December 05, 2010

Christmas Cookies UNLEASHED!

Molasses-Spice Marshmallow Cookies, a.k.a. "Kona" Cookies.


After displaying a picture of my sweet dog a few posts back, I decided  I haven't given him the recognition he deserves. So this post is dedicated to Kona.


Kona is a Golden Retriever. I had never owned a golden before, and I'm fairly certain I will never choose another breed again. When we discussed getting a puppy several years back, my son was very small and rough. If you can imagine a tiny bundle of flailing testosterone, that was Carson at two years old. We felt it was necessary to select a breed that was known for having great patience with flailing little people. Golden Retrievers seemed to be the stand-out breed.

Ava and Kona~ 4 yrs. and 8 weeks!

The beating our poor dog put up with in his first year was insurmountable. My commands were directed toward my SON, more often than the puppy, "Carson, NO HIT!" Carson had a favorite game of running and jumping on top of Kona while he was sleeping. A lesser dog would have snapped at him for sure. Come to think of it, I might have snapped at him if he pounced on me while I was sleeping. Yet Kona just looked up with alarm, then sighed and went back to sleep.

Carson 2 yrs., Kona 4 months

He has such a light and calming personality. Even when he does something naughty, it's hard to be upset with him. He has the habit of stealing dirty socks. Yet, he'll bring the sock to you and wait to see if you notice it in his mouth. Only after he's shown you the sock, and reveled in the fact that you didn't notice it, does he tip-toe off to swallow it! Usually we catch the sock-in-mouth and scold him. He promptly drops the sock, and gives you a sorrowful look as if to say, "Thorry Math-ter." (We've determined his doggy voice would sound like Doug, from the movie UP.)


There is one thing I could live without. Kona has a special pillow he considers his "lady friend", if you catch my drift. He hasn't made moves on any other inanimate object, just this certain pillow. We've hid the pillow for extended periods of time, but every time we pull it out, he puts on his swagger!

On one occasion, we were all in the kitchen and Kona dragged his pillow in next to the counter. We had just turned up some lively music. Suddenly my little girl, looked down at Kona grasping his pillow. She starts clapping to the beat and said, "Look mommy, Kona is DANCING! Dance Kona, DANCE!!!"

After we stopped laughing and wiped away the tears, the pillow disappear for a long...long time.

The pillow issue aside, Kona is the best dog I've ever owned! Affectionate, attentive, patient beyond words, gentle, seemingly wise, what more could you ask for?

So here's to Kona! I'm honoring him in cookie form. I'm sure he would have it no other way--especially if he gets a taste!


Whether you decide to make this recipe with a puppy cookie cutter, or not, it is a truly wonderful spice cookie recipe. More tender than gingerbread and lighter than a molasses cookie, it is a grand platform for holiday cut-outs! You can glaze or frost these cookies and decorate 'til your heart's content. In this case, I used marshmallow fluff as the topping to replicate Kona's coat. A friend of ours once told  us he looked like a toasted marshmallow! I spread the marshmallow fluff over the cookies and placed them under the broiler for 30 seconds to toast. The result was a delightfully light frosting with a crisp toasted exterior. A perfect complement to the spice cookies!

This would make an excellent addition to your Christmas cookie exchange this year!

Sommer


Molasses Spice Cookies with Toasted Marshmallow

2 cups and 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling out dough
¼ tsp. baking soda
1 Tb. pumpkin pie spice (or 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon, and ½ tsp. each of ginger, nutmeg and allspice)
½ tsp. salt
¾ cup softened unsalted butter
¼ cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tb. dark molasses

1 lb. marshmallow fluff
Small candy for eyes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix the flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer. Add the rest of the wet ingredients while it mixing.


Then scrape the bowl and add the flour mixture a little at a time.


Once the dough has come together, divide it onto two pieces of plastic wrap. Wrap the dough into two disks and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

 

Remove one disk from the fridge. Flour a work surface and roll it out to between 1/8 -1/4 inch thick. Cut out the cookies as close together as possible. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. The dough is fragile, so if you lose an appendage, gently press it back together. Remember, fragile dough = light tender cookies. 


Gather the leftover dough and repeat. Try to get as many cookies cut out of two rolls on each disk. The more you gather and re-roll, the tougher the dough gets!


Bake for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool. Raise the oven rack to the highest position and turn on the broiler.

Using a piping bag, or a freezer bag with the corner cut off, spread the marshmallow fluff over each cookie. The goal is to get a smooth layer about a 1/3 the thickness of the cookie. If you add too little is will get bumpy when you toast it, and if you add too much, it will run off. I used about a tablespoon per puppy cookie. 


The marshmallow fluff will smooth out after a minute or two. To create the effect of an ear, place one more dollop of fluff on the head, right before you place the cookies under the broiler.


Toast the cookies under the broiler for about 30 seconds. DO NOT take your eyes off them! Marshmallow fluff burns fast! Once the come out, quickly add the eyes to your puppies!


Makes 20-24 large puppies!


Share your BEST holiday Cookies HERE!


