A Journey Through Time with Sandrine's Cookies: A Recipe for Kids and Grown-Ups

Every home has its secret recipes, often shared between generations and loved by all. Today, I would like to share one such cherished classic, a recipe that my children and their Finnish sitter, Sandrine, once enjoyed.

My Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

For my traditional chocolate chip cookies, you will need the following:

1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla essence 1 large egg 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup chocolate chips

Now, many bakers follow a strict batching process, separating the liquid and dry ingredients into different bowls. But as we have grown, we find that mixing everything together yields equally delicious results. Simply preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and pour the cookie mixture onto a baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes before enjoying the perfect, crunchy texture.

A Recipe That Isn't Kid-Friendly

With children, the process of baking can be both fun and fraught with challenges. Our experience with Sandrine's sugar cookies, however, was a particularly memorable one. Sandrine, our beloved Finnish sitter, often brought over baked goods as treats. Occasionally, she would even involve our children in the baking process, but one particular recipe turned out to be not quite child-friendly.

The recipe called for a now largely archaic ingredient: ammonium carbonate, commonly known as baker's ammonia, as a leavening agent. While it can still be found online or in specialty shops, it's not commonly used today. This ingredient, when used, causes the oven and kitchen to smell strongly of ammonia, a potent and pungent odor.

Experiencing the Magic Without the Smell

Despite the strong odor, the taste of the cookies themselves was amazing. Though the cookies were thin and crisp, they possessed an extraordinary texture that was simply delightful. After baking and cooling the cookies, fans were used to disperse the ammonia smell, and the cookies tasted nothing like the pungent smell. They were a rare treat that left our mouths watering even though they smelt strongly after baking!

Revisiting Sandrine's Classic Recipe

While the original recipe is no longer suitable for our children, Sandrine kindly shared it with me, allowing us to recreate the magic in a safer, more kid-friendly manner. Here is the recipe for the classic Sandrine's Cookies:

Ingredients

1 cup sugar 8 oz unsalted European butter (room temperature) 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp lemon extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baker's ammonia Sparkling sugar for topping Preheated oven at 300°F (150°C)

Instructions

Line baking pans with parchment paper. Sift together the flour, sugar, and baker's ammonia. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and lemon extracts, and blend until smooth. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients, blending thoroughly. Scoop teaspoon-sized balls of dough and roll them in sparkling sugar. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and press down with a glass or kitchen mallet to flatten. The cookie should not be more than 1/4 inch thick. Bake the cookies until the edges are golden brown, then transfer them to a cooling rack. Once cooled, transfer the cookies to an airtight container to maintain their crispness and freshness.

These cookies, while requiring a bit more care in preparation, are well worth the effort for their fascinating history and texture. It's a great way to explore baking from bygone days with a modern twist. Enjoy!