Daddy’s Favourite Cookies

Last year I started to bake. I am by no means great at it nor am I claiming to be a baker. One thing I can tell you is that I really enjoy doing it. It helps me with my stress levels. At this time of year stress seems to be in abundance for most and so I thought I’d share this cookie recipe with you. Who knows? It might help you deal with stress. At best it will make your house smell divine and you can enjoy a few cookies with a nice cup of tea.

My son thought that he would help me with these. When I told him to crack open an egg he got grossed out and left the room. My daughter on the other hand loves to help. From kneading the dough to cutting out our cookies she is engaged and loving every minute of it.

These cookies are relatively easy to make, and I hope you enjoy them!

Ingredients

• 2 cups of all purpose flour
• ½ cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• Nutella (This is so not sponsored but should be…)
• Strawberry jam (that’s my favourite, but you can use whatever you like.)
• Deep breaths and an endless supply of patience if you are making these with your toddler or preschooler.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl stir your dry ingredients together.

Add your butter to the dry ingredients.

Add in eggs and vanilla.

Knead it all together on a flat surface and make it into a ball.*

Roll out your dough.

Using a cookie cutter – whatever shape and size you like. Cut out shapes, then using a very small cutter (I use a thimble or an attachment from my piping bag) cut out a small hole in the center of half of your cookies. (I line them up on my cookie sheet alternating whole cookies and cookies with the cutout.)

Keep rolling your dough into a ball, rolling it out on your surface and cutting out your cookies until you’ve used up all of your dough.

She loves making cookies.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Bake your cookies for 10 to 15 minutes or until slightly browned. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack.

Once your cookies are cool, spread nutella on the whole cookie (one that doesn’t have a hole in it). Cover it with a cookie that has a cut out. Using a small spoon, put a dollop of jam in the hole. Sprinkle icing sugar on your cookies through a sieve and voilà!

Put your feet up and consume with a glass of milk or a lovely cup of coffee or tea.

You’re welcome.

*I find that some cookie recipes will require that you refrigerate the dough for a couple of hours. I have made these cookies both ways (refrigerated & not) and they are just as good and easy to make without the added step.