What’s not to love about a cookie that’s as fun to make as it is to eat? That’s exactly what you get with these Life Saver Cookies. The recipe has a charming history, originating from a time when mothers and grandmothers were looking for creative ways to keep kids entertained in the kitchen. These cookies, with their colorful candy centers, were a hit then and continue to be a favorite today. They’re not just for kids, though. Adults can’t get enough of their delightful sweetness and the touch of nostalgia they bring. I absolutely love baking these cookies – the process is almost therapeutic for me. From preparing the dough, cutting out the shapes, and placing the life saver in the middle, every step is a joyful experience. Plus, they’re a definite crowd-pleaser at parties and gatherings. The recipe is pretty straightforward, even for novice bakers. The key is to chill the dough for at least an hour before rolling it out. This makes it easier to handle and helps the cookies hold their shape during baking. Also, be sure to use foil to line your baking sheet. This will catch any candy that melts out of the cookies and prevent it from sticking to the pan. Ready to bake some fun? Let’s get started on these Life Saver Cookies.
Ingredients
- 3/4 c. butter
- 1 c. sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp. lemon extract
- 2 1/2 c. flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 6 pkg. Life Savers
Baking Instructions
- Mix together butter, sugar, eggs and lemon extract.
- Blend in flour, baking powder and salt.
- Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Roll dough 1/8-inch thick on a lightly floured board.
- Cut into desired shapes.
- Cut a small hole in center with a sharp knife. Place cookies on foil covered baking sheet.
- Place a Life Saver in the center of each cookie.
- Bake at 375° for 7 to 9 minutes until lightly browned or until candy is melted.
- Cool on baking sheet. Store in layers between wax paper.
- These freeze nicely.
- Yields 6 dozen.
Calorie: 150
Total cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
My Life-Saving Baking Extravaganza
So there I was, staring blankly into my pantry, surrounded by a pile of ingredients. You know, the usual suspects: **butter**, **sugar**, **eggs**, **lemon extract**, **flour**, **baking powder**, and **salt**. But the real stars of the show were those shiny tubes of **Life Savers**. The mission? To turn this motley crew into something edible. Preferably cookies. And thus began my foray into the world of Life Saver Cookies.
The Mix-up Mayhem
First things first, mixing the ingredients. In went the butter, sugar, eggs and lemon extract. I won’t lie, the lemon extract smelled like a lemon grove in full bloom. It was a fragrant reminder of the time I tried to make lemonade but ended up with a kitchen that smelled like a citrus farm for a week. Talk about lasting impressions!
The Chill Session
Next, I had to blend in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Once everything was well and truly combined, it was time for the dough to chill. And by chill, I mean it literally spent an hour in the fridge. I, on the other hand, spent that hour scrubbing dough off every kitchen surface. Who knew flour could be so…explosive?
The Roll-out Rodeo
With the dough chilled and the kitchen less of a flour war zone, it was time to roll out the dough. But seriously, who came up with these measurements? 1/8-inch thick? I don’t have a ruler in my kitchen! So, I just eyeballed it and hoped for the best. Remember, optimism is key in the kitchen!
The Shape Shift
Then came the fun part – cutting out the shapes. I might have gone a bit overboard. I mean, who doesn’t need a dinosaur-shaped cookie with a Life Saver belly button? During this process, I also had to cut out a small hole in the center of each cookie. A word of caution: sharp knives and distracted cooking don’t mix. I only lost one cookie in the process, so we’ll call that a win.
The Life Saver Landing
Now, it was time to place a Life Saver in the center of each cookie. I won’t lie, I ate more Savers than I placed on the cookies. What can I say? The sugar rush was real.
The Baking Breakdown
The cookies went into the oven, set at a balmy 375°. For the next 7 to 9 minutes, I stood guard at the oven door, praying my cookies wouldn’t burn and my Savers would actually melt. Spoiler alert: they did! And they came out lightly browned, just like they were supposed to.
The Cool Down
Finally, it was time for my cookies to cool down on the baking sheet. I, on the other hand, started the clean-up operation. Again. But hey, at least the aroma of cookies wafted through the air.
The Wax Paper Waltz
Once they were cool, it was time to store them in layers between wax paper. Yes, they freeze nicely. If they survive that long. In my house, cookies have a shorter life expectancy than ice cubes in the desert.
The Final Tally
The recipe yielded 6 dozen cookies. My kitchen yielded a mountain of dishes. But the smiles on my family’s faces when they bit into those Life Saver Cookies? Priceless. Just goes to show, Life Savers aren’t just for saving lives, but for making truly delightful cookies too.
