Blog powered by TypePad
Member since 02/2010

You can find 1000+ of my kitchen-tested recipes using the Recipes tab, watch nearly 100 of my Kitchen Encounters/WHVL-TV segments using the TV Videos tab, join the discussion about all of my creations using the Facebook tab, or Email your questions and comments directly to me--none go unanswered. Have fun!

09/28/2017

~ Seriously Special K Crispy & Chewy Sugar Cookies ~

IMG_4254Sugar cookies traditionally fall into the category of "rolled cookies" which are cut into shapes to suit your fancy and the occasion, but, they can be treated as "drop cookies" too, meaning:  they can be formed into uniform-sized balls and baked.  They can be crisp and thin or soft and thick. They should melt-in-your mouth, taste rich and buttery and have a flaky, delicate texture. Perfectly baked sugar cookies have clean edges that hold shape when baked.  They emerge from the oven just cooked through and puffy, with almost no signs of browning.  Sugar cookies require patience and love -- except for this super-easy, seriously-special recipe courtesy of:  Kellogg's Special K.

6a0120a8551282970b01bb08b15209970dIt's odd, but, as a child, when all the other kids were reaching for the Frosted Flakes and Sugar Pops, the only two cold cereals I would eat were: Kellogg's Special K and Raisin Bran exclusively. The only hot cereal I would eat was Quaker oatmeal.  Some things never change.  All three cereals are staples in my pantry to this day. Now that you know that, it should come as no surprise that when my mom was baking cookies for me or with me,  IMG_3786quality mother-daughter time, she or we would choose (top photo) oatmeal cookies, (bottom photo) raisin bran cookies, or, these Special K sugar cookies, and, use the recipes printed on their respective boxes.  It is, in fact, how I learned to bake basic drop cookies. There's more.  The three together make a great trio on a cookie plate, and, from a nutritional standpoint, they're a step above cookies loaded with chocolates or candies.

Crispy outside, chewy inside, buttery flavor w/a salty edge:

IMG_41774  ounces Kellogg's Original Special K Cereal (about 3 cups), crushed to fine bits and pieces (about 2 cups)

1  cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1  teaspoon baking powder

1/4  teaspoon sea salt

1/2  cup salted butter, at room temperature, very soft

2/3  cup sugar

1  large egg, at room temperature

2  teaspoons pure vanilla extract

IMG_4166 IMG_4167 IMG_4170 IMG_4172~Step 1.  Weigh or measure the Special K cereal and place in a ziplock bag.  Seal bag, and using a small rolling pin, crush to fine bits and pieces.  Do not process to crumbs in a food processor.

IMG_4184 IMG_4187 IMG_4190~ Step 2.  Divide the crumbs in half, placing 2 ounces (about 1 cup) in a small bowl and the other 2 ounces (1 cup) in a medium bowl.  Add the flour to the medium bowl of crumbs and stir until thoroughly combined.

IMG_4193 IMG_4196 IMG_4199 IMG_4202~Step 3.  In a large bowl, over high speed of hand-held electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.  Add the egg and the vanilla.  Continue to beat until creamy.

IMG_4206 IMG_4208~ Step 4.  Lower the mixer speed and blend in the flour/crumb mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl constantly with a large rubber spatula, until thoroughly combined, about 1 1/2-2 minutes. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.

IMG_4211 IMG_4215 IMG_4219 IMG_4221~Step 5.  Using a 1 3/4" ice-cream scoop as a measure and working one scoop of dough at a time, drop a scoop of dough into the small bowl of crumbs and roll it around until completely coated in crumbs.  Place coated balls of dough, well-apart (2 1/2"-3"), on prepared pan.

IMG_4224 IMG_4229~ Step 6. Bale on center rack of 360°-365° oven until very lightly browned and puffed up in their centers, about 11 minutes, watching them carefully after 10 minutes so they don't over-brown*. Remove from oven and cool in pans 3-4 minutes prior to using a thin spatula to transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, 1 hour.

* Note:  For cookies crunchy-through-to-their-centers, brown a bit more and bake for 12 minutes.

A drop-sugar-cookie that competes w/a rolled sugar cookie?

IMG_4237You betcha.  Try the recipe & judge for yourself:

IMG_4261Seriously Special K Crispy & Chewy Sugar Cookies:  Recipe yields 12-14, 3"-round cookies.

Special Equipment List: kitchen scale or 1-quart measuring container; 1-gallon food storage bag; small rolling pin; hand-held electric mixer; large rubber spatula, 17 1/2" x 12 1/2" baking pan; parchment paper; thin metal spatula; wire cooling rack

IMG_8762Cook's Note: ~ "My" No-Fail Easy-to-Make Sugar Cookie Recipe ~ has been my go-to special-occasion sugar-cookie recipe since 1974. Because the recipe worked perfectly the very first time, I've never looked for another.  They've made appearances at a wide range of festive get-togethers: bridal and baby showers, weddings, and, of course, my annual Christmas and New Years Day cookie trays.

"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti

(Recipe, Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2017)

Comments

I hope you do Linda. My husband calls them "crack cookies". That said, Special K, Raisin Bran & Exclusively Oatmeal cookies make a great trio on a tray. I'm so happy you and I got to be friends. I love your style!

These all sound yummy, Melanie. I will have to add them to my "must try" list!

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment