Jan 20, 2013

Michelle Obama's 'Family Circle's Presidential Cookie Contest' recipe, 'Mama Kays's White & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies'























In honor of Obama's public inauguration this coming Monday I thought I would give Michelle Obama's Family Circle Presidential cookie contest recipe a try.  The recipe is originally from a family friend of the Obama's, Eleanor Kaye Wilson (aka Mama Kaye) who is also Sasha & Malia's Godmother.

Seriously Michelle looks like Sasha & Malia's older sister here...just love her.

Since 1992, the publication Family Circle holds a cookie recipe contest every election year between the First Lady and the opposing candidates wife.

Surprisingly in the last four elections, the recipe winner has always been the same as the general election victor.  Who needs political analysis when we've got cookies.

The recipe itself is a fairly straight forward chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Most standard chocolate chip cookie recipes call for 1 cup of butter (as does this one) however Mama Kayes's recipe also includes an additional 1 cup of 'butter flavored' Crisco.  Oye.  If you are a follower of the blog you know how I feel about that lump-of-wanna-be-lard.  It always makes me cringe to buy something that is labeled 'butter flavored,' ohh ick.

But I'm also an all-American girl.  Crisco is part of the heart and soul of America...and I'm also a Democrat.  So I'll take one for the team this time around.  The cookies had a soft center with a crispy, chewy outside.  Each bite is filled with chocolate and mint, and lots of it.  Can't go wrong with that, fake-butter-tan-Crisco and all.

Mama Kaye's White & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
makes approximately 5 dozen
printable version

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
8 ounces unsalted butter, softened
1 cup Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces)*
2 cups chopped walnuts

*I have yet been able to find mint chocolate chips OR Andes mint pieces here in Dubai.  Alternatively I bought a pack of After Eight mint chocolate thins.  I gave them a coarse chop and it worked great.
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees  Fahrenheit. In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and salt. 


Whisk to combine.


In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract.

 

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. With your mixer on the lowest speed, beat in the flour mixture in 3 increments, until just combined.

 
By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.


Drop rounded tablespoons of dough (I used a cookie scoop) onto an ungreased baking sheet.  I used silicone non-stick mats, always highly recommended for any cookie recipe.


Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.



Enjoy! 
 
recipe courtesy of Family Circle

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