Spiced "Cupboard" Cookies

Happy Friday and happy first day of winter! After a full week of gray skies and rain here in Michigan, I was beginning to think that we weren't going to have any Christmas snow this year... but today we've had a dumping of snow and we may have that white Christmas after all. Hooray!

Today's delicious cookie post comes from my dear friend Kate of the wonderful blog Diapers and Skinny Jeans. Kate was one of the my first "blog friends" and it goes without saying, her blog has always been a favorite of mine. Her writing style is genuine and full of so much love. Not to mention she is an incredible photographer (as you can obviously see in her guest post below) and such an inspiration as a mama. If you don't already read DASJ, I highly recommend adding it to your reader!

When I was growing up, my mom had always packed up me and my sisters and we would drive to my Aunt's house to make rolled sugar cookies. Complete with cookie cutter reindeer with cinnamon red-hot noses, I just haven't been able to duplicate that recipe ever since - even after getting it from my mom. I decided to not try and ruin a good thing, and instead chose a new recipe that was a little less traditional. I've been craving something warm, hearty and full of spice, so Sofia and I got our hands sticky creating a new christmas cookie tradition with a little bit of everything from our cupboard.

Spiced Cupboard Cookies with Cinnamon Glaze

• 1/2 c softened butter 
• 1 room temperature large brown egg 
• 1 c raw turbinado cane sugar 
• 1 c light brown sugar 
• 2 large tablespoons vanilla extract - (you can always use more) 
• 1 1/2 c flour 
• 2 tsp baking powder 
• 2 tsp baking soda 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg 
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger 
• 1/2 c mini chocolate chips 
• 1/2 c old fashioned oats 
• 1/4 c sweetened coconut flakes

Cinnamon Glaze

• 1/2 c powdered sugar 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 2 tsp cinnamon 3-4 tablespoons of milk until glaze has thickened enough to drizzle 

Preheat oven to 350º. Begin by creaming together your softened butter, two sugars, egg and vanilla. Mix with a electric beater for around 2-3 minutes until well combined.

Add your flour about a 1/2 c at a time until dough begins to thicken. Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Once flour and spices are well combined, add your fixings: chocolate chips, oats, and coconut.

Chill dough for an hour if you want a bit of an easier time rolling it out - in all honesty, I skipped this step but will definitely try that next time. Roll dough between a piece of parchment or wax paper into a log, then cut around 1/2 inch thick pieces and place on a lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 16-18 minutes (for big cookies) or 8-10 minutes (for smaller cookies) just until you get a golden and crispy color on the edges. These will harden when cooled, so aim for the slightly undercooked side so they'll still remain chewy and gooey - all that is great for cookieness.

Once cookies have cooled, drizzle with cinnamon glaze if desired. Enjoy!

I wasn't sure how this recipe was going to turn out, but considering I'm sitting down writing this story with a plate of extra cookies to myself and a giant cup of milk-- I am pleasantly surprised at how delicious and chewy these really are! Success! :)

How beautiful are these cookies (and photos)?! Thanks so much for sharing, Kate!
See more 12 Days of Christmas Cookies.