Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles

Spring is here! The snow is almost gone. At least, we can see the ground! Maybe the snow would have helped hide all the colorful Easter eggs better. My sister's husband hides the Easter eggs anyways so my sister can participate. She takes her Easter egg hunting seriously. I still think the kids find more than her. It could be that I secretly hand them a couple I find but Shh......don't tell her.

Sugar Saucers with Sprinkles
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sprinkles

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix the butter until fluffy.
2. Add the oil and mix well.
3. Add the sugar and powder sugar. Mix well.
4. Add the egg and vanilla. Mix well.
5. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix well. 
6. Fold in the sprinkles until incorporated. 
7. Refrigerate the dough for an hour.
8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
9. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
10. Once the dough has chilled, scoop the dough with a standard size ice cream scoop. Place the cookie dough onto the parchment lined baking sheet. 
11. Space the cookies at least 2 inches apart.
12. Gently,press the dough down until the cookies have flatten to about 1/4 inch thickness.
13. Bake the cookies about 12 minutes or until the edges are golden. 
14. Allow the cookies to cool for at least 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack. 

Recipe adapted from The Pastry Queen Cookbook by Rebecca Rather.
One year ago..................I made Patty Melts.

Did you already know.....
-Easter is observed at different times depending on the religion.
-The Christian Church observes Easter on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox full moon by the Gregorian calendar.
-Easter has no set date but is observed any time between March 22 and April 25. 

Brown Butter Funfetti Cookies

Happy Columbus Day! When I first saw these cookies, I knew I would make them. When I read that Julie from The Little Kitchen had made these several times. Then it was time to get in the kitchen.

These cookies are delicious! They did not last one day. I'm not sure if they even lasted an hour. I didn't even have a chance to share with my friends. Anything with sprinkles are a hit at my house. I always have sprinkles on hand. Next time, I will have to double the recipe. When my youngest daughter saw these photos, she exclaimed, "These cookies were really good!" I guess I can't say anything better but to make them. I will say that it is very rare that I cook with shortening that my oldest even made a comment but I wasn't going to change a thing about these cookies.

Brown Butter Funfetti Cookies
1/3 cup shortening
1/3 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and allow to turn to a golden brown but be careful not to burn for about 5 minutes. The butter will have flakes. Set aside to cool.
4. In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, and sugar until well incorporated.
5. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the creamed butter. Mix well.
6. In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt. 
7. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter. Mix until just combined. 
8. Gently, fold in the sprinkles.
9. Scoop about 1 1/2 Tbsp of batter and roll the dough into a ball.
10. Place the ball onto the parchment paper spaced about 2 Tbsp apart.
11. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. 
12. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 1 minute before transferring the cookies to a wire rack. 

Received permission for recipe from The Little Kitchen.

A year ago I was making...............Stromboli  mummy style which I will be making again real soon.

Did you already know...
-In 1892, Francis Bellamy included his Pledge of Allegiance to the flag for the 400th celebration of Columbus Day.
-In 1942, some schools made the Pledge of Allegiance a compulsory requirement.
-In 1943, the Supreme Court ruled that it couldn't make an individual to cite the Pledge.

I will admit that I cite a different Pledge of Allegiance than my children but I hope you have a wonderful Columbus Day whether you Pledge Allegiance to the flag or not.

Happy Columbus Day!