cookie monsters!

as you know, we are fond of cookies around here. i'm also fond of keeping things as healthy as i can. (is it wrong that my son only had 2 pieces of halloween candy, even though he's got a bucket-full?)

recently, i found this recipe (below) for Lemony Sugar Cookie Monsters on the Whole Foods website. i love that it is fun and playful while using natural ingredients. i cut down the sugar a bit and used orange rather than lemon. my munchkins aren't big fans of lemony things.

we had the best time making little "orange pumpkin monster cookies!" and it was something both little sister and big brother could do together. which is always a bonus!

LEMONY SUGAR COOKIE MONSTERS

Ingredients

2½ cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon fine salt 3/4 cup (1½ sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar (we used 1/2 cup) 2 eggs 1 tablespoon lemon juice (we used orange) 2 teaspoons lemon zest (we used orange) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 10 drops natural orange (or a combination of red and yellow) food coloring (optional) Dried fruit and nuts for decorating

Method

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; set aside. In a second large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 30 seconds, then beat in 1 egg. Add lemon juice, zest and vanilla and beat again until smooth, about 30 seconds more. Add flour mixture and beat to combine. Add food coloring (if using) and beat again, or knead by hand, just until color is evenly distributed. Shape dough into two logs then wrap each snugly in parchment paper, twisting the ends in opposite directions like a piece of candy to tighten each roll and make it uniformly round and about 6 inches long. Chill for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk remaining egg and 1 tablespoon water together in a small bowl to make an egg wash; set aside. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut dough crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and transfer to prepared baking sheets, arranging cookies about 1 inch apart. Working with a few cookies at a time, brush tops with egg wash then decorate with dried fruit and nuts to make monster faces on each. Bake until light golden brown about the edges, 12 to 13 minutes. Set aside to let cookies cool completely then serve.