Friday, April 3, 2015

Secret Ingredient Spice Cookies & April's Give-Away Apron

The month of April symbolizes showers, trees and flowers bursting forth,  Easter, and my Dad's birthday on April 12th (he would have been 95 years old).  So, it wasn't by accident that I chose (or it chose me) a fabric with Sailboats on it; besides being retired from US Navy, he was an avid sailor on his twin keel sailboat,  Rhiannon (Irish witch).
Dad bringing Rhiannon up the Chesapeake Bay  
If you would like a chance to win this apron, please leave a comment on any one of my posts this month!

Now, for these unusual spice cookies...I love a good mystery and in fact, if you haven't already read The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins I highly recommend it.  However, we're talking cookies and the mystery ingredient.
wait for it...........
Yes, it's ketchup!  Before you say yuck (and I know my daughter, Erin will because she hates ketchup) I must say these reminded me of a spice cake my mother baked made with tomato soup in the 60s.  How many of you have made that cake?  Well, it's delicious too and I know if you told your family what was in it, they probably wouldn't even try it:-D  These cookies are unique and heading straight to my sister's house today for an Easter surprise.

Secret Ingredient Spice Cookies
3 1/2 cups KAF all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1 cup granulated sugar
4T (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup ketchup (I used Heinz)
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a glass bowl, mix the butter, oil, molasses and ketchup and microwave 30 seconds on high, repeating until the butter has melted.
In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, place all the dry ingredients in and mix on low to combine.  While mixer is running, slowly add the melted butter mixture.  Next, add the egg and vanilla and continue mixing until thorough combined.

Place Sparkling Sugar or granulated sugar in a small bowl.  Scoop tablespoon size pieces of dough, roll in a ball and dip the tops in the sugar.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly brown.  Allow to cool a few minutes, then, transfer to a rack to cool completely.  

Secret ingredient and all, these are wonderful cookies...just don't tell the family. Enjoy!

Happy Easter to All!
 

17 comments:

  1. You know I'm going to make these, right?! :) I love secret ingredient recipes, so very cool. Beautiful card!! Happy Easter, my friend. lv, me

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  2. I can see how the secret ingredient is ketchup! Sounds good, I do love spice cake. Apron is adorable! I haven't sailed in years but when I lived on Cape Cod it was one of my favorite things to do. We have several April birthdays, my SIL Blake's is today Apr 3rd, Tiger's is April 7th and new baby is due any day now! Happy Spring my sweet friend.

    Linda

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  3. Susan, I love the photo of your father! The secret ingredient sounds great to me in your cookies. Have a lovely Easter! xoxo ♥

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  4. I remember the cake made with tomato soup so I'm not too surprised to see ketchup as the secret ingredient! And I'm so looking forward to tasting the cookies tomorrow!! I know they will be delicious with my 3:00 coffee. The apron is adorable. Great picture of Dad and a really beautiful Easter card. Love you Sis, have a Happy Easter/

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  5. Okay. I am shocked by the secret ingredient and I'll take your word for it! ; >

    Love the sailboat apron!

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    Replies
    1. If you have made the tomato soup spice cake, it makes perfect sense!

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  6. I clicked on the photo of your dad....Great Photo ! Happy Easter, dear friend...

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    Replies
    1. When he was stationed on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranian, he even got to sail on one of Jacque Cousteau's sail boats! He loved the water.

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  7. Looks delish!! I must give this recipe a try! Fab photo of your dad! Happy Easter!
    XO

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  8. Ketchup in spiced cookies...that's definitely something new to me. And those cookies look scrumptious, Susan.

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  9. Susan! I loved this post. What a fantastic picture of your Daddy! As to be expected, your apron is so cheerful and happy! You always select the perfect pattern to match the month! Now..these spice cookies are going on my must-make list! What would we ever do without you! Big bunny hugs dear one!

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  10. I remember making the tomato soup cake. I want these cookies I think they would taste great. like the sail boats on the apron and what a lovely card.
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

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  11. Now that is a secret ingredient!

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  12. I love the new apron you've made. I have one and still love it so I'm glad everyone else will get a chance for this one. You are always so sweet....and so are your desserts! Hugs!!!

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  13. Happy Birthday to your Daddy! What a wonderful way to memorialize him with the beautiful apron! I can only imagine how excited he was to sail with Jacques Cousteau! That's awesome!

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  14. At last, The Girl On The Train Audiobook is now available on AudioBooksNow.

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