Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Cookies celebrate the 1 year blogiversary of The Monday Box. I published the first Monday Box post on May 10, 2012, though I didn’t get my blogging act together and start posting weekly until October 2012. I am painfully aware of how much more I want to learn about baking, blogging, and food photography, but I am so excited about how much I have learned this year.
There are many approaches to learning. I learn from doing. Take the photos outside with the flash turned off and the macro setting turned on. When you don’t, the overall yellow tinge of your photographs is not at all appetizing. I learn from mistakes both small and epic. Make sure the mixing bowl full of ingredients is well seated in the mixing stand before turning on the mixer. When you don’t, a putty knife works well to get chocolate off the ceiling. I learn from googling all of my novice questions. How do you insert a page break? To be honest I googled, “How do you insert a continue reading?” I didn’t know it was called a page break. I have learned the most, however, from other bloggers.
The friendliness, helpfulness, and caring of other bloggers never fails to amaze me. Bloggers actually spend time and effort to write posts teaching others how to blog better. Well established and successful bloggers still visit the sites of newbies and leave comments. They are profuse in their compliments and encouragement. I am grateful.
The focus of The Monday Box is specifically recipes for care packages. (Of course, I want the recipes to appeal to those who are not sending care packages as well.) Many baked goods can’t be stored for longer periods of time without becoming dental hazards.
My biggest care package learning curve was for military care packages. When I started the Monday Box I had the general idea that it might be a resource for military families but I had more questions than answers about care packages for deployed military. I am still searching and learning, but thanks to the generous sharing spirits of Gina and Suzie, I have a better understanding.
A heart felt thank you to all of my readers for stopping by from all over the world. People from 83 countries have viewed Monday Box pages! I am continually amazed that in the vastness of the internet, I have a tiny corner that readers choose to visit. I appreciate each and every visitor and hope you find something delicious here.
Despite the millions of recipes available online, cookbook addicts still exist. I appear to be one of them. I attended the Greater St. Louis Book Fair recently, solely for the purpose of checking out the used cookbook section. There were thousands of used cookbooks, most for one dollar! I came away with a pile of books. Not surprisingly, the majority have the word “cookie” in the title. I have begun baking my way through them, starting with (for no particular reason other than it was on top of the pile) The Joy of Cookies by Sharon Tyler Herbst. I was particularly excited that this cookbook includes storage time information and that most of the recipes are for cookies that can be stored for 1 week or longer, a Monday Box treasure trove.
I adapted these Cinnamon-Sugar Twists from a Joy of Cookies recipe for Greek Easter Cookies (Koulourakia). They are a firm cookie that is only mildly sweet but full of buttery flavor. Traditionally enjoyed with coffee, I found Cinnamon-Sugar Twists to be the perfect munch-by-the-dozen type of cookie all on their own. The flavors are even better several days after baking. The original recipe calls for sprinkling the cookies with sesame seeds. I added the cinnamon inside and the cinnamon-sugar outside. There is a very delicate orange taste from the orange juice. If you are looking for a more pronounced orange flavor, add 1 teaspoon of orange zest.
Though Cinnamon-Sugar Twists are very cute twisted cookies, I realize that they don’t make a major color splash in a care package. I wrapped my Cinnamon-Sugar Twists in plastic wrap and then packaged them in colorful plastic party bags tied with ribbons. Color splash issue resolved.
Cinnamon-Sugar Twists can be baked with excellent results using desert-safe ingredients. Please note the desert-safe adaptations at the bottom of the recipe. The adaptations include substituting vegetable shortening for the butter and water for the orange juice.
You can read more about desert safe ingredients and find an index of all of the desert safe recipes on The Monday Box by clicking here.
Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup butter** room temperature
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons orange juice**
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Glaze: 1 egg yolk mixed 1 tablespoon milk or water
- Cinnamon-Sugar: 4 tablespoon sugar I used turbanado for large crystals and brown color,
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and live a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
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In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
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Lower mixer speed and add egg, orange juice, and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly between additions.
