Critter Cookies Recipes

WORLD'S BEST BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla together until smooth and creamy.
• Mix in the egg yolk until well incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl at least once.
• Add the flour and mix just until incorporated.
• Scrape onto a lightly floured board and knead a few times, just until the dough smooths out.
• Turn onto a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a log, wrap up and refrigerate for several hours or freeze.
• Before baking, preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Line your baking sheets with parchment.
• Slice the dough into slices about 1/8" thick and place them on the sheets about an inch apart (they won't be spreading very much, but they need air room around each cookie).
• Bake until JUST beginning to turn golden around the edges, about 16-18 minutes.
• Note: you can do many things with these cookies.
• You could roll the dough out and cut shapes.
• You could slice them even thinner and sandwich them with chocolate or jam or lemon curd.
• You could make them and then dip them half into chocolate.
• You could just make them and eat them, which is my favorite.
• Whatever you do, they will be delicious.

MUDSLIDE CRITTER BARS

Steps:

• For the crust: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with the cooking spray.
• Place the cookies in a food processor and grind into fine crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup of the crumbs for a later use.
• Place the remaining crumbs in a bowl and stir in the melted butter and salt. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan evenly and transfer to the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the brownies.
• For the filling: Place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan filled with 1 inch of water to make a double boiler. Set the double boiler over medium heat and stir to melt. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the melted chocolate mixture, the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla and eggs. Fold in the white chocolate chips, and then pour the batter into the chilled crust. Bake until set, 28 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Sprinkle the reserved cookie crumbs over the finished brownie dish. Tuck the gummy worms on and into the cookie crumb "dirt." Cut the brownies into squares to serve.

CRITTER FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking powder. Make a well in the center and add the egg, milk, beer, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Gradually blend the liquid into the flour mixture. Mix the batter just until it is no longer lumpy. Fold in the garlic, parsley and crab meat. Chill for 30 minutes.
• In a heavy saucepan, heat 1 to 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat; it's hot enough when it quickly browns a small drop of batter. Drop the batter by the tablespoonful into the oil and fry, turning once, until puffed and golden on both sides, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels.