Food & Drink

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Merry snickerdoodle!

Marry simple, delicious cookie with Christmas taste of eggnog

By: J.M. Hirsch

Posted: 11/24/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Eggnog snickerdoodle cookies (MATTHEW MEAD / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

You can keep your decorated, stained glass, death-by-chocolate, triple-dunked biscotti bombs, or whatever this holiday season's must-bake cookie will be.

Any time of year -- and especially this time of year -- I'll take the delicious simplicity and vanilla-ness (no, probably not a real word) of a chewy, soft and sweet snickerdoodle over just about any fancy, overwrought confection.

Even better is to pair that simple, under-appreciated cookie with the most perfect of holiday beverages -- eggnog.

So this year, I wondered what would happen if I blended these two classic treats. That's right: An eggnog snickerdoodle. It totally makes sense. Though overtly rich and creamy, at heart, eggnog is about clean vanilla creaminess with just a hint of holiday spice. You could easily say the same of snickerdoodles, which are a rich, buttery cookie with a clean vanilla taste and a light dusting of cinnamon-sugar on the outside.

Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies

750 ml (3 cups) all-purpose flour

10 ml (2 tsp) cream of tartar

5 ml (1 tsp) baking soda

2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) salt

185 ml (3/4 cup or 11/2 sticks) butter

500 ml (2 cups) sugar, divided

65 ml (1/4 cup) plain eggnog

15 ml (1 tbsp) dark rum or brandy

5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract

2 large eggs

10 ml (2 tsp) cinnamon

2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) grated nutmeg

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on high to beat the butter and 375 ml (11/2 cups) of the sugar until light and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly drizzle in the eggnog, rum and vanilla, mixing until completely incorporated. Add the eggs, then beat until well mixed.

Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour.

When ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, mix together the remaining 125 ml (1/2 cup) of sugar, the cinnamon and nutmeg.

Working with 15 ml (1 tbsp) of dough at a time, roll the dough between your hands to form balls. Roll each ball in the sugar mixture to coat evenly, then arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Leaving 5 cm (2 inches) between the cookies on all sides. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly golden, but still soft at the centre. Transfer to a rack to cool.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

Start to finish: 1 1/2 hours (1/2 hour active)

Makes 36 cookies.

Nutrition information per serving: 110 calories; 40 calories from fat (36 per cent of total calories); 4.5 g fat (2.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 20 mg cholesterol; 17 g carbohydrate; 0 g fibre; 8 g sugar; 2 g protein; 75 mg sodium.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 24, 2012 E4

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