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Sunday, December 21, 2008

Gingerbread Cookie Cups

Gingerbread Cookie CupsEvery year starting December 1st, I prepare daily Advent boxes for the kids. I bought a little box from the dollar store for each of them and glued a small piece of chalkboard paper to the top to countdown the days. I fill their boxes each day with a little treat, usually a piece of candy like a lollypop or a chocolate. My youngest reminds me everyday about the Advent boxes, and today as I was writing "4" on the top of each box, I was amazed at how close Christmas is and how quickly this time goes by.

Lately, I've been enamored with little edible liqueur or candy cups. I even found some peppermint candy cane cups this year. When I was making gingerbread cookies earlier this week, I thought I'd try turning some of the dough into cups for holding eggnog or Baileys. So instead of dipping your cookie in milk, you can pour some milk into your cookie!

Tip: You must make the bottom of the shot glass cookie thick so that the beverage doesn't seep out. Of course, the cookie will disintegrate the longer the drink sits in the cookie so it's best to serve the cookie from frozen and drink it soon after pouring.

Recipe

From Epicurious

Makes about 50

Ingredients for Gingerbread Cookie Cups6 cups (about) flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1½ teaspoons ground cloves
¾ teaspoon salt
11 tablespoons (1 stick plus 3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
1½ teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 large egg
¼ cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon soda

Whisk 5¼ cups flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a bowl.

Using a stand mixer, blend the butter and shortening. Add sugar, molasses, and lemon peel and beat until smooth. Beat in egg and buttermilk.

Blend 2 teaspoons water with soda. Beat into butter mixture. In two additions, beat in the flour mixture. Add more flour, ¼ cup at a time, until the dough feels slightly firm.

Divide the dough into three equal disks. Wrap them and chill until firm enough to roll at least 2 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Soften slightly before rolling out.)

Roll out one disk of dough at a time, between sheets of waxed.
Either cut the dough using boy and girl gingerbread cookie cutters (or another shape) or press the dough into a heat-resistant shot glass or silicon shot glasses. Chill the dough again before baking. (Cutout cookies can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, turning the pan halfway through the baking time.

If you made shot glasses, once the cookies have cooled, put them in the freezer. After they have frozen, remove them from the shot glasses. You may have to trim the bottom so that it sits level. Store them in the freezer until ready to fill with your beverage of choice.

Gingerbread Cookie CupsOther ideas for filling the cups:
Spiked White Chocolate Cappuccino
Holiday Irish Coffee Eggnog from Lori at RecipeGirl.com

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35 comments:

  1. Brilliant, I love the concept, they look amazing!

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  2. Really Shari, you are *amazing*...do you dream this stuff up all day long?? Amazing.

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  3. There are those great shot glass molds again! Another cute idea, too. :)

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  4. What a brilliant idea! And fun cookies for grown-ups too!

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  5. What a neat idea. And I love your Advent box idea as well. I'll have to keep that in mind for next year.

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  6. This sounds delicious! What if you coat the inside of the cups with melted chocolate? That should be enough of a moisture barrier.

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  7. That is SO awesome!!! I want to make those but no time already. I'm sure I can always invent an occasion next time just to make them. :)

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  8. What a fantastic idea!

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  9. WOW - what a creative and fun idea!

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  10. seriously, you are genius!! :) those are adorable.

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  11. That is quite creative Shari! Kiddie shot glasses! I need me one of those silicon molds, heh heh :) And of course, I am a firm lover of gingerbread :)

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  12. You have taken holiday decadence to a whole other level. I applaud you!

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  13. These look perfect to serve on Christmas morning. Too cute! :)

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  14. They are so cute ! I have some leftover gingerbread houses material I could use !!!

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  15. On taking decadence to a whole new level. . . and then I ate my cup! Brilliant!

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  16. i'll tell you what, shari--you're one of the most creative and innovative people i've ever (sort of) known! this is a terrific idea, and there are endless possibilities! :)

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  17. Shari, this is a brilliant idea! Nice work. I hope you and your family have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. Syrie

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  18. You are amazing! I love the cookies shot glasses. No worries about mine soaking through - Baileys is my favourite!

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  19. This is such a cool recipe! Would be perfect for a holiday party (heck any party) - I bet it would knock people's socks off.

    And thank you for linking to my pumpkin spice latte! I may have to take your suggestion make it a reality.

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  20. Dear Shari,
    Thank you for my elfster gift! I received my package in the mail yesterday and it made my day. I am very excited to read this book...it was on my list of books to check out in 2009! I am excited to check out your blog and see you every tuesday on TWD!
    Mary of www.popsiclesandsandyfeet.blogspot.com

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  21. Oh how I love these! Happy Holidays to you!

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  22. You are always full of wonderful ideas! And guess what .. my long awaited christmas gift is here! But I have yet to open it though .. cos its past midnight now ... so I will wait till tomorrow! Thanks Shari!

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  23. These are so great! Perfect for a fun party treat!

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  24. Wow! Such a unique and fun idea! I bet cappuccinos and spiced lattes go great in them. Reminds me of Willy Wonka when he drinks from the cup and then eats it :)

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  25. I'm in awe. How on earth do you come up with ideas like that!? :D

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  26. What a wonderful idea! It's fun for both the kids and the adults, I love it!

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  27. What a cool idea both the cookie cup and the advent boxes!

    Hope you had a lovely Christmas!
    Happy 2009!
    ~ingrid

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  28. wow, that is such a great idea!!! i love bailey's ;)

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  29. wow, i just came across this from your recent post. this is an awesome concept :)

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  30. I LOVE this idea! Absolutely inspired.

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  31. clever and delicious. and bonus--no sticky mugs to wash up! :)

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Thank you for visiting! I appreciate all your comments and love reading each and every one of them. I will answer your questions as best I can as soon as possible. I wish I could respond to everybody individually but my schedule just doesn't permit it right now. I will, however, do my best to visit your blog. Your comments are a big motivator to keep blogging so thanks for dropping by! {Please note that I don't allow Anonymous commenting due to spammers. As well, I won't publish a comment if it contains a link that doesn't go to a valid food blog, again due to spammers.}

Shari