Soft Sugar Cookies

Yields: 24 cookies
Cook Time: 15-18 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) Salted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar, for rolling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. set aside.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium size bowl. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, using an electric or stand mixer, cream together the butter, and granulated sugar until combined.
4. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract.
5. Add flour mixture and mix until just combined. DO NOT OVERMIX!
6. Using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, scoop dough into balls about 2 Tablespoons each roll in sugar and place onto prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until tops of cookies start to crack. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet before moving them to a wire rack. Let cool completely on wire rack.

Note:

Storing: Cookies will stay fresh for up to 7 days in an airtight container, stored at room temperature.

Freezing: Roll the dough into balls and place them in an airtight container. You can freeze the cookie dough for up to 2 months. To bake, place frozen cookie dough balls onto prepared baking sheet and bake 16-18 minutes.

~Recipe from Deliciously Sprinkled

Easy Homemade Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

• 15 oz (3 cups) Flour
• 1 tbsp Yeast
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp Salt
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 9 fl oz Warm Water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

By Hand

1. Place flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
2. Add Yeast, sugar, olive oil, and water and stir until copmbined.
3. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and kneed for 5-10 minutes or until a smooth ball forms.

In Mixer:

1. Place flour into a stand mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Use dough hook.
2. Add yeast, sugar, salt, olive oil and water and turn on low combined (about 3 minutes).
3. Turn to medium and kneed for 5-10 minutes or until a smooth ball forms.

Both:

• Place dough ball into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or clean cloth. Set in a warm place for 30 minutes or until dough has doubled.
• Turn dough out on a floured surface and punch the dough to remove excess air, kneed lightly.

Makes enough dough for 4 10-12" thin pizzas.

Spread with desired toppings and bake in 450 degrees preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let baked pizza cool for 5 minutes before serving.

~Recipe adapted from Saving Dollars & Sense

Double Chocolate Biscotti

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup dark cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet Chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fehreinheit
2. Cream butter and sugar together, add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add in vanilla.
3. In a seperate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in thirds, making sure all dry ingredients are incorporated before adding more. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Shape dough into a 12 x 4 inch log and place on a well greased baking pan (or use parchment paper or silicon mat) Bake for 30 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut loaf into 3/4 inch slices and place back on baking sheet, cut side down. Bake again for 8 minutes then turn cookies over and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
6. Completely cool cookies on a rack then store in an airtight container.

~Recipe adapted from chocolatechocolateandmore.com

Fresh Plum Cake

Yields: 12 Servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, divided
• 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon
• 2 extra large eggs (or 2 large +1 egg white)
• 6-8 plums (mine were huge so I used 4)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place a sheet of parchment over the bottom disk of an 8-9 inch spring-form pan. Fasten the ring around the disk with parchment paper secured in between. Cut off the excess paper. Grease the sides of the pan.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
3. In the electric mixer, cream 1 cup of sugar with the butter. Add the eggs one at a time. Slowly add the flour mixture. Scrape the bowl and mix again.
4. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Slice the plum into eights. 
5. Place the plum slices around the top of the cake in a pretty pattern. Make sure they are close together. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice over the plums. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Make SURE not to over bake! Cool for 15 minutes in the pan, and another 10 minutes out of the pan before serving.

*Try with summer peaches, nectarines or apricots!

~Recipe via A Spicy Perspective