Tuesday, November 10, 2009

TWD--Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies

For Tuesday's With Dorie this week, since we can bake out of order, I chose to make the Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies that Pamela at Cookies With Boys chose.  (Sometimes, people you "meet" that you may never meet are like kindred spirits--not to name any names--Pamela. ;)  She rocks!  And her boys--doggone CUTE--go see!  Well, okay, finish reading my post, first, then click on over to Cookies With Boys! 

I always like it when a recipe turns out  just like the pictures in Dorie's book, Baking From My Home to Yours.

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The only small problem is that I don't really like really flat, crispy cookies.  So as they were baking, I decided not to bake them 12-14 minutes and I only baked them between 10-12 minutes.  They were perfectly chewy.  Freshly cooled out of the oven, Kevin and I both thought they were a BIT too strong on the molasses flavor.  But as they "aged", they weren't so bad and seem to have a perfect ginger/spice flavor.  But you know me, I can't just leave well enough alone.  So I baked half the dough as the recipe is written.  Hey, first time ever, I bought and used freshly ground nutmeg.  Boy, that sure makes a difference--love the smell of the fresh nutmeg.  (I left out the pepper.)

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But I just didn't want THAT many flat, strong molasses cookies.  So I "played around".  With the other half of the chilled dough, I put it back in the mixer and added 1/3 cup pumpkin puree, a couple shakes more of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of flour.  I baked the cookies for 10 minutes.  They were nicely spiced, slightly pumpkin-y soft cookies and just a little bit not-as-flat and I was pleased with them.

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But if you know me (hey, where have I heard that before?), I just couldn't leave them as is.  Don't be disappointed, but, no chocolate.  (I know, I know--it would be good!)  I had some leftover cream cheese frosting in the fridge.  After softening it up a bit, I had to sandwich some in between a couple cookies.

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NOW we're talkin'. 

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Not done yet.  I remembered that I had this jar of Smucker's Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Topping that I hadn't opened yet.  I stirred some of that into the cream cheese frosting and made some more sandwiches.

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But don't you think ice cream topping needs some ice cream?  Wheel's a turnin'.  Ice cream sandwiches.  Uh huh!  Earlier that day, I had whipped up some of David Lebovitz' Philly Style Vanilla Ice Cream, to use up some cream in the fridge.

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Good, but eh, needs a little more.

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I just can't stop.  Kevin ate this one.  I kind of "forced" him to.  I handed it to him and said, "Eat this." 

Then I decided to do the same thing to a couple of the flat Dorie cookies.  I scraped the ice cream off of it and stuck it in the freezer, and just realized it's still there!

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Fun times!  Thanks for the cookie pick, Pamela!  You can get the recipe for the cookies on her blog on November 17, I believe.  Or, you can run right now to your local bookstore and get the book!  What are all the other bakers doing this week?  Well, it's all a mystery until you click on over to the TWD site and check it out!

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While the cookies were having their photo shoot, guess who wouldn't leave them alone?  Well, doggonit, he's darn-tootin' cute, too!  I told him to turn his head to the side, so he could show Grandma his new haircut.  Here's what I got.

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I think Sam ate 2 or 3 cookies just while I was trying to get the pictures done.  I had to crop his hands out of a number of cookie photos. 

55 comments:

Amanda said...

Hey we made the same thing again this week! :) I loved these, I thought they were soooo good. I ended up with some squares one though LOL

Your little cowboy is so darned cutesy, and OMG all that ice cream and topping!

Donna-FFW said...

Oh you turned this into an ultimate dessert. I love it. GREAT job!

Unknown said...

WOW! Katrina--you rock! You took this cookie to a whole new level---love it! These were a real hit in our house! I bet the addition of pumpkin was great!

Clumbsy Cookie said...

I just love your way of turning recipes around Katrina! My favourites were the one with the ice cream, of course lol! Weren't you surprised?!

Becky said...

Some of my favorite flavors combined, perfect! I'll have to give it a whirl.

Hindy said...

Oh my! You were inspired. I wish I still had some cookie dough to play around with. But I'm noting in the book to add some pumpkin puree to the batter next time.
Beautifully done!

Alicia said...

Oh my god. Those cookies look fabulous!! The final product looks great!

Mama Mouse said...

I am one of the few who doesn't like chocolate... so I am SO glad you didn't "choc" these up! I love the idea of adding pumpkin. I will try these for my next road trip!

Megan said...

Wait - no chocolate anywhere? Katrina, I'm so disappointed. :)

I love how you forced Kevin to eat the dessert. I usually do that to David - I hand him a bite of something and say, "Try it".

chocolatechic said...

I heart your tweaks.

Brilliant!!!

Unplanned Cooking said...

Great idea sandwiching in the frosting! Those look wonderful -- and professional.

Anonymous said...

OK, I was waiting for the chocolate. Love the addition of pumpkin to the dough, though. And the cream cheese frosting as a filling sounds great. And of course you can't go wrong with ice cream and topping! Can you believe that we just ate these plain? :)

Anonymous said...

Gosh! You sure do have a lot of fun in the kitchen! I love how one thing leads to the next with you!

CindyD said...

Haven't seen that ice cream topping - will definitely have to look for it. Cookies and all the variations look fantastic.

Soy*Baby said...

