Sure! Here’s a detailed recipe for making Spiced Lunch Box Cookies that are perfect for dessert or snacking, loaded with delightful flavors and textures, and ideal for sharing with friends and family or packing into lunch boxes for a tasty treat on the go!
Spiced Lunch Box Cookies 🍪
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Yield: Approximately 72 cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
- 2/3 cup shortening
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions:
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Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Grease your baking sheets lightly or line them with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
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Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, ground ginger, and ground nutmeg in a medium-sized mixing bowl. This ensures that there are no lumps and evenly distributes the leavening agents and spices.
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Stir in the quick-cooking oatmeal until well combined with the flour mixture. Set this aside for later use.
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In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer set to medium speed. This step usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes, resulting in a light and fluffy mixture.
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Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next one. This helps to bind the ingredients together and adds moisture to the dough.
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Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the creamed mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. This technique helps to prevent overmixing and ensures a tender texture in the final cookies.
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Stir in the raisins, chopped walnuts, and chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the dough. These add-ins provide bursts of flavor and a satisfying crunch to every bite.
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Drop spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie for spreading during baking. You can use a teaspoon or a cookie scoop for this step.
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Top each cookie with an additional raisin if desired, pressing it gently into the dough. This adds a decorative touch and hints at the delicious flavors within.
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Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until they turn golden brown around the edges. Keep an eye on them towards the end of the baking time to prevent over-browning.
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Once baked to perfection, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
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Enjoy these Spiced Lunch Box Cookies as a delightful snack, dessert, or a treat to pack into lunch boxes for a burst of homemade goodness wherever you go!
These cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them, thanks to their comforting spiced flavors, hearty oatmeal, and delicious mix-ins. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to bake up a batch of these irresistible treats today!
