Hello, Good News! Welcome to our blog, where we share with you the best recipes, tips, and tricks for baking and cooking. Today, we are going to show you how to make ap cookies, a delicious old Pennsylvania Dutch recipe that has been passed down for generations. Ap cookies are also known as apees, epis, or epees, and they are lightly crisp and buttery cookies that are perfect for any occasion.
Ap cookies are named after Ann Page, a woman who made such delicious cookies that she carved her initials into them, like a sculptor signing her work. The recipe is simple and easy to follow, and you only need a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Ap cookies are great for snacking, gifting, or serving with tea or coffee. They are also very versatile and can be decorated with sprinkles, frosting, or glaze if you like. Let’s get started!
What You Need to Make Ap Cookies
Ingredients
To make ap cookies, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups of unsalted butter, softened
- 2 1/3 cups of white sugar
- 5 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon of milk
- 6 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour (more if needed)
- 5 teaspoons of baking powder
Equipment
To make ap cookies, you will need the following equipment:
- A large mixing bowl
- An electric mixer or a wooden spoon
- A medium bowl
- A sifter or a whisk
- A plastic wrap
- A rolling pin
- A cookie cutter or a glass
- A cookie sheet
- An oven
- A cooling rack
How to Make Ap Cookies: Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer or a wooden spoon until the mixture is light and fluffy. This will take about 10 minutes. Creaming the butter and sugar will help the cookies rise and have a tender texture.
Step 2: Add the Eggs, Vanilla, and Milk
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract and the milk and mix well. The eggs will provide moisture and structure to the cookies, while the vanilla will add flavor and aroma. The milk will help the dough come together.
Step 3: Sift the Flour and Baking Powder
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder with a sifter or a whisk. Sifting the flour and baking powder will remove any lumps and incorporate air into the dry ingredients, which will make the cookies lighter and more even.
Step 4: Gradually Add the Dry Ingredients to the Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well after each addition. You may need to add up to another 3/4 cup of flour to make a dough stiff enough to roll out. The dough should be smooth and not sticky. If it is too sticky, add more flour. If it is too dry, add more milk.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 6-8 hours. Chilling the dough will make it easier to roll out and cut into shapes. It will also prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
Step 6: Preheat the Oven and Grease the Cookie Sheet
Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and lightly grease a cookie sheet with butter or cooking spray. You can also line the cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy cleanup.
Step 7: Roll Out the Dough and Cut Out Shapes
Roll out a portion of chilled dough on a lightly floured surface very thin, about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter or a glass dipped in flour. You can use any shape you like, such as circles, stars, hearts, or letters. Place the cookies on the prepared cookie sheet about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.
Step 8: Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Do not overbake the cookies or they will become too hard and dry. The cookies will continue to cook on the cookie sheet after you take them out of the oven.
Step 9: Cool the Cookies
Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. The cookies will become crispier as they cool. Enjoy your ap cookies as they are or decorate them with sprinkles, frosting, or glaze if you wish.
Ap Cookies Nutrition Facts and Calories
Ap cookies are delicious and easy to make, but they are also high in calories, fat, and sugar. Therefore, you should enjoy them in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. Here is a table that shows the nutrition facts and calories of one ap cookie (assuming you make 60 cookies from the recipe):
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 122 | 6% |
| Fat | 5.6 g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 3.4 g | 17% |
| Cholesterol | 31 mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 16 mg | 1% |
| Carbohydrate | 16.7 g | 6% |
| Fiber | 0.3 g | 1% |
| Sugar | 8.5 g | N/A |
| Protein | 1.8 g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 4% | N/A |
| Vitamin C | 0% | N/A |
| Calcium | 2% | N/A |
| Iron | 3% | N/A |
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Ap Cookies
Ap cookies are a type of cookie that originated from the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. They are also known as apees, epis, or epees. They are lightly crisp and buttery cookies that are usually cut into circles or other shapes and sometimes decorated with sprinkles, frosting, or glaze.
Ap cookies are named after Ann Page, a woman who lived in the 18th century and made such delicious cookies that she carved her initials into them, like a sculptor signing her work. She was also known as the “Cookie Lady” and sold her cookies at fairs and markets.
Ap cookies are pronounced as “ape-ees” or “ep-ees”. The name comes from the initials of Ann Page, which are A.P.
Ap cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. To thaw them, let them sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.
Ap cookies can be decorated with sprinkles, frosting, or glaze if you like. You can also use food coloring to make different colors of dough or frosting. You can use a piping bag, a knife, or a spoon to apply the frosting or glaze. You can also use cookie stamps, molds, or embossing tools to create patterns or designs on the cookies.
Ap cookies are very versatile and can be adapted to different tastes and preferences. You can add different flavors, such as lemon, almond, or cinnamon, to the dough or the frosting. You can also add nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruits, or coconut to the dough for extra texture and flavor. You can also make different shapes and sizes of cookies, such as mini ap cookies, heart-shaped ap cookies, or letter-shaped ap cookies.
No, ap cookies are not vegan because they contain butter, eggs, and milk. However, you can make vegan ap cookies by substituting these ingredients with vegan alternatives, such as vegan butter, flax eggs, and plant-based milk.
No, ap cookies are not gluten-free because they contain all-purpose flour. However, you can make gluten-free ap cookies by substituting the flour with a gluten-free flour blend or a nut flour, such as almond flour or coconut flour.
Ap cookies are not very healthy because they are high in calories, fat, and sugar. They also do not provide much fiber, protein, vitamins, or minerals. Therefore, you should enjoy them in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.
If your ap cookies spread too much in the oven, it could be because your dough is too soft or warm. To prevent this, you should chill your dough for at least 6-8 hours before rolling it out and cutting it into shapes. You should also avoid overmixing your dough or adding too much liquid to it.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to make ap cookies. Ap cookies are a delicious old Pennsylvania Dutch recipe that has been passed down for generations. They are lightly crisp and buttery cookies that are perfect for any occasion. They are also very easy to make and only require a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. You can also customize them with different flavors, toppings, or shapes to suit your preferences.
If you liked this article on how to make ap cookies, please check out our other articles on baking and cooking. We have many more recipes, tips, and tricks for you to discover and enjoy. Thank you for reading and happy baking!