I love really simple desserts – especially when we’re entertaining… or is it that I always make really simple desserts when we’re entertaining because I run out of time? One of my favorite easy desserts to serve is ice cream and cookies. I make the dough ahead of time, put them in balls on baking sheets and then put them in the oven just as we’re finishing dinner. I serve the warm cookies with cold ice cream and everyone goes crazy. In the fall, I make ginger cookies and serve them with caramel ice cream, during the holidays I make chocolate cookies paired with butter pecan… endless options.
When we lived in Concord, we spent most of our summer nights at a local creamery that made the best peach ice cream. Nothing that I have found is even close. So, any time I walk in the grocery store and smell fresh peaches, I make my own non-homemade homemade peach ice cream. I put our favorite (Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla) ice cream in the food processor with some peach slices (skin and all) and give it a whirl. If we’re not going to eat it right away, I put it back in the freezer to harden.
Mini Snickerdoodles
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or regular vanilla)
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
…..
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Cream together butter, shortening and sugar. Add eggs one at a time until combined. Add vanilla. Add flower, salt and baking powder, stirring until just combined. Chill mixture for 15-30 minutes. Roll in very small 3/4-inch balls. Roll them in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 5-6 minutes at 350 degrees. Should be taken out of the oven just before cooked through so they stay soft.
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