Molasses Spice Cookies With Toasted Marshmallow on Foodista

66 comments:

  1. What a delightful read... the details of the cookies are carefully thought of and truly inspired by KONA!

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  2. I love these spice cookies. And I'm with you - I adore goldens. Kona is so precious. What nice parents Kona has - who make a cookie after him!

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  3. What a sweet dog, barring the pillow antics of course! I love how lifelike some of those cookies turned out. What a great idea to simply use marshmallow fluff and the broiler.

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  4. What a sweet story about your beloved Kona! Be glad that he has a special lady friend ;) The way the marshmallow fluff turns golden under the broiler really works for these special tribute cookies!

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  5. Wow, great post...and Kona is just adorable...nice pictures! The cookies look SO cute :-)

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  6. Lona is adorable! She actually kind of looks like my dog, Nala. Nala's a mix between cocker spaniel and dachshund but she looks like a little golden retriever puppy.... but she's 9 y/o :) She still thinks she's a little puppy though.
    These cookies look DE-licious! Three wonderful cheers for Kona.

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  7. Great post! Dogs are angels sent from heaven to make us happy. I can't imagine living without one. Golden's are great dogs. We have so many in our neighborhood, I call them the official dog of Highlands Ranch. Love the Golden cookies.

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  8. Dogs are the best, aren't they??? Love Kona-- he's so cute! I make peanut butter cookies for the Doberhound in bone shapes-- I tried the dog shapes once but the toes burned! And we can't have that! Ahh, speak of the devil, she has come to remind me it's time to walk :)

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  9. I love everything !!! You have incredible kids, the dog, and the cookies are such an original alternative I think!!
    Good for you, not only as a blogger, but in life!!

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  10. OH my goodness are those not the most adorable cookies ever?! I love how you put the marshmallow on top and toasted it. Kona is such a cute dog, I loved reading about him :)

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  11. what a cutie kona is! these look too delicious- i am a sucker for marshmallow fluff!

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  12. I adore this post. I love dogs and Kona looks so wonderful and so cute! He most certainly deserved a cookie, and a totally delicious looking one at that. Anything with marshmallow on it is a winner in my book!

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  13. GREAT post. I am an avid dog lover. I stop in public to pet other peoples' dogs, to which my husband just patiently smiles and lets me have my moment. Dogs are such wonderful creatures, and it warms my heart and makes me happy to see people who love their dogs as much as I love mine. All dogs deserve such love and it breaks my heart that so many don't get it. I'd take in every stray I could if my husband would allow it and give them the happy life they deserve. Since he won't allow me to do that, I will just smother my two spoiled Dachshunds with more love and kisses than they can stand! :) Kona is a beautiful dog. Your sweet post has made my morning!

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  14. These are just beautiful! I have never seen a cookie like this before, and I'm bookmarking the recipe because my husband ADORES marshmallow fluff. But I just loved seeing pictures of sweet Kona. What a beautiful dog! Thank you so much for sharing. I hope your week is full of joy!

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  15. Those cookies are adorable! Great job!

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  16. Kona is such a beautiful dog! I've been thinking about getting one for years, but I work long hours so I feel like leaving a dog home alone all day would be mean. Your post is making me dream of having a dog all over again!

    Oh, and don't the first 30 minutes of Up just make you want to burst into tears?

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  17. Hi Kona :-))
    Kona is such a sweet and beautiful dog! The cookies would make a perfect X'mas gift for friends who also have pet dogs.

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  18. Well it seems that Kona was the perfect friend for your son during the years. These cookies are the best sweets to honor him for that.

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  19. I LOVE the fluff!! I love Kona - sooooooo sweet!! I want a dog!!

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  20. oh sommer a super sweet post, we are in the midst of arguing,laughing and killing each other on making a decision of what pup to choose for our girls, oh I want one, so nad and gr would be perfet!! fluff and cookies, your awesome!! a perfect treat for everyone, yummy!! I just made mini cupcakes, wonder if I could submit? not a cookie, but it is a one bite!
    sweetlife

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  21. Even though I am a cat person, I loved the story about the dog and the rest of the family and adored the cookies you created! I felt as if the cookies were "alive". Very inspired post, and dynamite recipe, thank you!

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  22. Aww, Kona is adorable and so are the cookies in his image! They sound so delicious too, with the pumpkin spice flavor!

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  23. What a beautiful sweet dog!
    The cookies look fabulous!!

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  24. Lovely post..Kona is cute and the kids are super cute :-)
    The cookies are fabulous with the marshmallow topping

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  25. I had goldens growing up and they are the best dogs ever. We don't have room for one now but you can't find a sweeter breed of dog to have around children. I wonder if you named him for your favorite coffee bean? I like seeing your kiddos too. My Charlie had the same adorable haircut as Carson. Boys need dogs don't ya think!!

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  26. Cute dog and cute cookies! Very creative with the marshmallow fluff :)

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  27. Kona is adorable...My poor pup grew up with two boys, so she understands :)
    These are adorable treats :)

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  28. What a cute cute dog Kona is and that you are honoring him in this way...fantastic. I love the little Kona cookies, and look, he lost his little head in one of them. :)

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  29. The pics of your kids and Kona are just adorable. But those cookies...omg they really look like him! You are a great decoratore, Sommer. I need your help for Xmas!

