divine cookies

ok, so typically i post healthy, wholesome recipes.  but you'll remember,  that my food philosophy is eat nutritious, natural foods 80% (or more) of the time and leave yourself 20% of wiggle room...

well, this post is about to consume all 20% of that wiggle room.  a month back, we visited friends in nyc, and they introduced us to levain bakery.  this whole-in-the-wall establishment on west 74th makes the most divine cookies i've ever, ever, ever eaten.

i searched the internet for the recipe, but (for good reason), they have it well protected.  but, i did stumble across a few copycat recipes and decided to try the most promising.  hello!  they weren't levain bakery good, but they were damn-near close.

so, here's the scoop
makes 10-12 cookies

preheat oven to 390 (yes, 390...)

1 c. butter (2 sticks)

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

cream all above ingredients until fluffy

add:

2 c. flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

pinch of salt

1 tsp cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

1 tbsp. cornstarch

mix all ingredients until incorporated and a thick, creamy dough is created.

then mix in:

2 cups of oats

then i split the dough into equal parts.  and added separate mix-ins to each.

one 1/2 got 1 cup chocolate chips

the other 1/2 got 1 cup raisins

mix thoroughly and then pour onto countertop and knead dough to completely mix dough (this tip evidently comes from the levain ladies, themselves ; )

gently pull lemon-sized hunks of dough. be sure to keep the dough loose and airy and place the mounds on 2 cookie sheets.  you should get 10-12 cookies total.  (they are huge.)

bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating sheets once, until cookies are lightly browned around the edges.  (this recipe was adapted from cheeky kitchen's copycat cookie.)

then...come to mama!  enjoy!

on a different note, this weekend is my friend, cate's, wedding!  we've known each other for over 20 years, and i am super excited to celebrate with her tomorrow!  (i'll be posting pictures next week.)

what are you up to this weekend?  want a cookie?

butter, sugar & love

part of our pre-christmas prepping always includes a day...or two...or three of baking.  each year, me, my sis and my mom set aside a day to gather in the kitchen and bake up a storm.  this year we're planning our bake-a-thon for next friday.  with my baking day on the horizon, i thought i'd share a recipe that we make year after year (and always get lots and lots of compliments on).  these amazingly delicious cookies come straight from scotland and have been enjoyed by my family for generations : )  i hope you enjoy them too!

our holiday dessert table

authentic scottish shortbread cookies

1 pound butter (4 sticks)
1 egg
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour
¼ teaspoon salt

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees. add sugar to room temperature butter and knead with hands.

2. add beaten egg and salt.

3. add flour gradually, continuing to knead dough with hands.

4. roll dough to ½ inch thickness and place on a cookie sheet with a lip.

5. cut dough into rectangular cookies (¾ inch by 2 inches). for a decorative touch, score each cookie 3 times with the tines of a fork, leaving 9 dots on the face of each cookie.

6. bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 200 degrees and continue to bake for 1 hour or until lightly golden brown.

7. while cookies are still warm, cut again along same grid lines. allow to cool completely on baking sheet.

(the baking tray we use has lots of score marks in it from all the years of making these cookies.  i just love that.)

credit {here}

happy holiday (cookies)!