Will you please let me come and live at your house? I love how you always twist the recipes. I want one of those ice cream sundaes. Yummy.

Pamela said...

Wow...all versions of this cookie look spectacular. Making a sundae out of it?? Fabulous! Thanks for baking with me and thanks for the very sweet words, my friend!!

Anonymous said...

Great looking cookies! They look delicious (and I know they were). I made ice cream sandwiches too.

mike said...

Ok - there is just TOO much over-achieving going on here! Wow... very impressed at all the variations! Love that you enjoyed them so much to be able to do that - looks like there's others that enjoyed them too (that's what's important)! Beautiful cookies - ALL of them!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm so impressed. And isn't great to have a husband who can serve as the designated eater when necessary? Thanks for sharing all these great ideas!

Mimi said...

We really loved these cookies. I liked your addition of pumpkin.
Mimi

Valerie Gamine said...

You are so bad! I love it. :) I am not a huge fan of flat cookies either but these were spectacular! Your pictures are hunger inducing, I love how the tops cracked perfectly so you can see the darker interior!

Karen said...

Really, I'm speechless.

Bunny said...

Oh girl these are heavenly!!! I don't care for crispy cookies either so I'm glad you made them chewy!!!

AmyRuth said...

Boy Howdy, thems some fancy cookie variations, girl! Your brain must love sugar, huh? hehe Great ideas I'll have to keep these in mind. Although I love the sharpness of the ginger, pepper and molasses combo.
These were a big hit in my house. Thanks for your kind comments.
AmyRuth

Katherine said...

Oh my GOSH.... scrolling down as the dessert gets better and better was like opening a pinup or something LOL! WOW it looks amazing!

Kayte said...

That's it, I quit. Every single week you outdo anything I could possibly do or even think of doing! The cookies look wonderful all stacked up, they look wonderful with the pumpkin fluffiness to them, and they are really really wonderful with that frosting in them and then over the absolute top with the ice cream and the drippy topping. You rock. Oh, and btw love the new sidebar with the changing photos...very nice.

Unknown said...

Wow...you managed to take a really great cookie and take it over the top! Mine also came out a little chewy, and I like 'em that way...

TeaLady said...

OMW!! Fantastic variations. I want the last one with the ice cream. The topping. The cookies.

Leslie said...

You are too funny! I love all your creative tweaks. I'm making these today and will add extra nutmeg and cinnamon based on your changes.

spike. said...

Wow, that sandwich looks perfect! I always love your take on the recipe!

isa said...

Wow! You're so amazing with your creativity! Love the picture of the cookies all stacked up.
(Thank you Katrina for your thoughtful comment - it was really appreciated!)

vibi said...

WOW! Those are virtually perfect! They look like they're coming out of the box! LOL Sarah Lee out of your way! LOL

The Cooking Photographer said...

Katrina,

Lol!! I love how you didn't leave well enough alone. I laughed and smiled through this post.

Laura

Jacque said...

Mmm hmm, yep, you definitely get a gold star this week for all of your FANtastic variations.

Wow, they just kept getting better!

Anonymous said...

Oh my, those look delicious! Love the photo with the ice cream. Yum!

Anonymous said...

You amaze me every week! I'm always wondering how you're going to amp it up and always amazed with your creations. LOVE THEM!! Those cookies do look just like the book - I hope I'm as lucky with them. =) (I love grating fresh nutmeg too!) I'm baking these next week and keeping my fingers crossed!

Welcome to our crazy blessed life said...

I love your super tall stack and your modifications! :)

Anonymous said...

You put the rest of us to shame. I do like the idea of the pumpkin addition. Very inspired.

noble pig said...

Wow, now that's dessert and the reason why I love a big, flat cookie.

Cathy said...

Wow! You've outdone yourself! I love reading your posts-you always keep me guessing what you're going to do next. Love the whoopie pies and especially the ice cream sandwiches! I wish you lived next door.

CookiePie said...

WOW - they started out great and just got better and better!!!

Deeba PAB said...

Oh goodness. Is that a cookie or is that magic you created? Cookie nirvana!! happy Birthday Katrina. Hope you have a fabulous day today...and a wonderful year ahead!!

Maria said...

I have to make these, maybe today! Happy Birthday my friend:) I hope it is a great day and year!

Anonymous said...

Hap Hap Happy Birthday!! Enjoy the day. You deserve the best today! Seize it.

The Food Librarian said...

Happy Happy Birthday Katrina!!! National Bundt Day and a Birthday?! How perfect is THAT?!

Di said...

Wow, lots of terrific ideas for these cookies. I have some DL Philly vanilla in my freezer right now; I think I might have to make more cookies to go with it. =) And Happy Birthday!!

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I love all of the transformations that your cookies made - so creative!! Mine never started like the picture, they were SO dark and spicy, but luckily I loved them that way.

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

Hindy said...

Hey Birthday Girl! Hope someone makes you a lovely cake. Have a great day!

Stephanie said...

Happy Birthday!!! I hope you are enjoying your day :)

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday to you!! Hope you're having a great day :)

You did amazing things with these cookies! I love the ones that you added the pumpkin to so they weren't so thin. I'm not a huge fan of thin cookies either so I'll have to try that version.

rêves de tables said...

Your recipes look just great and really tasty. Thank you for this beautiful and delighted time I spent through your blog.

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