Written on the back of an old envelope, this is one of my favorite cookie recipes of all time, especially for making cut out cookies to decorate with colorful sprinkling sugar, like these Valentine's cookies.
Family: Can you identify this envelope? Hint below…
(HINT: In the original photo the envelope has the return home address of my cousin whose fiance’s home was in Virginia. (you should know already) They’ve been married over 20 years (you should definitely know now). Last hint: the zip code was 22031.)
This recipe must have been hastily scrawled on what was handy during a phone call to my mother while I was on internship in Washington D.C.. The most unusual part of the written recipe is that it actually has a temperature written on it. Most of my hastily written recipes (yes, on backs of envelopes) do not have a baking temperature. Do I forget? No. It simply means 350 degrees, the temperature that my mother bakes/cooks most everything at. This one however is very specifically 375 degrees. Thanks, Mom.
This recipe is an old family favorite shared with me by my mother, shared also with my grandma, and first given from a good friend of my mother.
Mace Cookies
1 C butter, softened
2 C white sugar
2 eggs
3 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp orange extract
3 C flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp mace
DIRECTIONS
Cream together butter and sugar. Add lemon extract and orange extract. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition.
Then add flour, salt, soda and mace and mix until completely combine and a soft dough forms. Chill 1 hour.
Preheat oven 375 degrees.
Roll dough out on a lightly floured board to desired thickness. Dip cookie cutters into flour before each use.
Place cut outs on a parchment lined pan, sprinkle with decorating sugar and bake at 375 degrees for 6 – 9 minutes or until they begin to lightly brown on the edge. 6 minutes makes for a softer cookie, 9 minutes makes for a cookie that gives a little snap.
~Enjoy!