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  30. This is so sweet--what a great story to include your pup! And thanks for sharing your recipe--I've never seen marshmallow fluff used for icing and I think it's an equally sweet, but better alternative to icing! I'm going to use that on my next holiday cookies!

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  31. Awww... what a sweet puppy dog you have! Those cookies are a great replica of him! Did he get to try one? :)

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  32. These are sweet, what a nice way to honor your faithful puppy dog:)

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  33. Awww. After reading your sweetened cranberries post I wanted to put a picture of my dog on my blog. She reminds me a lot of your dog actually! Very sweet, and never snaps at anyone. I love this idea, and these cookies look absolutely amazing!

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  34. That photo of your daughter and Kona is too cute for words! Cool recipe... I love the "ear flap" technique.

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  35. Brilliant! Now that is one SWEET pup!

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  36. First of all... I have a baby sister and her name is Penny. She is our little ball of family therapy. I love it when mom and dad go out so I can babysit little Penny. So, I completely understand puppy adoration, and your cookies are A-DOR-A-BULL!!
    I love the idea of marshmellow fluff as icing. Brilliant. And a perfect solution for a doggie coat cookie.
    I am so completely charmed.
    :)
    Valerie

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  37. First of all... I have a baby sister and her name is Penny. She is our little ball of family therapy. I love it when mom and dad go out so I can babysit little Penny. So, I completely understand puppy adoration, and your cookies are A-DOR-A-BULL!!
    I love the idea of marshmellow fluff as icing. Brilliant. And a perfect solution for a doggie coat cookie.
    I am so completely charmed.
    :)
    Valerie

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  38. i have fallen in love with kona---so adorable he looks and his antics are mighty fun ~ never had a dog in my life but planning to get one soon this new year for my kids. don't want them to miss out on the joys of having such a lovely pet ! and the cookies well i have only one thing to say- wowie

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  39. Awe, I wish I could have a dog! Kona looks so wonderful, and I can surely understand a cookie made in his honor. Very cute and Christmas-like, Sommer!

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  40. What a cutie! Lovely cookies as well. ;)

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  41. Way too cool cookies and a beautiful pup! Love the pillow story. I've seen that before - lol...

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  42. I remember teaching the kids how to play gently with their pets. It's a lesson that has stood them well in their appreciation and consideration of all animals. The sweet and spicy cookies is a fitting accolade for your beloved furry (and gorgeous!) family member.

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  43. what a cute post on kona... i really love the cookies too.

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  44. My daughter would LOVE these! And they sound yummy!

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  45. This is so brilliant! what a fun idea! Your dog looks adorable..

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  46. Bogey was my daughter's golden retriever. He was so beautiful and loving I can understand how you feel about Kona. The cookies are a wonderful tribute.

    I will definitely try your recipe and will rename the cookie as a tribute to Bogey.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Joanne

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  47. Your story is so funny :) I thought our puppy was the only one who loved dirty socks. He also loves pulling them off our feet, lol. What a great way to honor your adorable and sweet puppy. The cookies sound delicious.

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  48. OMG! You have just given me the best belly laugh I've had in a good while! Plus ... these cookies are the coolest things I've seen in a while ... and I like that you're not allllll about Christmas! Excellent job on this one, Sommer!

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  49. These cookies are AWESOME!! Can I say they are sooooo cute and the best cookies I have seen.

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  50. Kona is beautiful! We too have a golden retriver and we picked her for the same reasons...the breed is so smart, caring, gentle and patient. She never fails to amaze me with her capacity to love. The cookies are super cute!!

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  51. These cookies are so amazing! I never would have thought to ice with marshmallow fluff. And such a sweet tribute to your Kona, he seems like a truly wonderful pet to put up with all the rough-housing from your son.

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  52. Such a beautiful pup. We have a puggle who brings us unending joy. Love the marshmallow fluff as frosting idea, it's a great alternative. I may use a kitchen torch so that I can choose where the fluff gets shaded. Fabulous idea, thanks!

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  53. oh my gosh how cute are these. I am loving them

    xo

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  54. http://cookiecutter.com/dogsandcats.aspx

    For anyone who's looking for such cookie cutters.

    Any local vendors sell these?

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  55. What an adorable dog and cookies!!!! Love it. Great post.

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  56. What a wonderful tribute to a beautiful golden! I have a golden at home that I grew up with.. she's not so much golden anymore as she is white. These cookies sounds wonderful though :)

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  57. How adorable and creative! It's amazing that toasting the marshmallow makes these look so realistic. Happy holidays!

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  58. What a cute post and ho creative you are with those delicious looking cookies :)

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  59. This is genious! I totally loved this cookies!

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  60. We have a golden too so this was a special post to read. Ours is a female, so thank goodness we don't have the "special pillow" problem. Just the obsession with tennis balls.

    I love your cookies and will be making them in doggy bone shape since we don't have the dog shape itself. We'll just eat them in honor of Kona and Bailey instead.

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  61. These are great! The kids will love these! The big ones will too!:)

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  62. I planned on baking these for my Christmas party, however, I'm not sure what temperature I bake them at.

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