We’re revisiting a popular (and award winning) program at AVRL: The 12 Days of Cookies! From 2011 to 2017, AVRL staff baked and shared cookies with library visitors across the Annapolis Valley for 12 delicious days over the holiday season. Each recipe was a family favourite or a recipe from a cookbook found in the AVRL catalogue. While we are not able to share cookies the same way this year, we can still share the classic recipes for you to try at home!

Today’s ‘beary’ tasty treats were made by  Community Engagement Coordinator, Angela Reynolds

From: Bear’s Winter Party by Deborah Hodge, pictures by Lisa Cinar

Originally posted Monday, 12 December 2016

I love finding a recipe in a picture book! Here’s a story of a lonely bear who invites the forest animals for a party. He bakes cookies for them, but then thinks they won’t show up because they are afraid of him. But of course, they do show up, and they eat cookies together. There’s another great cookie book out this year, The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat, but it does not have a recipe in it. However, it is a great book to help teach fractions, so borrow both of these books, make some cookies, invite some friends over, and do some math.  You might as well add in The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins for the perfect cookie day.

And now, Bear’s Cookies:

In a mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together:

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Beat into the creamed mixture:

• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 1/2 tsp. vinegar

In another bowl, stir together:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt

Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, beating in as much as you can with the mixer, then stir until it is well combined. With your hands, form the dough into a ball.

Roll the dough 1/4 in thick on a lightly floured surface. Use your cookie cutters to make cutouts, then place them about 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheets.

If you like, decorate the cookies with candies, sprinkles, raisins, or chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until cookies are firm around the edges.

NOTES: I found the dough to be a little sticky, and had to use a heavily floured surface and re-flour the rolling pin several times. These are not very sweet; they are a good afternoon cookie with a cup of tea. I also found them to be less gingery than I prefer so would add a bit more ginger to the recipe, or perhaps some fresh grated ginger.