch so they are all mostly on snacks still for now…and I don't do this every Friday! When I have time 🙂
must try – they look fabulous
Thanks – these look amazing
Baking cookies is my passion…I love the sugar cookies and wants to create more recipes, thanks for sharing this yummy article…hmmmm delicious!
i have made these. These are delicious!
Glad you guys enjoyed the post and the cookies! 🙂