Everyone has a favourite food, and dads are no exception.
I imagine they’re all a bit different in their likes and dislikes too, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that most of them have a bit of a sweet tooth and that crispy, homemade cookies would elicit a grin and maybe a hug from most dads who received them for Father’s Day.
Cookies are easy and fun to make, so, with just a little guidance from Mom, it’s a gift every youngster should be able to make themselves for their favourite Dad.
And, we all know that gifts made for someone you love contain that very special ingredient that can’t be matched by those bought at the store.
Refrigerator cookies can be made up ahead, ready to slice and bake as needed, so if your youngsters have a short attention span, perhaps you’d prefer to make the dough yourself and let them do the slicing and baking. For a bit more fun, these could be decorated with sugar sprinkles too.
There’s a yummy recipe for refrigerator cookies with lots of spice in them in my book, Jude’s Kitchen, but I’ve included a different recipe for lemony refrigerator cookies here.
e’s Kitchen for Father’s Day too. The recipes are mostly pretty straightforward and have all been tested and pronounced delicious by a dad.
It’s organized seasonally, with special recipes for special occasions like Father’s Day, as they come up through the year. That way, cooks can be inspired by what’s available fresh and locally, either in your garden or at the farmer’s market.
Jude’s Kitchen is available wherever books are sold and includes wine pairing notes by renowned wine writer John Schreiner.
With refrigerator cookies instead of making the regular sized cookie, you can also form them into more, smaller rolls and make one-bite, coin-sized wafers too, which are different and fun.
Em’s Cookies are a drop-style cookie which can be made up as soon as you’ve mixed the dough, which is a distinct advantage for last-minute decisions, when the wait for the dough to firm up in the fridge would be a nuisance instead of an advantage.
I remember making cookies for my Dad for Father’s Day because he loved something sweet, especially if it had chocolate in it.
Some traditions are too yummy not to pass on.
Mom’s Lemon Roll Cookies
These are made into a roll, refrigerated and then sliced once the roll is nice and firm, about an hour. The dough can be made a day or so ahead of time, then the cookies can be baked fresh on Dad’s Day.
1 c. (250 ml) butter
1/2 c. (125 ml) brown sugar
1/2 c. (125 ml) white sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp. (15 ml) minced lemon zest
2 tbsp. (30 ml) lemon juice
2 c. (500 ml) flour
1/2 tsp. (2 ml) baking soda
1/4 tsp. (1 ml) salt
Remove butter from fridge to soften.
Zest lemon and mince.
Cream butter and sugars, then add egg, lemon zest and juice and beat until fluffy.
Combine dry ingredients well and stir into the creamed mixture.
Cover and chill for an hour, then shape into two rolls about a foot long.
Wrap each in waxed paper and chill in the refrigerator for another hour or so, until nice and firm.
Pre-heat oven to 400 F.
Slice quarter-inch thick cookies and bake for eight to 10 minutes.
Makes about five dozen.
Em’s Cookies
Em’s not a precise cook and everything goes into these but the kitchen sink, yet her dad has always loved them. Probably your dad will too.
1/2 c. (125 ml) butter
1/2 c. (125 ml) white sugar
1/2 c. (125 ml) brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. (2 ml) vanilla
1/2 c. (125 ml) flour
1/2 c. (125 ml) whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. (2 ml) baking soda
1/2 tsp. (2 ml) baking powder
1/2 tsp. (2 ml) salt
1 c. (250 ml) rolled oats
1/2 c. (125 ml) oat cereal rings
1/2 c. (125 ml) wheat squares cereal
1/2 c. (125 ml) crisp rice cereal
1/2 c. (125 ml) chocolate chips
1/2 c. (125 ml) peanut butter
Pre-heat oven to 375 F.
Cream butter with sugars, egg and vanilla.
Stir in rest of ingredients. You may substitute or eliminate some of the cereals and grains. They do add a little nutrition, flavour and crunch to the cookies.
Drop dough by spoonful, two inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake 10 minutes or until brown.
