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!