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Slowly add dry ingredients until combined.
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Using small scoop ( 1 tablespoon size) or tablespoon, scoop dough and place balls on a plate. Refrigerate about 10-15 minutes until easy to handle.
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To form cookie: Mush a ball a few times in your hand to make dough smooth, then roll out on counter to look like a 6” long pencil. (Channel your playdough snake making days.) Gently fold dough snake into an upside down “u”. Working from the right side each time, twist the right dough over the left three times, pressing the ends together after the final twist.
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Gently move formed twists onto prepared baking sheet, placing 1” apart.
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Mix together egg and milk/water glaze. Brush onto cookies.
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Mix together cinnamon-sugar and sprinkle over egg glaze.
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Bake for 11-13 minutes until cookie (not just glaze) is golden brown. Cool on wire racks.
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When completely cool, store at room temperature in airtight container or ziplock bag for 2-3 weeks.
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**Desert-safe adaptations: Use vegetable shortening instead of butter. Substitute water for orange juice. If you want orange flavor, instead of the 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, use ½ teaspoon orange flavoring (essence) and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract.
Packing Tips
With bottoms together, wrap pairs of cookies in double plastic wrap then place in airtight containers or ziplock bags for mailing. For decorative purposes only, colorful party bags tightly closed with ribbon or twist ties can be used.
Find more cinnamon-sugar deliciousness right here! Click on the photo for the recipe!
Aww…thank you for the mention, I will help anytime 🙂 Your photography is impressive. I have florescent lights in my kitchen which are horrible for pictures, thankfully photoshop can change my lighting though. Photoshop is pretty amazing really. The cookies sound great and they are so fun looking. I love how you colored them up with a baggy. Have a great weekend and Mother’s day!
Happy Mother’s Day, Suzie! I also use photo editing software (something that came with my Canon) and I agree it is a life saver. I take photos outside on a porch. Sometimes the sun cooperates and sometimes it doesn’t! Also, its kind of goofy out there in the snow during the winter. 🙂 I do appreciate your help with military care packages. It is very new to me but I am trying to include as many desert safe recipes as possible now that it is getting to be summer. These cookies are especially good with a cup of tea, hot or cold, I think. 🙂
These look delicious 🙂 What a great idea. Happy 1 year! 😀
Thanks, Miss Messy!
Beautiful cookies and congrats on your blogiversary!! My husband was in the Navy for 9 1/2 years, so I’ve put together a care package or two 😉
Thanks, Jennifer! You are certainly a care package pro! Any recipes or pointers you would be willing to share would be much appreciated!
Congrats on the 1-year mark! I never remember to do anything really creative with my cookies, so these are especially impressive!
Thanks, Loretta! I get excited about every baby step forward with the blog. 🙂 These cookies are really fast and easy. I love it when a cookie looks impressive but really requires very little effort! 🙂
Happy 1-year anniversary to your blog!! I love reading what you have to say and the premise of your blog is a great one. You are so right about all the learning involved in having a blog and how kind people are in general.
These cookies look delicious and I like really your spin on them! : )
Thanks, Monica! It’s all about enjoying the journey, right? 🙂 My favorite part of blogging is the people!
I thought of you when I saw this book: http://www.thekitchn.com/the-flying-brownie-by-shirley-fan-new-cookbook-189267
: )
OMG, Monica! Thank you!!! The good news is that it sounds like a fantastic resource…..I am going to check it out immediately. The bad news is that someone has already written my book. 🙂 Well, I knew it was a good idea. I really appreciate your pointing this book out to me and to my care package readers!
Happy 1 year blogiversary! These cookies look amazing – definitely worthy of celebrating this big milestone. I hear what you’re saying and can totally relate. I’ve learned a ton since I started blogging last June but there’s still so much I don’t know. And I totally google weird random stuff all the time – thank goodness for the internet and the kindness of fellow bloggers. I look forward to following you for many years to come!
