Refrigerator {Icebox} Cookies

The convenience of refrigerated cookie dough is hardly modern. Our great-grandmothers knew this with their recipes for icebox cookies, as they once were called. These mostly humble treats got a boost in the 1930s when electric refrigerators became more affordable. Manufacturers trying to drum up business created recipes that required refrigeration, and icebox cookies were rechristened as refrigerator cookies. Once cookies became even more convenient – already baked and packaged in a box – the appearance of cookie dough in the dairy case seemed positively homespun. Making your own gives you greater control over ingredients, and can be a lot more fun, depending on what additional ingredients you want to stir in. How about chopped dried cherries, figs or apricots? Roll the tube of dough in chopped nuts, candy sprinkles or sparkling sugar. Blend in flavors such as cocoa, coconut, flavored chips, even potato chips – whatever strikes your fancy. Even better, a tube of refrigerator cookies lets you bake as many or as few cookies as you desire. Treat your kids to a half-dozen warm cookies for a quick snack. Best of all, involve them in the mixing so they can create their own personal tube of dough, waiting in the refrigerator. Great-Grandma would be proud.

Chocolate Chip Refrigerator Cookies

3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), room temperature
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini-semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, if desired

Beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed and add flour, baking soda and salt, mixing well. Stir in chips and nuts, if using. Divide dough in half and shape each piece into a log about 2 inches wide. Wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, or place in freezer.
To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap log and use a sharp knife to cut into 1/4-inch slices for crisp cookies. For a slightly softer cookie, cut 1-inch slices, then cut each slice into three wedges. (If using a frozen log, let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before slicing.) Place wedges or slices 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden around the edges. Gently transfer to wire rack to cool. Makes 4 dozen cookies

Pinwheel Refrigerator Cookies

1 1/4 cup unsalted butter (2 1/2 sticks), at room temperature
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

Beat butter, sugar and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed and add flour and salt, mixing until a dough forms. (You may need to use your hands to shape it into a ball.)
Remove dough from bowl and divide in half; return half to mixing bowl. On low speed, beat in cocoa powder until evenly mixed.
Divide each flavor of dough in half. On a floured surface, roll plain dough into a rectangle about 8-by-10 inches. Shape the edges to make all sides straight. Repeat with the chocolate dough, then place it on top of plain dough and roll up tightly. (You may need to run a knife or metal spatula under the dough to loosen it from the counter.)
Repeat with remaining dough. (Make a simple bulls-eye cookie by dividing and rolling the chocolate dough into two cylinders 8 inches long, then dividing and rolling the vanilla dough into two rectangles 8 inches long and about 3 inches wide. Place the chocolate tubes on the vanilla dough and wrap, pressing the seam to seal.)
Wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, or place in freezer.
To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap log and use a sharp knife to cut into 1/4-inch slices. (If using a frozen log, let sit at room temperature 15 minutes before slicing.) Place slices 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden around the edges. Gently transfer to wire rack to cool. Makes 4 dozen cookies.

Refrigerator Shortbread Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
Mix-ins (see below)

Beat butter, sugar, vanilla and salt on medium speed with electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Reduce mixer to low speed and beat in flour, mixing until a dough forms. If desired, stir in any mix-ins (see below).
Divide the dough in half. Working on a lightly floured surface, gently roll each piece of dough into a log about 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide. (You may need to flour your hands a bit.) If desired, roll each log in a decorative coating such as finely chopped nuts, candy sprinkles, coconut, etc., pressing in gently. You’ll need 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of coating to cover both logs.
Wrap logs tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, or place in freezer. Refrigerate up to four days or freeze up to 3 months.
To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap log and use a sharp knife to cut 1/4-inch slices. (If using a frozen log, let sit at room temperature 15 minutes before slicing.)
Place slices 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden around the edges. Gently transfer to wire rack to cool.

Mix-in options: 1/3 cup chopped dried cherries or other dried fruit; grated zest of 2 lemons or limes; 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, peanuts or pecans; 1/2 cup mini-butterscotch or other flavored chips.

Yield: 3 dozen cookies.

Source: Charlotte Observer