I always knew my husband was cool, but I didn’t realize just how cool until he showed me his Close Encounters lunchbox, which he found when clearing some stuff out of his parents’ house:
It was in mint condition — even the thermos was intact:
I’m sure this lunchbox earned him a seat at the cool kids’ table in junior high school. (I didn’t have a cool lunchbox like that, but if I did, it probably would have been a Soylent Green or Stepford Wives one.)
The lunchbox provided the inspiration for these Apple Cider Cookies, from Imperial Sugar, which were a big hit around here. Although not otherworldly, these soft, chewy cookies are a wonderful autumn treat to tuck in a lunchbox.
- 2-1/3 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons instant apple cider mix, divided use
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider
- ¼ cup molasses (I prefer to use Steen's cane syrup)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sugar
- 3 tablespoons turbinado sugar
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, apple pie spice, salt, and one tablespoon of the instant apple cider mix.
- Place butter and 1 cup sugar in a large bowl, and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add cider, molasses, egg, and vanilla, and continue beating until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating until well combined.
- In a small bowl, mix together ¼ cup sugar, two tablespoons instant cider mix, and turbinado sugar.
- Using a 1 tablespoon scoop, scoop cookie dough and place on baking sheet. Space approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Sprinkle tops of cookies with sugar mixture. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes to firm up, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Done and dusted
You’ll fall for these cookies
You will not alienate anyone with these delicious cookies
