Bready or Not Original: Blueberry Cookies
It’s one thing to make Blueberry Cookies, but quite something more to make cookies that are a vivid blue-purple hue that will turns heads.
I’m used to doing blueberry recipes for, say, muffins that involve carefully folding in the berries to avoid bursting or smearing them. No such care involved here. The goal is to straight-up emulsify those lil suckers so their juice and color gets everywhere in that dough.
The flavor gets everywhere, too, and is perfect within a buttery dough with a dappling of white chocolate chips.
Bready or Not Original: Blueberry Cookies
Equipment
- parchment paper
- small cookie scoop or teaspoon
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick) softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place the frozen blueberries in a microwave-safe bowl and zap in the microwave until thawed. Do 20 seconds, stir, then perhaps another 20 seconds, stir again, and do more if needed. Don’t drain away the juice–you’ll use everything in the bowl.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add in the full contents of the blueberry bowl followed by the lemon juice and vanilla. The mixture may look curdled at first but keep beating until it smooths out and emulsifies the blueberries.
- Add the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder, scraping the bottom of the bowl to incorporate everything. Fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to create dough balls. Space them out on the baking sheet.
- Bake until cookies are set, about 10 to 14 minutes. Let set on pan a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Store in a sealed container at room temperature. If stacking cookies, place waxed paper between the layers; cookies are quite soft and may stick together otherwise.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not: Almond Crinkle Cookies
These Almond Crinkle cookies achieve a bold almond flavor through a combination of almond flour and almond extract. Do note that they are not gluten-free, as they also include regular all-purpose flour!
I found these cookies to be pleasantly chewy. And, of course, they are a little messy thanks to a coating of confectioners’ sugar.
Modified from Better Homes & Gardens December 2023 issue.
Bready or Not: Almond Crinkle Cookies
Equipment
- plastic wrap
- small cookie scoop or teaspoon
- parchment paper
Ingredients
Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 1/4 cups white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup almond flour sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Topping
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat together butter and white sugar until fluffy. Follow up with the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract.
- In another bowl, combine the two flours along with the baking powder and salt.
- Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet, scraping the bottom of the bowl to incorporate everything. At this point, wrap the dough in plastic to chill for at least an hour, or freeze dough for later.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Measure the confectioners’ sugar into a small bowl.
- Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to shape small balls of dough. Roll in confectioners’ sugar to coat. Place spaced out on parchment-covered sheet.
- Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Let set a few minutes then transfer to a rack to fully cool. Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not: Cinnamon Streusel Cookies
These Cinnamon Streusel Cookies have a unique look and flavor.
The base tastes like a sugar cookie. What makes it special is the streusel filling, which spreads out during the baking process, effectively spreading out the warm flavor and crunchy texture as well.
In the recipe, I emphasize the need to make deep wells within the dough balls. Really heap that filling in there! It may look like a lot at that stage, but as I noted above, the streusel spreads out. You don’t want to end up with almost naked cookies.
Bready or Not: Cinnamon Streusel Cookies
Equipment
- parchment paper
- large cookie scoop or tablespoon
Ingredients
Topping
- 1 Tablespoon white sugar
- 2/3 cup pecans finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter melted
Dough
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 5 Tablespoons shortening cut into pieces
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the topping: in a bowl, combine the sugar, pecans, cinnamon, and butter. Set aside.
- Mix the dough: In a medium bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together shortening and sugar. Mix in the melted butter. Beat in the eggs. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients to form a soft dough.
- Use a large cookie scoop or tablespoon to form a ball of dough. Place on parchment and press a thumb into the middle to form a deep well. (If the dough is sticky, put some water in a saucer and moisten thumb before using it to create the wells.) Form deep wells with each ball of dough. Fill wells with a heap of streusel topping.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until cookies are just turning golden. Let rest a few minutes on sheet, then transfer to a rack to fully cool.
- Store in a sealed container at room temperature.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not Original: Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Let’s start off the new year with a new, original cookie recipe: Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cookies! This is a riff on my old favorite Soft Batch-style Chocolate Chip Cookies.
These cookies feature chocolate melted into the dough. Of course, they still feature chocolate chips as well. That said, the chocolate flavor here is quite gentle, a contrast to heavily chocolaty things like brownies.
Note that the brown tint of the dough can make it trickier to visually gauge doneness in the oven. Look for the cookies to be set, not gooey.
Bready or Not Original: Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 3/4 cups chocolate chips a mix is great
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/3 cup chocolate chips in a few short bursts, taking care not to overcook. Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool a smidge.
- Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix in the melted chocolate chips, blending until it forms a consistent brown color. Slowly mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Chill dough for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Place parchment on baking sheet.
- Scoop the dough using a teaspoon or small scoop, spacing apart. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until set in middle. Let cool on cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to rack.
- Store in a sealed container. Keeps well for at least 3 days.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not: Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
To those who celebrate: Merry Christmas! To others: hey, have an awesome day. For everyone: let’s enjoy some Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies!
This recipe is actually somewhat close to the wonderful Toll House recipe. I grew up on that one, of course, as it was famously on the back of every bag of Toll House Chocolate Chips. The recipe I’m sharing adjusts the amounts, though, but still uses a full bag of chocolate chips.
These cookies are chewy, crisp, sweet, and laden with chocolate. As you may note in my pictures, I used a mix of chocolate, white, and caramel chips. If you want to add nuts, then reduce the number of chips so the add-ins still equal 2 cups.
Bready or Not: Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
Equipment
- parchment paper
- large cookie scoop or tablespoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) softened
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter to soften. Add both sugars and beat until fluffy. Add vanilla followed by the eggs one by one.
- In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet, scraping the bottom of the bowl to incorporate everything. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Use a scoop or tablespoon to space out dough on parchment. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, until they look set and light gold. Let them remain on the pan a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
- Store cookies at room temperature in a sealed container.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not Original: Mocha Almond Bars
If you enjoy soft, chewy, crunchy blondies, this Mocha Almond Bars recipe is for you! It looks pretty, too, thanks to glaze on top.
I hate coffee as a drink, but I love the flavor in baked goods. That’s very true here. There is something magical about the combination of vanilla, sugar, and almond with espresso powder.
This recipe makes a 9×13 pan, so perfect to feed a small crowd!
Bready or Not Original: Mocha Almond Bars
Equipment
- 9×13 pan
- aluminum foil
- nonstick spray
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 cup sliced almonds divided
Glaze
- 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1-2 Tablespoons half & half
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Line a 9×13 pan with aluminum foil. Spray nonstick spray or coat with butter.
- Beat butter in a large bowl. Add vanilla and egg. Add flour, sugar, and espresso powder. Scrape bottom to make sure dough incorporates everything. Fold in 3/4 cup sliced almonds.
- Press dough evenly into the pan. Sprinkle remaining almonds over the top. Gently press in.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned and the middle passes the toothpick test. Cool completely, speeding the process in the fridge, if desired.
- Combine the glaze ingredients, adding more confectioners’ sugar or half & half to reach a thick consistency. Drizzle glaze over the pan. Cool completely, until glaze solidifies.
- Use foil to lift onto a cutting board to slice into bars. Store in a sealed container, using waxed paper between stacked layers.



















