Brown Sugar Cookies

Phin doesn't have much of a sweet tooth. He prefers desserts that show a little bit of restraint. My normal default setting for sweets, however, is chocolate. But every so often I want a something that isn't ultra decadent and isn't chocolate; a little pick me up to nibble with a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon.

Brown Sugar Cookies

So, when my first issue of The Baking Sheet - a birthday gift from MarMar  - arrived, I knew I had to make their Brown Sugar Cookies. I thought that the cookies would appeal to Phin, and have some restraint at this decadent time of year.

And yet, when the cookies were in the oven, they smelled decidedly seasonal - they definitely have that holiday aroma. When they came out they were sweet, but not too sweet. The brown sugar gives them a distinct carmel flavor, and the spice is just perfect.

Brown Sugar Cookies

3/4 c (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/4 c (9 3/8 oz) brown sugar
1 large egg
2 1/4 c (9 5/8 oz) all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger (I just used more cinnamon)
1 c (6 oz) bittersweet chocolate chips (optional)
1 c (6 oz) toffee chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment or silpat. Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg. Scrape sides of bowl. Whisk dry ingredients together. Mix into butter mixture until combined. Mix a few seconds more. Stir in chips if using. Scoop by the tbsp full onto baking sheet. Bake for 8-12 min (mine were perfect in 10). until edges just turn golden brown.Cool on pan for crispy cookies or on cooling rack for chewy cookies. (Makes 3 dozen plain or 4 dozen with chips.)

The dough was tasty, too. (Yes, I eat raw dough.)

The only change I made to the recipe is that I substituted more cinnamon for the ginger, since I was out. Uncharacteristically, I did not add in the optional chips since Phin requested that I leave the cookies plain. 

Phin liked these cookies so much that after a day he finally demanded that we share some with his brother and family, before he devoured them all. When we arrived at his brother's home, cookies in hand, I received the ultimate compliment from our niece, the 14yo Miss J. She asked for the recipe. Need I say more?

Omnomnom