December 18, Advent Day 21
Village Building Featured: Eye Candy Gallery
Advent Reflection
Villager Featured: Molly Wilson from the Baking Committee
Greetings to Emmanuel Parishioners!
Your baking committee has the joyous job of creating all kinds of goodies for all kinds of church events. Most of our baking is done for coffee hour and various church meetings. Also, the casserole committee often includes our cookies in their deliveries, and Muffins for Mom is a Mother's Day delight. Cornbread and apple cake are staples of the annual chili cook-off, and gingerbread people or other Christmas cookies add tasty additions to any holiday event. This year, we were engaged to bake cookies for the Newcomers, so we made delicious oatmeal raisin bites and chocolate chip cookies. We are always delighted to be asked to prepare treats for most any event at Emmanuel, just ask and we will stir up something!
What brings more joy than chocolate? One of our favorite cookies is the versatile chocolate cookie. A wide variety of things may be added to this batter, though the plain dough alone makes a tasty treat.
Chocolate Cookies Recipe
Original recipe yields 12 servings
Ingredients
nonstick cooking spray
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup butter, cut into chunks
¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
⅔ cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sea salt, or as needed (optional)
Directions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
Step 2: Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt in a bowl.
Step 3: Place butter in a saucepan over low heat and cook until melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Add chocolate chips and stir until completely melted. Remove from the heat.
Step 4: Combine brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Pour a small amount of the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and stir until well combined. Slowly add the remaining chocolate mixture, stirring constantly so the eggs don't curdle. Fold in the flour mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
Step 5: Drop 6 large scoops of batter about 2 inches apart onto each of the prepared baking sheets. If desired, sprinkle with some sea salt.
My particular favorite variation is to press a pecan or walnut half into the dough before baking, but use your imagination and be creative!
With Joy and Blessings,
Mollie Wilson
Baking Committee Member
About the Baking Committee
The Baking Ministry meets as needed and prepares wonderful treats. The ministry supports Coffee Hour, Casserole Ministry, and special events with cookies, cakes, and other delights. View all Pastoral Care committees offered at Emmanuel here.
Upcoming Events with Emmanuel
Friday, December 24th, Christmas Eve:
3:00- Christmas Eve Eucharistic service with Children’s pageant
5:30-Choral Prelude
6:00- Christmas Eve Eucharistic service
8:00- Chorale Prelude
8:30- Christmas Eve Eucharistic Service