Thank you, Nancy! Your comment is the perfect example of the kind and encouraging nature of food bloggers! 🙂
Congratulations!!! That’s so exciting, I can’t wait for my one year anniversary!
Thanks, Julianne! This has been and continues to be fun! 🙂
Happy blog anniversary! Doesn’t it feel great to get to that milestone? That’s truly an accomplishment, and you picked a fantastic cookie to celebrate with: i LOVE these. Me and the Greek desserts go way back in terms of adoration, and i really love what you did with them.
Thank,Shannon! Going from a knowledge base of zero and growing and learning from there for a full year is something I am proud of. 🙂 Hopefully, the blog improved and will continue to improve over time! Due to my tree nut allergies, many Greek desserts have been off limits to me. Last year my son made me baklavah with peanuts so that I could taste a version of baklavah for the first time! 🙂 My very favorite is galaktoboureko with its custard-like filling. Every culture seems to have a long lasting butter cookie, great with tea/coffee/milk, and great for care packages. I’m on an international quest. 🙂
those look and sound delicious!!
Thanks, Carrian! They aren’t over the top sweet and make a great coffee/tea cookie.
I love the look of these cookies! My snickerdoodle loving crew would love them. Happy anniversary to your blog 🙂
Thanks, Liz! I hope you’ll give these a try. The consistency is very different than a snickerdoodle and there isn’t the cream of tarter kind of sour of a snickerdoodle, but there is definitely the cinnamon-sugar taste. Plus, they are cute. 🙂
Happy 1 year!! I love that you’ve gotten cookie dough on your ceiling : ) At least I’m not the only one who is insanely messy when baking or cooking! And then when I’m trying to be better, I end up making an even bigger mess lol. Go figure
Thanks, Ashley! I never make little messes, only big ones 🙂 The batter on the ceiling disaster was like something out of The Three Stooges, only I was alone in the kitchen! I hope I am learning from my mistakes….at least sometimes. 🙂
Congratulations on your blogiversary!!! Those are some pretty cookies..I love the fun twist!!!
Thanks, Jocelyn! I am thinking that lots of different flavors of dough can be twisted just for fun! (plus its a great dipping shape) 🙂
Happy 1 year of blogging! Your cookies look and sound totally yummy!
Thanks, Rosie! One year = a lot of cookies. 🙂
Congratulations on 1 year! May you have many more! You’ve learned in one year what took me many. . .I really thought you had been blogging longer. The cookies are so pretty! And you know I’m a big fan of all things cinnamon.
Thank you so much, Reeni! The blog is a work in progress. 🙂 I am enjoying the journey! These cookies surprised me in many ways. They were so easy yet looked so pretty. Plus, I really enjoy a more simple, less over the top sweet cookie with a cup of tea or coffee.:)
I can’t believe I missed your anniversary! I am so sorry. Life sometimes interferes with blogging.
Please accept my belated Congrats!! The shots look great and I love the warmth of the stories that are part of your blog “recipe.” You’re doing great!! Thanks also for the mention. We’re all in this together 🙂
Thanks, Gina, for the very kind words and encouragement! It’s been a wonderful beginning to a blogging adventure. There is always so much more to learn.:)
Hi. My late aunt, Lucy Rubin, was pretty much family famous for these cookies.. I lost the recipe, now I have found it. Thank you❤️ I love these cookies.. when I was a kid I remember thinking I was eating a grown ups cookie. they are not a sweet kid cookie.. they are almost like a biscotti but only once baked.. perfect to give, yes! Love your blog concept. All the very best to you.. food gifts rock!!! I have to remind my daughter about this recipe.. she is foodnerdextreme on Instagram…. flour will be flying in my kitchen soon. Thanks again.
Hi, Barb! I hope that these cookies will live up to your cherished cookie memories! Your description certainly sounds like this recipe. Thank you for sharing about your late aunt Lucy and her famous cookies! I will be sure to check out you daughter on Instagram. 🙂 I totally agree, food gifts rock! 🙂