The Rosiethon. Day 6 Of Rosie's Christmas Baking. #22. Basic Butter Cookie Dough.

Today I'm making a double recipe for Basic Butter Cookies. These go into 2 - 9 x 13-inch baking dishes, so if you only want to do one, halve the recipe. The dough can be made ahead, rolled into a log, wrapped in plastic, and chilled. The dough is evenly spread out in a 9 x 13 pan and partially baked. While the base cools, I prepare two toppings - a chocolate brownie one and a caramel pecan one. Hence, the reason why I double the recipe. Both toppings are wonderful.

Doubled Recipe For Basic Butter Cookie Dough Fits into 2 9 x 13-inch pans. If you like, you may halve it, and only do one of the toppings, or you could halve the two topping recipes and use one on one half and the second on the other half. The cook time is the same for both. 4 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 3 sticks unsalted butter, softened 2 cups sugar 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat butter and gradually beat in sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. 3 minutes with standing mixer. 6 minutes with handheld. Beat in eggs and vanilla. At this point, you can form the dough into 12-inch logs and wrap up in plastic and refrigerate, waiting until later to finish. Or, you can press evenly onto prepared 9 x 13 baking dishes. To prepare, butter the dishes, butter foil, and line dishes with foil. Press dough evenly into baking dish, using plastic to spread out and prevent dough from sticking. Chill. Bake at 375 degrees about 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Leave oven on. While the crusts cool, prepare your toppings, which will be my next two posts. Chocolate Brownie topping Caramel Pecan topping

I beat the butter for a minute or so, then gradually beat in the sugar, then continued beating in a standing mixer for 3 minutes, until pale and fluffy. I beat in the eggs and vanilla. Then I reduced the speed to low and beat in the dry mixture.

I halved my dough and ...

... turned out onto my prepared buttered pans with buttered foil.

Work with it. You want evenness, so you can spread it out.

Using plastic wrap on top and a mini rolling pin, evenly spread the dough.

Thusly. Chill until firm. About 20 minutes.

I baked the bases in a 375 degree oven for about 25 - 30 minutes. Until golden brown. Take out and let cool for twenty minutes. While the bases are cooling, prepare your toppings: chocolate brownie and caramel pecan.

Day 3 Of Christmas Baking.

Rosie's been a busy little baker today. I've actually made four different goodies. My first - Peanut Butter Coconut Bars.

Here are the ingredients: 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 cup smooth peanut butter 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups flour 2 cups coconut 1/2 cup chopped, toasted peanuts

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the peanut butter, beating.

Beat in the egg.

The vanilla.

And the salt.

Add in the flour.

And finally fold in the coconut.

Turn out onto a buttered pan.

Using plastic wrap, spread the dough evenly over the pan.

Press to even out the dough.

Sprinkle the peanuts over top.

And press them into the dough.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

And here you have some peanut-buttery goodness.

Quite delicious. Next up, a favorite I make every year - Heavenly Delights.

The ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup Crisco 2/3 cup sifted powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup chopped pecans sifted powdered sugar

Cream butter and shortening, and gradually add 2/3 cup sugar, beating until light and fluffy.

Add in vanilla.

Add in the lemon juice.

Gradually add in flour, beating well.

Chopped pecans go in.

Roll into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Remove immediately and sprinkle powdered sugar over top.

Here are my Heavenly Delights. They're so very light and simply melt in your mouth. Number 3 for today: Magic Cookie Bars

My ingredients: 1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (That would be one package out of the box.) 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup coconut 1 cup chopped pecans

Melt the stick of butter in a 13 x 9 inch pan as the oven is pre-heating.

Pour the graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter and press down firmly.

Pour the milk over top.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips.

The coconut.

Finally add the nuts and press down with a fork.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Ooooh .... These are yummy. My last goodie for today is Praline Cookies.

Ingredients list: 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 1/2 cups flour 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans powdered sugar Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Melt butter and add sugar, beating.

Add in brown sugar.

And beat away.

Beat in the egg.

Mix in the flour.

Add in the vanilla.

Fold in the chopped pecans.

Lightly spray baking sheets, then drop dough onto the sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes. Let stand for about 2 minutes before removing from pan.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

And here are my little powdered sugar-dusted Praline Cookies. Delicious little nuggets. I enlisted Mr. Hawthorne's help today in cutting the two butter cookie-based confections I made yesterday.

Here are the Brownie Squares. It has the basic butter cookie dough on the bottom and a chocolate brownie layer on top, which, if you recall, I almost screwed up, but then saved it at the last minute.

And these are the Caramel Pecan Cookies, with the basic butter cookie dough on the bottom and outrageously wonderful caramel on top.

Magic Cookie Bars on left, next Caramel Pecan Cookies, Brownie Squares, and Praline Cookies, bottom right. I got a lot done today. And I seem to be catching up in terms of my schedule. By the way, in case you're wondering what I do with all these cookies until Christmas delivery, I put them all in freezer bags and they go into the freezer downstairs in my utility room. Off to bed, then another day of baking tomorrow. Plus we bought our Christmas tree today, so there's gonna be some decorating going on as well.