In order to inspire our members to be the best cookie bakers we can be, the Naperville Garden Club has a cookie contest every year at our Cup of Cheer™ House Walk, Holiday Market and Tea. As this issue goes to press (I begged my editor to “Hold the Presses!”), unfortunately my deadline was before this year’s event (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1) and this issue went to print as usual.
Each member bakes 7 dozen cookies, providing an assortment of about 80 different cookies, totaling over 6,000 cookies to make up cookie trays for the tea. A committee of Naperville Garden Club members selects the top ten cookies based on conformance to size (so the trays look “balanced”), presentation and originality.
The State President of the Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc., then chooses the top three cookies. And now, I proudly present the Naperville Garden Club’s First Place Cookie 2022, baked by Rita Zola.
Cranberry Orange Cookies
Cookie Dough:
- ¾ cup soft butter, ½ cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon orange zest, 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 ½ cups flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dried cranberries, ½ cup chopped pecans
Glaze: 1 teaspoon orange zest, 3 tablespoons orange juice, 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugars. Add egg, zest and orange juice. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in cranberries and pecans. Drop by teaspoons full onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. When cool, mix glaze ingredients and drizzle onto cookies.
Makes about 36 cookies.
Enjoy!
