Relieve Stress With Holiday Cookies
I’ve started to realize that the holiday season is a little different for college students – the bliss of seasonal joy is drowned out by the outcry of stressed students. The all-nighters fueled by numerous cups of coffee, the crowds in Mugar, and an invasion of ratty sweatpants have overtaken Comm Ave. It’s hard to get into the Christmas spirit when this stressful atmosphere is crying out “bah humbug” to all BU students. So, what better way to spend that study break than to bake some holiday cookies that will leave you energized, satisfied and ready to hit the books!
My Mother’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies:
*Caution! Once you make these cookies you will be craving for more!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
A pinch of salt
3 cups of oats (uncooked)
1 cup of raisins (or substitute for chocolate chips!)
Directions:
- Beat butter and sugars until creamy
- Add the vanilla and eggs
- Combine the dry ingredients
- Once this is mixed well, add both the oats and raisins; mix well
- Using a spoon, place 1 inch spheres onto an un-greased cookie sheet
- Bake for 9 minutes
- Let cool and enjoy!
Thick and Chewy Gingerbread:
Using cookie cutters, get creative and bake cookies of all different shapes!
Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Ingredients:
3 cups of flour
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
A pinch of salt
1/2 tablespoon of ground ginger
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
12 tablespoons of softened butter
1/4 cup of molasses
3 tablespoons milk
Directions:
- In a blender, combine the dry ingredients
- With the machine running, add the butter until the mixture resembles a sandy texture
- Slowly begin to add the molasses and milk
- Once the mixture is thoroughly combined, scrap the mixture onto parchment paper and place in the refrigerator for an hour
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll onto a flour coated surface
- Cut the dough into festive shapes using cookie cutters
- Place the shapes onto an un-greased cookie sheet
- Bake the cookies for 9 minutes
- Let cool and enjoy!
Classic Sugar Cookies:
*These cookies are awesome paired with a cup of hot chocolate!
Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Ingredients:
1 cup of softened butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
- In a large bowl, beat the sugar and butter with an electric mixer on low speed
- Gently combine the dry ingredients
- Mix until blended
- Wrap the dough in parchment paper and place in the refrigerator for one hour
- Once the dough is ready, roll the dough onto a floured surface
- Using cookie cutters cut the dough into various festive shapes
- Place these shapes onto an un-greased cookie sheet
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes
- Let cool and enjoy!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies:
*There is nothing better than peanut butter and chocolate. These cookies are simply a mouthful of happiness.
Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Ingredients:
1 cup of creamy peanut butter
1 cup of light brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup of chocolate chips
3/4 cup of sugar
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter, sugar and egg
- Once combined, add the chocolate chips
- Using a spoon, or your hands, roll the dough into 1 inch balls
- Place these balls onto an un-greased cookie sheet
- Take the back of a spoon and press gently on the tops of each of the balls (so to make the cookies a little flatter)
- Bake for 10 minutes
- Let cool and enjoy!