Here’s a few things I’ve learned from life… they definitely have nothing to do with cookies:
Don’t laugh when someone asks you out on a date. They’ll think you’re laughing at them. They won’t understand that you’re just flattered and awkward and your head is about to explode. Don’t chew gum in a public restroom. It sorta feels like you’re eating bathroom air. Capital Gross.
Lastly, don’t drink wine past 3:30am. It’s totally past your bedtime and you won’t look pretty in the morning.
It’s just that life is so beautiful, I’d hate for you to make these mistakes.
Can we talk about cookies now? Geez.
These cookies are with and without.
They’re just like chewy sugar cookies, with brown sugar. They’re also just like chocolate chip cookies, without chocolate chips. Wrap your brain around those deep depth thoughts.
These are the gorgeous, sweet, chewy, caramel cookies. They sound so simple: brown sugar cookies. But seriously? These are some of my new favorites. They have just a touch of ginger and cinnamon in them too. These aren’t spice cookies. The ginger and cinnamon adds a roundness, not a ton of spice flavor. These cookies are the real deal.
Oh! If you wanted to add chocolate chips or toffee pieces, we will totally be friends for life.[<printable]
Brown Sugar Cookies
makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies
from Epicurious September 2011
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Set aside.
Place butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat on medium speed for one minute more.
Add the dry ingredients, all at once, to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat on low speed until the dough begins to come together and the flour disappears. Stop the mixer and finish incorporating the ingredients with a spatula. Once all the flour is thoroughly mixed in, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Place a rack in the center and upper third of the over and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Dollop tablespoons size balls of dough onto the baking sheet. Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies will last, in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to 5 days. [/printable]
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I love the simpleness to these. They’re so tasty sounding!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Such a great idea for a cookie- I love the flavor of brown sugar!
Michelle
fantastic! would advise to make a batch of these cookies for the date. sugar always helps.
endless
ohhhh~ They look sooo good! Better go out and buy some butter and some chocolate chips.
Cayla
What if…. You used these in an in an ice-cream sandwich?!
Could it work? :D
& then you rolled the said ice-cream in crushed toffee pieces?
Oh my. I’m drooling.
Definitely making these!
Layla
I drank wine after 3.30 on Saturday night, and just for the record, you are sooo on the money, it was not my friend. Sunday was not fun. But on another note, Joy, I love your blog. I found it recently and i just think it’s peachy, thank you for all the yummy things and idiosyncratic comments…and of course the kitty.
Maris (In Good Taste)
The cookies do look and sound delicious!
Maia
The perfect way to transition into fall weather without going full-on pumpkin/ginger/spice. Well done!
marina
I’ve never made cookies before but I am game to try! Quick (beginner’s) question: how do the balls of dough you say I have to dollop onto my baking sheet turn out to look like the flat cookies in your pictures? Should I flatten them with the back of the spoon or do they just collapsei into themselves? Please advise!
joythebaker
roll the dough into balls and they’ll flatten in the oven. promise.
marina
I trust you, i do!
Kathryn
Sometimes cookies don’t need to be fancy to be delicious – these look and sound perfect and I like the subtle spicing.
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
Dagnabbit…I almost bought toffee pieces today, and put them back. They really would be awesome in these cookies.
Also…I agree about the gum. Gross.
Khushboo @ Two Megapixel Food
Joy, I don’t think I’ll ever chew gum again after THAT reference!
I love brown sugar in everything – tea, coffee, cake. These cookies look sooo good.
Kate M.
These look amazing! Chewy cookies are the best. Also, I completely understand about laughed when someone asks you on a date-awkward!!!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Joy these look sooo good. I love brown sugar. It gives such a wonderful chewy texture to cookies. As well as carameley as you mentioned. Nice!
“eating bathroom air”…ok, I will never chew gum in the same way after thinking about that. Ewww! But you are so right!
Emily@SoDomesticated
Craving these cookies… love!