Cut and Bake Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
7. Cut out cookies using your desired cookie cutter shapes.
8. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart.
Chilling the Dough for Optimal Crispiness:
To achieve the perfect crispy exterior and chewy interior, it’s essential to chill the dough before baking. By chilling the dough, the butter will solidify, preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. This process also enhances the flavor development by allowing the ingredients to meld together.
| Chilling Time | Result |
|---|---|
| 15-30 minutes | Slightly crispier exterior with a medium chewy interior |
| 1 hour | Crispy exterior with a chewy but tender interior |
| Overnight | Extra crispy exterior with a firm and chewy interior |
After chilling the dough, proceed with baking the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until they are lightly browned around the edges.
Flavored Variations
The basic dope cookie recipe can be easily customized to create a wide range of delicious flavors. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Chocolate Chip Dope Cookies
Add 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter.
Peanut Butter Dope Cookies
Add 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter to the batter.
Oatmeal Raisin Dope Cookies
Add 1/2 cup of rolled oats and 1/2 cup of raisins to the batter.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Dope Cookies
Add 1 cup of white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of chopped macadamia nuts to the batter.
Lemon Dope Cookies
Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and 1/4 cup of lemon juice to the batter.
Peppermint Dope Cookies
Add 1/4 cup of crushed candy canes to the batter.
Pumpkin Dope Cookies
Add 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the batter.
Apple Cinnamon Dope Cookies
Add 1/2 cup of diced apples and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the batter.
Gingerbread Dope Cookies
Add 1 tablespoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to the batter.
Eggnog Dope Cookies
Add 1/2 cup of eggnog to the batter.
