As Rafiki would say, it is time. Time for me to get off my butt and start baking again. I’ve been waiting a long time for cranberry season so I could make these.

Just in time for Thanksgiving! 

I really haven’t been lazy. I spent the past two months going on a couple trips (including my 10-mile race in Disney World!) and decorating for Halloween at work. We go all out.

When I started prepping the ingredients, I got really excited! I’ve missed baking. My coworkers have probably missed it more because I’ve been starving them.

Step 1: Gather ingredients for cookie: flour, sugar, cornmeal, butter, course salt, orange zest, egg (separated).

Step 2: Whisk together flour, cornmeal, and salt.

Step 3: Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Yeah, those are candy canes in the background. So what?

Step 4: Add egg yolk.

This is going well. I’m happy I picked an easy one for my comeback.

Step 5: Add orange zest.
Whoops, forgot to take a picture.

Step 6: Gradually add flour mixture until combined.

Step 7: Gently whisk egg white.

This is where a tiny whisk would come in handy! Santa, I’m talking to you.

Step 8: Roll 2 tsp of dough into a ball.
Again, whoops.

Step 9: Dip (dunk) into egg white.

This got slimy and gross.

Step 10: Roll in sugar.

This got goopy and clumpy. Ugh.

Step 11: Press thumb in center of dough. Bake.

WHAT IS THIS? Look at all that egg white/sugar crap around the edges of my cookies! This is ruining my easy baking experience!

Step 12: Calm yourself and gather ingredients for filling: Fresh cranberries, water, sugar, strip of orange.

Step 13: Keep your hungry cat away.

Step 14: Bring all ingredients to a boil.

I wish I would have taken a picture when the cranberries popped open.

Step 15: Simmer for about 5 minutes, smashing cranberries.

Side note: Look at this mess. I tried to break off some of the crap around the edges.

Step 16: After filling has cooled, glob it on.

They turned out okay. Overall, I’ll give them a thumbs up!

Link to original recipe

Yields: 24
I got: 31

Start time: 3:20
End time: 6:30 (3 hours, 10 minutes – I waited a long time for it to cool)
Martha’s estimated time: 1 hour

What did I learn?

• The egg white needed more whisking. It was way too globby.
• Cranberry sauce is easy to make! Hello Thanksgiving!

What do I need to learn?

• Was there too much egg white? Is that why the edges got nasty?

I tried to record a short video for the post, but I don’t like how it turned out. I’ll try again next time. Also, if you were wondering, I still can’t make a decent chocolate chip cookie. I may have to create a side blog just about that.