Never had I had any desire to write about a politician, let alone believe in one. Don’t fret, I won’t stand on my soap box and bore you with my enthusiasm for Barack Obama. Just understand, that I believe, in my politically cynical yet paradoxically hopeful heart, that Mr Obama represents a necessary change for our great country. I believe in his ability to lead us into a better future. I truly do. I like him so much, I made him cookies. Since the man and I are separated by geography as he campaigns, I took the cookies down to his campaign office where volunteers greeted us with open arms. I know… radical political activism.
Note: You can make these sugar cookies for any presidential candidate of your choice. They’ll taste just as good!
Election fever aside, it’s also almost Valentine’s Day. These basic sugar cookies are a great way to show love for your beau, your lady, your friends, or your favorite politician.
Sugar Cookies
I got this recipe here.
3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon milk
1. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. Beat together butter and sugar in an electric mixer until light in color. Add egg and milk to the mixture and beat until well combined.
3. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour, mixing until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
4. Divide the dough in half and stain with gel food coloring if desired. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 375.
6. Remove one package of dough from the refrigerator at a time. Sprinkle your work surface and a rolling pin with powdered sugar. Roll the dough to 1/4”, rotating the dough around the work surface, making sure it doesn’t stick.
7. Cut dough into desired shapes and place on a greased cookie sheet, or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Brush with a bit of beaten egg and milk before sprinkling with sugar in the raw or sanding sugar.
8. Bake for 7-9 minutes, rotating the pan half way through baking. Remove from the oven when cookies have barely started to brown on the edges. If you’re not using a silicone mat or parchment paper, I like to remove the cookies from the pan when they are still very warm. This will ensure they won’t cool and stick to the pan. Just be careful, they’ll be a bit fragile.
You can decorate these beauties any way you’d like. I used sugar in the raw, and a simple powdered sugar glaze- 3 cups powdered sugar and 2-3 Tablespoons of lemon juice or milk. Add more liquid depending on how thick you’d like the glaze. Royal icing is also a great decorating tool.
Cookies are easy to believe in. Politics not so much. But on this day, the two seemed to come together into something, all around, easier to swallow.
Hana
I believe this is a variation on European Christmas cookie recipe… it definitely pretty much reminds me of what I do for Christmas and other special occasions. Here in the Czech Republic these are often served “glued” in pairs with jam (best is currant).
grocerygeek
On an off topic subject.. what camera are you using to take these great photos? I love this website and all the yummy food to make and the pictures are pristine!
Sallie
Thank you for this cookie recipe. I shall be making it this weekend and of course, I will decorate mine with Obama all over them. Or maybe, I will decorate them with the word HOPE – cause that is what he has given me.
Debbi
Joy the baker is totally allowed to express herself on her blog. She shares all her awesome recipes and makes us better bakers, all the while including very touching asides about her lovely family and a few personal glimpses into how she became what she is today. Democrats AND Republicans love cookies, Cliff, and the fact that you state she has the capacity to ‘alienate’ anyone by having an opinion is way off base.
laurie
The cookies are adorable. If I get the call that I am a “party Mom” for one of the boys classes, I will be making them.
I have great hope for Obama, too. Its beyond a time for change.
joythebaker
Hello Jk- I’m so glad to hear you tried the pound cake recipe. I hope it turned out great for you! Because of your bench knife question, I’ll have a future post all about kitchen equipment that I use. That will probably help with the lingo!
JK Scaglione
This is from your mom and dad who are here to eat Aunt Dede’s cake later tonight in celebration of your mom’s 29th b.d.!!
Your mom and dad were so very touched by all you wrote about Dede’s baking influence (and spiritual I’m thinking?) on your life!!
Best,
JK
JK Scaglione
I made the lemon pound cake this a.m. (it’s still in the oven in fact). What a smooth dough it produces! Question: What is a bench knife? I used the flat of a spoon. Remember you’re talking to some food gringos out here! Another question: You direct us to add the sifted flour and baking powder. You say “don’t over mix in the electric mixwer. then you say “bring the ingredients together with a wooden sppon. Which is it? Spoon or mixer or a little of both?
Love that you share your recipes for those of us that live far away!
Love,
JK
Miri
Hi Joy,
It’s a wonderful blog you have here! The pictures are absolutely fabulous. And these cookies look just gorgeous!
authorchik@aol.com
I think this cookies are fantastic and you are sweet to share your top secret recipe with the world. Having tasted your baked goods I can personally vouch for the extra-delish factor. And I applaud you for baking your politics. Obama is America’s hope for the future. We choose the past at our own peril. But p.s. I would applaud you even if you were for…gasp…Romney.
joythebaker
Thanks for your strong opinions Cliff. I believe in Barack Obama as strongly as you disapprove of him. You can make these cookies for any presidential candidate of your choice. I’ve revised this entry to note that. Although, I don’t think “Huckabee” would fit very nicely on a sugar cookie.
Mamunchis
I think president Obama is an amazing person and in the midst of all the turmoil caused by another president he has been phenomenal in trying to get America back on track. Love the cookies! and I also love Obama. Thank you Joy for the post and the recipe of course :)
Cliff
Aah, you’re caught up in the Obama glow and all his platitudes. But look closer and see what he stands for: Higher taxes to pay for all his entitlement programs, including universal health care, which would nationalize 1/7th of this nations economy–BAD IDEA=POORER QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE. Obama’s foreign policy would be naive and dangerous. His bring-the-troops-home-now (inspite of the consequences) mentality is akin to surrendering, which would embolden our enemies in this vital war we’re fighting against terrorism. Obama’s “change” would be going back to the failed presidency of Jimmie Carter. And Hillary’s just as bad, only Obama has more charisma. My suggestion: keep politics out of joythebaker. You’ve just alienated a large segment of potential customers. Republicans love cookies too.
Kristen
I couldn’t agree with you more. I am really excited about what the future might hold if he is elected.
These cookies are beautiful and so is your blog :)
I saw that you want to sign up for Adopt a Blogger. It is too late for the first one but I am doing another one in a month or so. There is a post on my blog “Adopt a Blogger 2” If you can, go sign up under there and you’ll get in!
Michael
That is a cookie I can feel really good about!