May 8, 2011

Soft Cookies with Pink Icing

Here is another yummy recipe from this cookbook!  The real name of these cookies is Grandma McNaughton's Soft Cookies, but I didn't want to confuse people into thinking I have a Grandma McNaughton, because I don't, but I bet she was great!  The person (Bethany Sinks) that supplied this recipe for the cookbook, says that her grandma was famous for this recipe.  She also said you have to use a round cookie cutter and pink icing in order for them to be grandma's!  So, that is what I did. 

I whipped up a half a batch of these cookies, cut them with my round cutter and waited for them to bake.  Meanwhile, I made the frosting.  I decided to make a little more than the recipe suggested, because I like to pile on the frosting.  So, if you are not a frosting addict like me, you can scale back the ingredients a bit.  I could hardly wait to try them. . .

. . . I really really liked these cookies.  They reminded me of an extremely soft sugar cookie.  They honestly melt-in-your-mouth!  The only thing I would change next time is to use regular shortening instead of butter flavored, because the butter flavor stood out a little too much and I think the regular would be just perfect.  I also added a little almond extract to half of the frosting and oh it was soooooooo yummy.  I made half of a batch and used a medium-sized cookie cutter and ended up with about 18 cookies.  Make sure to leave plenty of room between the cookies, because when they bake, they spread out quite a bit.  Give these a try, because I know you will love them.  


**Update - I wanted to let you all know that I am still eating these cookies 5 days later and they are still very yummy.  I think they might even get better as the days go bye.  These have become one of my new favorites!  
Grandma McNaughton's Soft Cookies
adapted from: this cookbook
(Printable Recipe)
1 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
5 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder


Pink Icing:
1 c. butter, softened
5 1/2 c. powdered sugar
evaporated milk, as needed
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract, opt.
a few drops of red food coloring  


In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar; add eggs and vanilla.  In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and baking soda.  Stir in half the buttermilk mixture.  Combine flour, nutmeg, salt and baking powder.  Stir in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk mixture.  Dough will be tender.  With a rolling pin, roll dough to 1/2-inch thick, using generous amounts of flour.  Cut out cookies with a round cookie cutter.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes (I baked mine 12 minutes and they were super soft) at 350 degrees.  Do Not Overbake.  The cookies should be soft.  Cool completely and spread with pink icing.


For the icing:  Beat butter until fluffy.  Add one cup of powdered sugar at a time and beat until light and fluffy, adding evaporated milk as needed for desired consistency.  Add vanilla extract, almond extract and red food coloring.  Beat until evenly distributed.  Spread over cooled cookies.  

37 comments:

  1. hey Jenn, these look soo yummy:)
    Thanks for sharing the recipe!
    hugs
    Manni

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  2. Very pretty with the soft pink icing. I prefer soft and chewy cookies to hard ones. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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  3. Super cute! I cannot wait to try these! They look so soft, very well done :)

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  4. Your cookies are just so lovely and appealing to the eyes! :) I love the color pink too, just so girly and pretty!!!;) I am a fan ;)

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  5. I love a soft cookies - can't wait to try them!
    Thanks for sharing. Saw them on Sweets for Saturday.
    The South Padre Island Flip Flop Foodie
    http://spiflipflopfoodie.blogspot.com

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  6. These look super yummy. I'll take a Gramma McNaughton!!! =o)

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  7. Your description has my mouth watering! I can hardly wait to try them. They look like the Grandma's soft pink sugar cookies they sell at the stores. I love it that they are still soft 5 days later. I have already printed the recipe off! Thanks.

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  8. These look like they would melt in your mouth! YUM!! And I love all the frosting on top... I think i am a frosting addict too!

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  9. So pretty! "soft" and "melt in your mouth" makes them sound like those Lofthouse cookies you can buy at the grocery store...the ones that are so incredibly addictive, that I'm always trying to replicate! I'll have to try this recipe, thanks :)

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  10. These look beautiful. I made a similar recipe at Christmas. It was the first time I had ever used buttermilk in cookies and I loved it. It was like eating a pound cake in a cookie form. I know yours are delicious. I would like to invite you to post on my linky party at A Well-Seasoned Life's Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

    http://www.wellseasonedlife.com/2011/05/sweet-indulgences-sunday-4.html

    Kim

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  11. These cookies look and sound delicious!

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  12. looks delish! thanks for partying with whipperberry!
    Kisses

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  13. Those look so sweet and pretty. They're the perfect girly treat. Thanks for linking them up to Sweets for a Saturday. Guess what? Your cookies tied for the #1 spot! Congrats!!!

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  14. Hi! Just stopping by to let you know that your cookies were in the top three recipes on A Well-Seasoned Life's Sweet Indulgences Sunday! So happy you joined the party and hope you'll do so this week, too. The party is already up and running! Congrats and thanks!

