Desserts/Sugar-and-Spice Bark Cookies
Makes: 36 cookies
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes + 14 minutes / batch
From: Better Homes and Gardens (http://www.bhg.com/recipe/sugar-and-spice-bark-cookies-2/)
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1 egg
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg
Edible gold spray (optional)
Coarse white decorating sugar
Directions
Step 1
Position a rack in the middle of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Let butter and egg stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Step 2
In a large bowl vigorously beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer until well blended and smooth. Add egg, molasses, vanilla, and salt; beat for 1 minute or until well blended, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg on low speed until evenly incorporated. Divide dough in half, wrap and chill 1 hour or until easy to handle.
Step 3
Roll one portion of dough between two sheets of parchment to 1/4-inch thickness; chill 20 minutes. Gently peel off top parchment (if it sticks, chill for 5 minutes more). Score with a fork. Using a pizza cutter, cut into eighteen 3x1 1/2-inch rectangles (or freeform rectangles). Do not separate. Gently transfer dough and parchment to a baking sheet.
Step 4 =
Bake one baking sheet at a time for 14 to 16 minutes or until edges are light brown. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack. Immediately spray with gold spray, if desired. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and additional nutmeg and cinnamon. Let cool 4 minutes to firm up. Recut rectangles with pizza cutter. Using a wide spatula, transfer cookies to wire rack. Cool completely.
from the test kitchen
Store at room temperature up to 3 days.
Freeze up to 3 months.
