TWD: Scottles of Botch.

Parents, if you children are anywhere near the computer while reading this post, I suggest you have them turn away now.

Are they gone? OK.

You want to know when I first discovered that Santa Claus didn't really exist and the man that was eating the cookies by the fireplace was, in fact, my own father?

When my father suggested that instead of leaving cookies and milk for Santa by the fireplace, we leave a glass of Dewars and water and some carrots.

I don't know know if I was scarred, hopeful that Santa woulnd't actually polish of some scotch and then fly around the skies drunkenly in his sleigh, or relieved that there actually wasn't any strnager trying to shimmy himself down my narrow chimney trekking soot and ash through my house, because, frankly, any other day of the year, that would be considered breaking and entering. 

Regardless, from then on, I actually humored my father and left him some scotch and "not cookies" every year. The scotch would usually be polished off and my father would wake up a little groggier and slightly cranky.

The point to that story? Well, these "not cookies" would fit perfectly into that equation, because, seriously, what are these? They're not cookies. They are not scones. They are not biscuits. They're like a  hybrid of the three. Cookonuit (pronounced cook- oh-nuts).

But apparently, Dorie is pretty liberal when it comes to the definition of a cookie.

I made two batches. The first, to be honest, I messed up. But it turned out to be a good mistake, because I actually LOVED these. I ended up overbeating the sugar, butter and eggs until it was a very silky texture and I added more preserves than the recipe called for. I never got that "curdled" look that Dorie mentioned.  Therefore, my batter never got thick - it looked more like icing then a cookie batter. So I got these:

And they were delicious! I used raspberry preserves and the flavor really came through. They basically came out like muffin tops but in cookie form and extremely light and fluffy.  I was very happy with my mistake.

Then I tried it again to see what Dorie's version would come out like. I got the curdle (yum) and the thick batter and the consistency came out just right. But I found that these were extremely bland. The flavor of the jam hardly came through at all with this batch.  The texture was great - confusing, but great - but I had to make a lemon glaze to put over the top to amp up the flavor (which worked - after that, these were fantastic).

So... could it be? I actually did something better than Dorie? Ha Ha! Merry Christmas To Me!

Check out TWD for some more cookonuits!

Comments

[April B]

I was kind of feeling like mine were too plain and not very flavorful, kind of like your second batch. I'll have to try making them your way.

[Caitlin]

Huh, I wonder if that's why some people's spread and others didn't. Overmixing making a better cookie? I'm not going to complain!

[Cathy]

It sounds like your mistake resulted in a better cookie -- why can't that ever happen to me? I like Dorie even more after reading that Slate article. Your cookies look great!

[Sabrina]

I love the scotch story!!! Terrific!

Yum yum cookies! Raspberry preserves are the best!

[Kayte]

Well, they look really tasty and buttery and good...I would count them a success...goodness always equals success, right? Your posts are such fun...I can't even picture your father, you are such fun.

[Leanne]

Okay icing them would be surpassing Dorie's goodness. Much better.

[Michelle]

Im glad you liked these cookies. I used grape jam in mine and my girls loved them piled high with vanilla frosting!

[AmyRuth]

We liked them around here. Just lightly sweet and I used some thick Apricot preserves. If you like Apricot it was pretty delish. I sort of thought of them as lighter little biscut cookies, good with coffee or tea. Have a Merry Christmas
AmyRuth

[Kimberly]

Your cookies look great and sound yummy!

My mother always insisted that we leave santa a glass of wine and a cornish hen. He would, afterall, get sick after munching on all those cookies without eating a proper meal!

[peggy]

good for you that you tried a second time! I'm sure they tasted good both times. I really liked them.

[Megan]

ha ha ha ha - they should be called "the two faces of cookies". Those are polar opposites - but it sounds like you enjoyed the first batch more.

[Sugar B]

I am assuming the second batch is for me? Thanks. :P

[Kelly D]

I thought more jam sounded like a great idea. Now I know it was. Early Christmas for you.

[Melissa]

Congrats on doing something better than Dorie! Your lemon glaze sounds awesome.

[Di]

When I first saw your post title, I thought you were going out of order and making the butterscotch pudding a week early. I can't wait to see what you have to say about that after your scotch story. =) I like the looks of your first batch--I liked these cookies, but thought they could use more jam.

[HappyTummy]

ok...first of all, great job! i'm so glad you tried them both ways...and that you found a new version that you love! your cookies look fantastic--both versions.

second of all, i wonder if i did what you did--my cookies defintely came out more "muffiny" and they were also on the very sweet side. hmmm. i didn't even pay attention to the curdling aspect, but after reading your post, i wonder if that was it.

thanks for the link to the slate article. fun stuff!

[HoneyB]

Love your story about your dad! :)

[Jaime]

hahaha...sounds like you messed up and ended up w/a superior cookie!

[Leslie]

Isn't it great when you make a "mistake" and it's actually an improvement on the recipe?? I would have LOVED it if mine turned out like muffin tops (but maybe I would have eaten more of them...)

[Natashya]

My Santa wanted beer and carrot sticks. I had to leave the cap on the beer too. (stubby, back then)
So happy your cookies turned out, hooray for happy accidents!