Passed on recipe becomes family tradition

Baking is about more than treating friends and family to delicious desserts. For Maria and I, baking is often a family affair.

Maria and her daughter Monique are bakers. In my family, my mom, my sister Debra and I bake. Whether we bake together, or for the family in advance of a holiday gathering, there are some cookie recipes that have become tradition.

These traditional recipes also tend to make their way through families, either passed on or passed down.

Debra often bakes a variety of cookies to gift to friends and one of her go-to recipes has become a family favorite – her “secret” sugar cookie recipe. Debra’s sister-in-law, Jill, passed on the recipe and it has become a staple at family gatherings.

These drop sugar cookies come out consistently perfect and are versatile – perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, or any other special occasion.

SUGAR COOKIES

Makes 5-6 dozen.

Beat with mixer:

4 eggs

¼ cup vegetable oil

2 sticks of softened butter

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups granulated sugar

Mix together in a separate bowl:

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix.

Refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Make dough into balls and place on baking sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool on rack.

WHITE ICING

Beat on high with mixer:

4 cups powdered sugar

5 tablespoons very softened butter

1 teaspoon salt

¼ cup shortening

½ tablespoon vanilla extract

¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons milk

If you have a favorite go-to cookie recipe you make for multiple occasions that you’d like to share, we’d love to hear about it.

Happy baking,

Amy

Maria Rice McClure and Amy A. Ritchart are excited to share their cookie-baking memories and adventures with you for these 21 days. Follow them on Instagram @itswhateverblog, email them at itswhateverblog@outlook.com, post to their Facebook wall at http://bit.ly/amyandmariaFB.