Eat Like a Rabbit

I created a cookie bar for a Sunday afternoon party I was hosting. Basically, it's a tray of simple cookies with a variety of icing or toppings. The idea may sound juvenile, but it has an air of maturity because of the toppings of choice. Obviously, there are options that can make it a fun, albeit messier, dish to serve at a children's party, too.

The original cookie recipe came out of Moosewood Restaurant's "Simple Suppers". I must say I had a time whipping the butter and brown sugar together by hand. I'm experimenting doing things like my grandmothers used to do and therefore have yet to invest in a hand mixer. I also had a challenge trying to role the non-moldable dough into logs. I finally decided to freeze it for a while and keep rolling it around to make it a round shape. The recipe could have told me that even my squared logs would yield round cookies. Don't ask me how! It's a miracle! The batter was deliciou;, the frozen dough was delicious; the finished cookie was delicious. My stomach does recommend just waiting until the cookie is baked, though. My husband asked me the purpose of freezing the dough, and I unfortunately have no idea. So much for looking like a smart wife.

The cookies came out as if I'd made a perfect log at the beginning of the exercise. They cooked very quickly, which is always a big selling point when you're short on time. Then I poured a variety of sauces into my favorite little "IKEA-candle-holders-turned-serving-dishes" and arranged the dessert as I desired around them. The dips were Publix All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, Nutella Chocolate Hazelnut spread, and the same orange icing my mother puts on her cinnamon rolls. The only mistake was that the icing ran over the sides of the cookie. More powdered sugar would have yielded thicker icing. Nevertheless, the sauces were a success with much argument as to which one was the best. This is at the height of simplicity for me (aside from my arm being the electric mixer). I would make this recipe again in a heartbeat. I bet they'd be perfect for ice cream sandwiches.