Why I Love Rural Life and a Snickerdoodle Failure

How in the world can I have a blog post with both an uplifting subject matter and a pessimistic one? Well, carry on and read through, and ye shall find out!

Let's start with a beautiful photo that says quite clearly, without any words, why I love the country.  Well, at least ONE reason.  Can you just "hear" the quiet in this early morning sunrise scene?


Daily scenes such as this, right outside my back door, often get me motivated for the day ahead.  And so, today I decided to try a variation on my Snickerdoodle cookie recipe.

My March/April issue of Grit magazine had arrived last week, and lo and behold, they had an article on "Old-Fashioned Cookies for the 21st Century".  They had created healthier versions of traditional cookie recipes, and along with chocolate chip, gingersnaps, peanut butter and oatmeal raisin, they had included the good ole snickerdoodle.  

The differences between their snickerdoodle cookie recipe and the traditional recipe I posted a few weeks back were...  no shortening just butter, wholewheat flour in place of white flour, no cream of tartar, brown sugar in place of white sugar, and they also added flaxseed.  So obviously, it's a healthier cookie for you, right?

Here's how mine turned out...  try not to laugh out loud, or blow whatever you're drinking out your nose...

Hmm... flatter than a cow patty!

Sooooo, my mistake lies in omitting the flaxseed, since I didn't have any in the pantry.  (Seriously, does anyone keep flaxseed in the pantry?!)  BUT in its absence, I should have bumped up my wholewheat flour.  Which.I.Did.Not.Do.  Can I say "duh"??!

Guess what though?  They are actually GOOD, very chewy and delicious.  Just. Flat.

The next time I make them, I will be sure to substitute more wholewheat flour for the missing flaxseed.

If you'd like to try Grit magazine's recipe, I've included it below.

Healthy{ier} Snickerdoodles
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup wholewheat flour
1/4 cup flaxseed (or substitute with wholewheat flour)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Heat oven to 375.  Mix together brown sugar, softened butter and egg.  Add wholewheat flour, flaxseed, baking powder and baking soda, and salt (I sifted these ingredients together prior to adding to butter mixture).

Shape into 1-inch balls; mix in plastic bag with sugar/cinnamon mixture.  Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until set.

Makes about 2 dozen (recipe can be doubled).

17 comments:

  1. Are snickerdoodles supposed to be healthy?

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  2. For me, I would rather eat less of the unhealthy cookies. :)

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  3. oh my those...um, look healthy? :)

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  4. I have flax seed in my pantry! Am I weird?? LOL
    I use it in my granola cereal and used to grind it and feed Gilly, but now I use Omega Horse Shine to get him all shinny and dappled in the spring.
    The cookies do look funny being flat but I bet they are good; they look crunchy! I LOVE snicker doodles!!! Now you are making me hungry for them!!!

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  5. I just do not believe anything could cause a bad day when waking up to such a gorgeous sight every morning. So very pretty. Flat snicker doodles or not, you are certainly blessed.

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  6. lol..I think I will stick with the original recipe and like Michele said...eat one less...

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  7. you have a new cookie "Cow Patties"...LOL

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  8. Susan, you are just too funny. You made me laugh out loud. I love your blogs. Keep them coming. Have a wonderful day.

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  9. I also have flax seeds in my kitchen. They add a really neat texture to baked goods, although I think the best health benefits come from eating them raw.

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  10. I have a name for your cookies (lol). Snickerdoodle Snaps. BTW-I do not have flaxseed in my pantry nor do I really know what it is. There is nothing in my pantry that is healthy (head hung in shame).

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  11. I could almost hear the birdies singin' their morning song in that first picture. Totally peaceful and a wonderful start to the day.

    I like trying healthier versions and I'm going to print this recipe out to try sometime. (Hubby is not a fan of un-healthy snickerdoodles so it's anybody's guess as to what he will think of these.) I have to admit, I am a flaxseed owner but that's because my one dog cookie recipe calls for it.

    Although your cookies may be flatter than normal, they still have the awesome power to make me hungry for one. Or two, or.......

    Great to see life is still good in Oz Land!
    Chester's Mom

    Pee Ess - Chester sends his regards to Rowdy Ringo!

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  12. Aww, they're little snickerdoodle pancakes. The taste is the important part anyway!

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  13. I also have Flaxseed in the cupboard, never used it mind!

    LMAO I thought they were pancakes at first glance!

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  14. LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture!! You are so right about these prairie lands!!

    BAHAHAHAH LOL!! They look like my gingerbread cookies! Well I know they had to be good anyhow if you made them!

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  15. They actually look very good. Snickerdoodles are my fav!

    Susan at Charm of the Carolines

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  16. not having the faintest idea what a snickerdoodle is - they look perfect to me :)

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  17. I threw out a whole bag of flaxseed yesterday. Why was it in my pantry?

    Love the cow patty surprise! That will come in handy for some upcoming parties this spring. I'm thinking either Mule Day or Steeplechase!

    Susan

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