Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite “cookie” holidays. This year I decided to decorate my creations in a variety of ways to celebrate the sweet side of love ... and to let my inner Cupid out to express the joy of the day. I chose Brown Butter Cookies as my canvas because the flavor is nutty, complex, and irresistible — a lot like love itself.
A new friend of mine was planning an event to congratulate everyone on her team for a job well-done and she asked me to make gold star cookies to honor them and recognize their efforts. I immediately thought that my shortbread recipe would be the perfect cookie and started planning “Operation Gold Stars.”
These soft, chewy, and spicy cookies are my nephew’s favorite cookies. He likes them so much that he asks for them on his birthday. And I happily grant his birthday wish.
I discovered French Breakfast Puffs while I was in high school. A friend gave me the recipe and I was hooked. To be honest, all she gave me was a list of ingredients and said, “Put everything in a bowl, stir it together and bake.” That was the way I made these for years.
This was Mom’s “go to” recipe for cookies to take to a party or have at home during the holidays. It’s a wonderful mixture of fall spices, dates, and nuts with a tart lemony glaze. I’ve had many requests for the recipe and my nephew asks for persimmon bars at Christmas time. Thanks, Mom, for a wonderful treat and for the great memories.
