Grandmas Cornstarch Cookies Recipes

GRANDMA'S SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift together corn starch, icing sugar and flour.
• With wooden spoon (or by hand as I do it), blend in butter until soft, smooth dough forms.
• Shape into 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls.
• Place 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) apart on an ungreased cookie sheet, flatten with lightly floured fork.
• Alternatively, roll dough to 1/4 inch (6 mm); cut into shapes with cookie cutters.
• Decorate with candied cherries, colored sprinkles or nuts if desired.
• Bake in 300 Fahrenheit oven for 15-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
• Cool on wire rack.
• Tips:.
• Do not substitute anything for the butter otherwise it's not a genuine shortbread cookie. ETA: Sadielady reminded that I forgot to mention the type of butter. Please forgive the D'oh moment. Please use unsalted butter. I never ever add salt. Any added salt in baked goods is not pleasing to my palate and too much salt is unhealthy but you may want to add a bit.
• You can "nuke" aka microwave the butter to soften it rather than letting it sit out. It saves time and won't alter the taste. Just make sure you don't melt it.
• If dough is too soft to handle then cover and chill for 30-60 minutes (15 minutes worked for me).
• To make Crescents:.
• Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) ground almonds or hazelnuts to flour mixture.
• Shape into logs about 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick and 3 inches (7 cm) long.
• Twist into crescent shapes.
• When baked and cool, dip ends in melted chocolate.

GRANDMA'S SECRET CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, flour, and salt. Set aside.
• Now, with a mixer, mix the butter and sugars together well. Eventually the mixture will become fluffy.
• Now, on low speed, begin adding the remaining ingredients slowly while continuing to mix. Add the chocolate chips last and mix them in shortly.
• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 60 hours (2 1/2 days). Really, any time between 48 and 72 hours (2 and 3 days) will work well. Shoot for 60 hours.
• When it is time to bake preheat your oven to 350.
• Line baking sheets with parchment paper and place ping pong ball sized dough balls 2 1/2"-inches apart on your baking sheets. Suggested to lightly sprinkle salt on top before baking.
• Bake for 17 minutes. Once baking is complete, transfer to wire racks to cool for 12-15 minutes.

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS COOKIE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Stir the sifted flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt together in a bowl.
• Beat the margarine, butter and sugar together with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add one egg, and continue beating until completely incorporated; add the remaining egg along with the vanilla extract, and beat on low speed until incorporated. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture until just incorporated. Gently mix the pecans into the dough with your hands.
• Roll the dough into 1-inch balls; arrange onto baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden-brown, 8 to 9 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 8 minutes. Place confectioners' sugar into a bowl, and lightly dip both sides of each warm cookie into the sugar. Tap of excess, and allow cookies to finish cooling.