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POSTED: Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Whether it's for Easter or just for the fun of doing something with the kids, a good new cookie recipe is always welcome.

The Simply Delicious Butter Cookies can be dressed up with your choice of jam or jelly, as described in the recipe, or decorate the tops of the cookies with colored sugar or sprinkles before baking.

The Cookie on a Stick is like a cookie lollipop and seems to be all the rage with kids these days.

Kids young and old will have fun making the crisscross pattern on top of the Peanut Butter Clouds. Somehow, peanut butter cookies are not as popular as they used to be, but we think once you get a taste of these yummy treats again, they'll earn a place again on your list of favorites.

Simply Delicious Butter Cookies

                       

1 cup butter, softened         1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted         1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla         2 cups flour

Whip butter until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and mix well. Add vanilla and beat until light and fluffy again.

Add flour in 1/2-cup increments. The batter will become sticky and should form into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about

2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Bake

8 to 12 minutes, until lightly browned. Makes 5 dozen.

Variation: After flattening cookie dough, make an indentation with your thumb in the center of each cookie and place

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of jam or jelly into the indentation. Bake.

Approximate nutritional information, per cookie: 45 calories, 3 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 20 mg sodium, 4 g carbohydrate, 1 g sugar, no fiber or protein.

Cookie on a Stick

                       

1 package (16.5 ounces) refrigerated chocolate-chip cookie dough         8 miniature chocolate candy bars (such as Snickers)         8 wooden craft sticks         Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)         Melted chocolate (optional)

(Adapted from a recipe from Nestle)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Insert one wooden craft stick into each candy piece. Shape cookie dough into a ball around candy to resemble a lollipop.

Place four lollipops at a time onto an ungreased baking sheet; flatten dough slightly. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are crisp.

Cool on baking sheet for 1 minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Dust with powered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate. Makes 8 cookies.

Approximate nutritional information, per cookie (not including optional ingredients):

340 calories, 15 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, no cholesterol, 220 mg sodium, 47 g carbohydrate,

2 g fiber, 29 g sugar, 4 g protein.

Peanut Butter Clouds

                       

1 cup butter or margarine         1 cup peanut butter         1 cup sugar         1 cup powdered sugar         2 eggs         1 teaspoon vanilla         2 cups flour         2 teaspoons baking soda         1 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and peanut butter. Gradually add sugars and cream thoroughly. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.

In a separate bowl, sift flour with baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Chill dough until easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease baking sheets.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheets. Dip a fork in flour and flatten dough, forming a crisscross pattern on top. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Makes 6 dozen.

Approximate nutritional information, per cookie: 80 calories, 4.5 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 100 mg sodium, 8 g carbohydrate, no fiber, 5 g sugar, 1 g protein.