Sharing cookie recipes this time of year can be a beloved tradition. If you can convince people to make the cookies to exchange, even better!
I love sharing cookie recipes on Focus Fox Valley, but wanted to put a different twist to it this holiday season. I invited four different community organizations (Pillars, St. Joseph Food Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Wisconsin, and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin) to join the show and share a cookie recipe, in addition to their organizations most immediate needs this time of year.
Pillars
Autumn Gomez-Tagle, Volunteer Manager with Pillars joined with a recipe from their Volunteer Cookbook. Pillars provides shelter, support, and solutions to address the housing needs in our community. This recipe feeds a crowd!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 3 eggs
- 4.5 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 2 tsp baking soda
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugars, peanut butter and butter in a large bowl. Beat the ingredients until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add oats and baking soda, mix well. Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop dough in tablespoonfuls 2.5 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-14 minutes or until light golden brown. Let cookies cool and remove from cookie sheets.
TIP: One batch makes 60 cookies. A double batch won’t fit in most home mixers, but a good work around is to just use the mixer for wet ingredients, then transfer to a large bowl and mix in dry ingredients by hand.
St. Joseph Food Program
Heather Du Vall, the Development Director at St Joseph Food Program shared about how St. Joe’s is providing weekly food to 700 clients and organizations each week. Her chocolate chip and oatmeal cookie uses items that clients are able to find each week at St. Joe’s.
Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookie
- 1 PKG Yellow Cake Mix
- 1 Cup Quick Oats
- ¾ Cup Butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Combine all but chocolate chips and mix well. Stir in Chocolate Chips. Drop on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 Degrees for 10-12 minutes!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Wisconsin
Decorating sugar cookies might be a tradition in your house, and Jaime Kriewaldt, Chief Executive Officer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Wisconsin also shared how it can be a great activity for Bigs/Littles to do for Big Brothers Big Sisters. She shared how they host a decorating event each year for their program.
Sugar Cut-Out Cookies
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Beat butter an sugar in a large bowl with hand-held mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Add eggs, vanilla, and cream of tartar, beat until well blended. Add in same bowl, 1 cup flour, the baking powder and salt; mix well. Gradually add, remaining 2 cups of flour, beating after each addition until mixture is well blended. Divide dough into 3 balls; wrap individually in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least two hours, or until chilled.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Remove one ball of dough at a time from refrigerator; roll out to 1/4 inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut out cookies with flour dusted cookie cutters; place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough balls, dusting cookie cutters with flour as needed. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges of cookies are very lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin
Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin works hard to fight food insecurity. We hear from Patti Habeck, the CEO/President of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, about the current work they’re doing to support families in the area. She also shares a recipe that doesn’t require much to make, but still makes a big impression upon guests.
“Thin-ish Mint” Cracker Treat
- 1 sleeve Ritz Crackers
- 2 pkgs Andes Mints
- 1 bag Milk Chocolate Chips
Melt mints and chips in the microwave (or using double boiler). Dip and completely cover Ritz Crackers in chocolate mixture. Let chocolate covered crackers dry on parchment paper. Enjoy!
