Governor's Cookie Jar: The Recipes

This year I entered the Governor's Cookie Jar contest at the state fair. I did not win. Frankly, the judges were not all that impressed with my cookies. I know! I was surprised, too. They labeled several of my cookies as "not done in the middle." This is probably more than just a difference of opinion on the tenderness of cookies. I imagine there is a precise crumb standard in the cookie that they were looking for. I don't know. I do know, however, that I really like these cookies and I am glad to share the recipes with you if they are online.
Several are personal family recipes that I plan to add to my blog soon, but they aren't available just yet. Please check back if you're interested (or better yet, sign up for email notifications of new blogs on the right side of this post).


Here, then, are links to the recipes along with a few comments. Click on the cookie title to get to the recipe.

From my Blog

Oatmeal Gingersnap Cookies

I loved these cookies from the first time I made them. Many older people who try them wax nostalgic as they remind them of cookies from their childhood. The oatmeal gives them a delightful chewy texture.

Spicy Brown Sugar Roll-out Cookies


It just wouldn't be Christmas without these wonderful cookies. I make them for other holidays and special occasions, too, like our son's rehearsal dinner before his wedding. They are enough effort that they aren't an everyday cookie. I usually frost them with a cream cheese frosting, but cream cheese is not allowed in frosting at the state fair so I found a good buttercream recipe (recipe below). The judges thought the cookies would be better unfrosted and at least one of my sons agrees. 

Mom’s Skillet Cookies

My mom made these cookies around Christmas. I hadn't had them in years and was surprised that they tasted even better than I remembered. These cookies are not baked but are a mixture of dates, butter, sugar and an egg cooked in a skillet and poured over gumdrops, nuts and crisp rice cereal and then rolled in powdered sugar. Unusual, but very nice. 

Recipes from Other Online Sources

Cranberry Orange Drop Cookies

Where have these cookies been all my life? My daughter-in-law suggested adding these cookies to round out my collection. They were superb! A light orange flavor with tangy cranberry and mellow white chocolate chips tasted great. Welcome to the family Cranberry Orange!

Raspberry Bars

These were another really good recipe. I knew what I wanted and went looking for the recipe. They did not disappoint. In fact, they exceeded expectations. The judges liked them, too.

Lemon Macarons

Macarons were no doubt my downfall. I knew they were difficult to make, but I also knew they were based on an egg white meringue. I have made a lot of Angel Food Cakes in my time and thought I had a good handle on meringues. I had also sunk a sizable sum on almond flour and fully intended to use it. My macarons tasted good, but they did not look like the photo in the recipe. "Make smaller!!", wrote the judge. I did not use the frosting in the recipe, instead I added lemon juice to the buttercream frosting with perhaps a little extra powdered sugar.
 

Nutella Pinwheels

Attractive and surprisingly easy to make, these cookies are just plain fun. The judges liked them, too.

Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

A great frosting, this made a tasty replacement for my usual cream cheese frosting.


Personal Recipe Collection (not yet on my blog, but hopefully coming soon)


Hunka Chocolate Cookies

Super chocolaty cookies filled with walnuts, these cookies may be able to take care of your chocolate fix with a single cookie. Moist and tender, they use only 1/2 cup of flour. 



Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips 

The tried and true combination of peanut butter and chocolate is only enhanced by the addition of oatmeal. Often I bake only a small portion of the recipe and freeze the remainder in logs so that we can enjoy freshly baked cookies later. 

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

After trying a number of sugar cookie recipes for roll out cookies, I finally settled on this one. It is a soft, delicate cookie with a nice vanilla flavor. This cookie was frosted buttercream frosting.

Governor's Cookie Jar Blogs:
Gonna Do It!
Bake and Take
Fair Contest







2 comments:

  1. I like a chewy cookie too. These are awesome recipes. I will be trying them out on my friends at work. They are all winners to me.

    Wishes for tasty dishes,
    Linda @ Tumbleweed Contessa

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excellent recipe the cookies were delicious and very soft and gooey. I added chopped up Mars bar yum yum will be making these again!

    http://tasteusa.blogspot.com/

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