When I was younger, my dad and I used to bake pretty frequently. One Groundhog Day when I was in kindergarten, my dad decided we should make a batch of cookies and shape it into a groundhog so I could bring it in to school...This turned into a yearly tradition! We also added groundhog shaped pancakes the morning of (though that has changed to an evening tradition for me, since I started college anyway).
Unfortunately, for those who hate winter, our beloved Punxsutawney Phil has predicted another 6 weeks of winter. I'm kind of ok with that because I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a big blizzard!
Read on for our family secret chocolate chip cookie recipe...; )
2 2/3 sticks (22oz) of butter (datsa lotta buttah!)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar (light or dark...really your preference!)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 1/2 cup sifted flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 - 1 tsp salt
18 oz chocolate chips
8 oz chocolate frosting
- Preheat oven to 350F and have two ungreased baking sheets at the ready.
- Mix the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and both sugars well, making sure they're thoroughly mixed.
- Add wet ingredients, vanilla, and both eggs, mixing well after each addition.
- Add the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, and salt, one third at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Add the chocolate chips and mix well. Don't forget to steal a few chocolate chips for yourself in the process ; )
- Now comes the groundhog-y part. Spread a few large dollops of the batter on each baking sheet.
- You have two options:
- Put the general shape down and then cut the groundhog into a more specific form right after it finishes baking. (Papa Leigh's preferred method).
- Shape the groundhog precisely before baking. (My preferred method).
- Bake for 8 minutes, and then switch the sheets to the other shelves to even out the baking temperature for each.
- Remove from oven after 16 minutes or so and cool slightly.
- Transfer to wire racks. (If you are shaping your groundhog after baking, do so before transferring to the wire racks.)
Put some of the chocolate icing into a pastry bag and start decorating however you see fit!
We like to give them: eyes, nose, an ear, front and back paws with claws, a tail, a fur all over the body. That way they look great and there's plenty of icing on each piece = )
I've nicknamed this little guy to your left Disco Stu = ) This was my dad's decorating job.
Have fun and keep bundled up for the next 6 weeks!