Sugar cookies - 1

It was last November/December when I had invited my friend Leslie and her family for dinner. She brought a big batch of sugar cookies that were beautifully decorated with some colored sugar. Ishaan was around 3 and 1/2 then. He ate atleast 4-5 cookies in one go. I had never seen him liking any cookie like that. I asked Leslie for the recipe and she was very kind to share it with me. It then sat there for a long time. I was pregnant at that time and somehow forgot all about it.

Then last month for Thanksgiving, I thought I would bake some cookies and send to Ishaan’s school. I remembered these cookies because I knew kids would love these. I asked for the recipe again. But then I got busy and could not bake. Finally we decided to bake this yesterday. Ishaan wanted to help decorate them. He decorated using M&Ms and chocolate chips. He said he is practising patterns – he had arranged the toppings in some pattern in all rows. Once done, he counted all to see how many we had in each tray. I really enjoyed the whole experience. I think Santa will get some of these cookies if Ishaan does not eat all of these before 24th!. Thank you Leslie for the recipe.

sugar cookies1 - 2 sugar cookies1 - 3 sugar cookies2 - 4 sugar cookies2 - 5 sugar cookies3 - 6 sugar cookies3 - 7 sugar cookies4 - 8 sugar cookies4 - 9

Pictorial: Mix all the ingredients. Shape and decorate cookies. Then bake them.

Sugar Cookies - 10

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 egg whites
  • 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tea spn cream of tarter
  • 1 tea spn baking soda
  • 1 tea spn salt
  • 1 tea spn vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Beat together sugar, powdered sugar, butter and oil.
  • Then add all other ingredients and mix well.
  • Preheat the oven at 375F for 10mins.
  • Refrigerate the dough for 30 mins. (see notes)
  • Shape them into small rounds and decorate as you wish.
  • Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Notes

Sugar Cookies - 11

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup oil
  • 2 egg whites
  • 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tea spn cream of tarter
  • 1 tea spn baking soda
  • 1 tea spn salt
  • 1 tea spn vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Beat together sugar, powdered sugar, butter and oil.
  • Then add all other ingredients and mix well.
  • Preheat the oven at 375F for 10mins.
  • Refrigerate the dough for 30 mins. (see notes)
  • Shape them into small rounds and decorate as you wish.
  • Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Notes

Julekake - 12

This month’s bread in “We Knead to Bake” group was Julekake. It is a Norwegian Cardamom scented Christmas bread. I was so excited when Aparna posted the recipe in the beginning of the month. I always wanted to try a bread with dried fruits, it reminds of the bread I used to eat when I was a kid. Also, everyone keeps talking about Christmas breads/cakes during this season. I thought I would bake this soon and post the recipe on time (24th ie). But that never happened. It is winter here and kids started falling sick one after the other in loop. I am having hard time just keeping up with everyday food. Then finally I baked this last week. It was an instant hit. Even my 8 month old tried few pieces and loved it.

julekake1 - 13 julekake1 - 14 julekake2 - 15 julekake2 - 16 julekake3 - 17 julekake3 - 18 julekake4 - 19 julekake4 - 20 julekake5 - 21 julekake5 - 22 julekake6 - 23 julekake6 - 24 julekake7 - 25 julekake7 - 26 julekake8 - 27 julekake8 - 28 julekake9 - 29 julekake9 - 30 julekake10 - 31 julekake10 - 32 julekake11 - 33 julekake11 - 34 julekake12 - 35 julekake12 - 36 julekake13 - 37 julekake13 - 38

Pictorial: Make the dough. Add the dry fruits to the dough. Let it rise again. Shape the dough and make the egg wash. Brush the egg wash on the bread and spread almonds. Bake the bread.

Sugar Cookies - 39

Julekake (Norwegian Cardamom Scented Christmas Bread)

Ingredients

  • 2 tea spn active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup lukewarm water
  • 1/2 cup lukewarm milk
  • 1 egg
  • 50 gm 3 and 1/2 tbl spn butter, soft at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 4 to 5 pods cardamom powdered
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup mixed candied fruit or peel I used dried papaya and dried pineapple
  • 1/4 cup golden or dark raisins

Glaze

  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • Chopped almonds

Instructions

  • Take the lukewarm water, 1 tbl spn (from 1/4 cup) sugar and add yeast to it.
  • Keep it aside till the yeast becomes active (frothy).
  • Add remaining milk, sugar, egg, butter, salt and mix it well.
  • Now add powdered cardamom, flour and knead till a smooth dough is formed.
  • Knead for some time to get a elastic dough.
  • Spread the dough on a flat surface and sprinkle the fruits and raisins on it.
  • Roll the dough and knead lightly so that the fruits are spread across the dough.
  • Brush a big bowl with some oil and keep the dough in it.
  • Cover with a wet cloth and leave it aside till it doubles in volume (about 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours)
  • Lightly deflate the dough and shape it into a ball.
  • Keep on a oiled baking sheet (or a baking pan like I did) and leave it aside for another 45mins.
  • Preheat the oven at 350F for 10mins.
  • Lightly beat the egg with milk. Brush this mixture on the dough.
  • Spread the almonds on top of dough.
  • Bake for about 30mins or till bread is golden brown, cover the bread with a foil if it is browning too fast.
  • Cool the bread completely before cutting it.