Simple and classic, these cookies are perfect on a snowy winter day!

½ c. butter or margarine, softened

⅓ c. cocoa

1 ½ c. sugar

½ c. brown sugar

2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. nutmeg

¾ c. powdered sugar, sifted

2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add flour, cocoa and baking powder. Add spices, eggs and vanilla, mixing until smooth (mixture will be very thin). Cover and chill at least 1 hour.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls, and roll balls in powdered sugar & cinnamon. Place balls 2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets; bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Cookies are best if slightly underdone. Remove and set on wire racks to cool. Yield: 8 dozen.

This is the winner of our “Best Cookie Recipe” contest. It is a much-requested recipe that Deb makes for family and friends… and now she is sharing it with you, in hopes that you share it with your loved ones! 

• 4 large eggs
• 1 ¼ C. vegetable oil
• 4 C. flour
• 4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 ½ C. sugar
• 4 tsp. (heaping) grated lemon peel
• 4 tsp. vanilla

Combine eggs and oil. Beat on medium speed until well blended. Mix flour, baking powder, and sugar together. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture, mixing well. Mix in the lemon peel and vanilla. Drop by heaping teaspoons full onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet several minutes before moving them to a wire rack. Frost cooled cookies.

Frosting

• 2 ½ C. powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp. melted margarine
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. water
• ½ tsp. vanilla 

Combine in a bowl, mix well.

Submitted by LindaHundt
 

This is a wonderful cookie that my sweet mommy made all the time, as I know they were her favorite too! To make them a little fresher I have added some lemon zest to the original recipe. We make a similar, very popular cookie at the shop! The secret to these and all cookies really, is to underbake them!

• 1 C. sugar
• ¾ C. Crisco shortening
• 1 egg
• ¼ C. Blackstrap molasses
• 2 C. flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• 1 ¼ tsp ginger
• 1 tsp. of lemon zest
• Pinch of salt

Cream the sugar and shortening together. Add egg, molasses, and lemon zest in sugar and shortening mixture, mix well. Whisk flour, salt, soda, spices together. Add to other ingredients. Mix together well, but do not over-beat. Roll dough into small balls and roll in sugar, raw or granulated. Bake at 350 degree preheated oven for 8 - 11 minutes.