Cookie goodness

It's snowy. It's Christmas-ey. My beautiful, rarely used Kitchen-Aid Mixer calls for the annual CookieFest. This Saturday, I bake.

Oh yes, I will bake. In my own kitchen.

*rubs hands together excitedly*


Tomorrow's baking treasures will include the following:

Michelle's intriguing Apple Caramel cookies

My modified Neiman Marcus cookie recipe (yes, I've actually made the cookies from that damn forward)

Some basic, good ol' Nestle Toll House cookies (with added holiday shapes in the bag)


The two recipes not Nestle related---


Chewy Caramel Apple Cookies (by Michelle)

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsp apple cider
1-1/2 cup flour
1-1/2 cup quaker quick-cook oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup packed dried apple rings
30 caramel candies

Unwrap caramels and quarter. Measure out apples-- pack as tightly as possible in measuring cup. Then chop into small bits.

Preheat oven to 350 deg. F.

In mixer, combine butter and sugars and blend until creamed. Add eggs, one at a time, mix gently. Add cider.

In separate bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, and oats. Slowly add to sugar mixture, blending well. Once mixed well, add apples and caramels. Stir until well mixed.

Drop by rounded tablespoon-full onto a non-stick or well-greased cookie sheet. Leave at least one inch between dough balls.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Let set on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.


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Modified "Neiman Marcus" cookie recipe (by Measi)

** note-- this makes a ton of cookies. If not making for a party or a group of male gamer geeks, I highly recommend halving.

2 cups butter, softened
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups sugar
5 cups Quaker oats, blended
24 oz. chocolate chips
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 deg. F.

Using food processor, blend oats into a fine powder. Set aside in bowl.

Using mixer, combine and cream butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together well.

In separate bowl, combine flour, oats, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

Slowly cobmine sugar mixture with dry ingredients. Mix well at low speed.

Add chocolate chips (and nuts, if desired).

Roll into 1" balls and place on parchment paper-covered cookie sheet (or non-stick). Place balls 2" apart on sheet.

Bake 10 minutes, or until golden. Cool on racks. Makes 80-100 cookies.

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Anyone else have cookie recipes to share? :)