Merciful God, You are great in compassion and Your tenderness for us is without measure. We ask You to give us today our daily bread, and also provide for the needs of all of Your hungry children around the world. Through Christ Your Son and Our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Brown Sugar Butter Cookies




These cookies aren't very glam, but they are full of buttery, sugary love.


Yesterday morning at 7 a.m., I was barely awake when my cell phone rang. It was my sister-in-law from Maryland calling because her son, my nephew, had an awful sore throat and had coughed up some blood. Sean is a sophomore at Ohio State so he is, unfortunately, 450 miles away from his mother. I, on the other hand, am just a quick 20 minute drive away.

I had a conversation with Sean (via texting to spare his sore throat) and told him where he needed to go and when to get a strep test. Once I was certain he had a plan of action, and once I had a full cup of coffee in me, I got my chopping knife out, an onion, celery and carrots and went to work on some chicken soup. While the soup was bubbling, I got busy on some cookie dough. I just can't send a CARE package without fresh baked cookies.

Not having been to the store for a real shop over the weekend, I was low on granulated sugar and eggs (I know, what kind of baker am I?), so I pulled together what I had, and made some Brown Sugar Butter Cookies -- a new invention {wink}

When the cookies were baked and the soup seasoned just right, I packed it all up, with some fresh apples and oranges, tea bags and honey sticks, and stopped at the store for Advil, a thermometer, Luden's cherry throat drops, some potato chips and saltines (salty food is good for sore throats!), white grape juice and anything else that looked good. Then I headed to Ohio State to drop off my CARE package.

Today he texted me "The cookies are awesome!" and that was absolutely the only thanks I needed (he did have strep, just in case you were wondering). My own kids loved them, too, as an unexpected after-school treat. They are a crisp-chewy cookie (baked at the longer time), with a buttery, "caramely" good flavor.


Brown Sugar Butter Cookies
makes about 3 dozen


1 c. butter, softened
1 1/4 c. brown sugar, packed
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 egg
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
turbinado sugar for dipping (about 3 T.)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees; line cookie sheet with parchment for easy cleanup.

In a mixing bowl,
beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium high speed
for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, baking soda, and salt; beat until mixed.
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.
Add the flour and mix until combined.
Shape the dough into 1-inch balls; dip one half of the cookie in the turbinado sugar and place sugar side up on cookie sheets.

Place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown (use the longer time for crisp-chewy and the shorter time for soft-chewy).
Remove the cookies and cool completely on a wire rack.







4 comments:

Linda said...

Just the type of cookie my whole family loves! I'll be making them very soon! Thanks, Barb!

Sara said...

You're such a sweetheart!

Jenn King said...

What an awesome aunt you are! He's a lucky boy!

Kellie said...

These are my families new FAVORITE cookie! Thank you for sharing the recipe!