THE PIONEER WOMAN COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the almond flour, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Place the softened butter and sugar in a medium bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer). With a hand mixer (or stand mixer with a paddle attachment), beat until creamy and light, 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract and lemon zest and mix well to combine. Add the flour mixture in 3-4 batches, mixing on low to combine completely in between each addition. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.  Divide the dough into 2 portions and pat into 2 discs, about 1” thick.  Wrap each tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour until firm (or up to 2 days). Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The dough should still feel cold and slightly firm but soft enough to leave the imprint of your fingers. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Flour a surface very well and place one disc of dough on top (leave the other disc wrapped in plastic wrap). Roll into a large, thin sheet (between 1/16 - 1/8-inch thick.) Using a circle or shaped cutter (about 2 ½” wide), cut shapes from the dough. Place the cookies on large baking sheets lined with parchment paper, about 1-inch apart. Gather up any remaining scraps, wrap with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Repeat with the remaining sheet of dough and any remaining, chilled dough scraps. Cut small shapes from the centers of one-half of the cookies. (You can add this dough to the re-roll pile, or bake off little mini cookies). Bake for 9-11 minutes, just until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden. Let cool for 5 minutes on the sheet pans before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Top the whole cookies with 1-2 teaspoons of jam and spread all over the center of the cookies. Place the cookies with cut-outs on a sheet tray and sift powdered sugar over top. Carefully place the sugared cookies over top of the cookies with jam. Serve immediately or store in a single layer in an air-tight container, between sheets of parchment paper, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. 

Steps:

• Combine the butter and chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over a saucepan filled with a few inches of simmering water over low heat. Let melt, 3 to 4 minutes, then stir until smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan and let cool slightly.  Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine and get rid of any lumps. Combine the brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and ½ cup granulated sugar in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the melted chocolate mixture and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture and beat until just combined, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Cover the dough and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 4 hours. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread the remaining 1 cup granulated sugar in a shallow bowl and the powdered sugar in a second shallow bowl. Scoop the dough into balls (about 1 tablespoon each). Roll first in the granulated sugar, then in the powdered sugar to coat completely. Place on the baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake until the tops of the cookies are cracked and the edges are firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then remove to racks to cool completely.