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  15. These cookies look addicting! I will be making them this weekend. Thanks for posting them.

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  16. Hi there- found you through Tater Tots's hop and am a new follower. This recipe sounds so good- I really miss the super soft cookies I used to get from Safeway. Unfortunately, they don't sell shortening where we live- is there a good substitution? I hope you have time to follow my life in South Africa by http://withoutcomplexities.blogspot.com

    Have a great weekend!

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  17. love sugar cookies these would probably melt in my mouth love the luscious pink icing come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

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  18. Hmm.. These look so yummy and cute!
    Thank you so much for linking to {nifty thrifty things} last week!
    I hope to see you again tomorrow!
    xoxo,
    Vanessa

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  19. These look just like the kind of cookies we used to eat in New Zealand all the time! Dangerous!!! Glad you enjoyed my Fake Ben & Jerry's! I'm your newest follower! Cheers!

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  20. These look good and with pink icing. Yum, I have to try them.

    Pat
    http://patspinkapron.blogspot.com

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  21. These look so yummy! I just pinned them so I can remember to make them soon. Thanks for sharing such a yummy recipe.

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  22. Those sugar cookies are delicious, look so yummy. These look just like the kind of cookies we used to eat in New Zealand all the time, I kept cherries after freezing this way.

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  23. Hey Jenn~
    I've been looking for a recipe like this for years. A lady that my hubby worked with used to bake something like these and I LOVED them. She moved away and we lost touch so I'm happy to see this! Are they almost cake-y? I've tried a zillion recipes and haven't struck gold yet, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Do I have to use shortening? I'm a real butter girl, but am worried that butter would change the consistency. Thoughts?

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  24. @Tina - These cookies are amazing. I would say they are in my top 5 of the treats I tried this year. They kind of remind me of those big pink cookies with sprinkles that you can get at gas stations, but better and not as dry. I would say yes, they are almost cake-y. I used to think that butter made cookies more crisp, but I made some no-roll sugar cookies the other day that had butter in them and they were still extremely soft and fluffy, so you could always give it a try. I would probably cut the recipe back, just incase they don't turn out, then you won't have to waste as many ingredients! Let me know how they turn out.

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  25. Thanks, Jenn! I will let you know how they turn out...if I can think clearly while I'm in my nice sugar coma. ;)

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  26. Hi Jenn,
    Hope your Christmas was a happy time for you!
    I wanted to let you know that I made these cookies. They weren't the recipe I was looking for, but they were good! You were right- the almond extract really made the frosting so much better. We thought the cookies tasted better a few days after we made them! Reminded me of old timey bakery cookies. I did use the shortening, but next time will use butter in a half recipe.
    Have a great week and a Happy New Year!

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  27. @Tina - I really really hope that you can find the recipe you are looking for soon. I have a cookie that I have been trying to recreate without any recipes and I haven't figured it out yet, so I know how you feel. If you do find a recipe for your cookies, let me know, because I would love to try them too. Thanks for letting me know what you thought about these cookies!

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  28. Thanks Jenn for sharing this recipe. I am going to pin it and hopfully make it for
    a baby shower. The pink frosting looks so good and will go well with the girl theme.

    Take care,
    Jewels

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  29. Oooh by soft cookies you mean the sweet yet fluffy variety that just crumbles and melts in your mouth, right? YUMMY! :D
    This would look perfect for a christening event I'm planning for a friend's baby girl's christening :D Love it! thanks for sharing your awesomeness!

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    Replies
    1. Oh these definitely melt in your mouth! So so so good. Let me know if you try them.

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  30. Made some tonight. Softest cookies ever! Haven't frosted yet, but mine will be blue and cold instead of the pretty pink. Thank you for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. mmm. . . These sound so good right now. I am so glad you like them!

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  31. These cookies are amazing! Thank you for the recipe. I followed it exactly plus a couple changes, lol. I used vanilla, butter and almond extracts. Instead of rolling them out I used a cookie scoop and dropped them. 12 minutes are what they required in my oven to get done! My family loved them!

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    Replies
    1. That is so good to know that they work without being rolled out. I will definitely try that next time. Thanks - Jenn

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  32. I found this recipe a few years ago, here. It instantly became our favorite sugar cookie!!! I don't roll mine out, since the dough is so soft---I just use my hands to flatten it out to the proper thickness, then cut the cookies out. I see where you say they were even good after 5 days. Well, my husband will testify that they are even good after 3 or more weeks, when properly stored!!! This cookie recipe should be given to every new bride, for sure (do they still bring favorite recipes to wedding showers and if not, it needs to have a revival)!!

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    Replies
    1. Gommy - I am so glad you and your husband like the cookies!!! I totally agree everyone needs this recipe. Thanks for letting me know what you thought.

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