To help our members become the best cookie bakers, Naperville Garden Club holds annual cookie contests at the Cup of Cheer™ House Walk, Holiday Market, and Tea. As this issue went to print (I begged the editor to “please wait!”), unfortunately the deadline was before this year’s event (November 30th and December 1st), so this Issues were printed as usual.
Each member bakes seven dozen cookies and serves an assortment of approximately 80 different cookies, totaling more than 6,000 cookies that make up the tea cookie tray. A committee made up of Naperville Garden Club members selects the top 10 cookies based on suitability of size (so the trays look “proportionate”), presentation, and originality.
The Illinois Garden Club state president then chooses the top three cookies. And now, we proudly present Naperville Garden Club’s 2022 First Place Cookies baked by Rita Zola.
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cranberry orange cookie
Cookie dough:
- 3/4 cup soft butter, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon orange zest, 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 cup chopped pecans
glaze: 1 teaspoon orange zest, 3 tablespoons orange juice, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350°. Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, zest, and orange juice. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in cranberries and pecans. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Once cool, mix the glaze ingredients and pour over the cookies.
Makes approximately 36 cookies.
enjoy!