vanilla skies

The heavens have really opened up over the past few days here in LA and it has been raining non stop.  I can't even remember the last time I felt this much rain and there's no signs of it stopping... at least until Thursday!  Last week a I got an email from a beautiful blogger who asked what my favorite holiday cookie was... Well I had to think about it. I love so many different flavors {chocolate, spice, caramel I could go on} and I find it truly hard to narrow it down.... and then I remembered with my favorite cookie, I can have it all!

My Vanilla Bean sandwich cookies are the perfectly chewy package that allow me the versatility to indulge in whatever flavor I'm currently coveting. It's so much fun having them in the house because they're just asking for you to get creative! I've been known to fill them with a pumpkin spice cheesecake mixture, ice cream, maple glaze, mint chocolate ganache and even marshmallow fluff! Really the options are endless!

the chirpy birds vanilla bean cookies

1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 1/2 sticks of unsalted room temperature butter

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1 small egg

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 vanilla bean halved length ways and deseeded 

preheat oven to 350F

Whip together butter and sugar until light and fluffy in electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachement. Add vanilla extract, seeds and egg continuing to beat until incorporated. Separately sift dry ingredients together and slowly add. Fold together by hand and then place 1 tablespoon of cookie mixture on sheet pan.  Bake in oven until just set - about 8 minutes. Don't over bake otherwise they will lose their chewy texture!

Now I've treated myself, I'm off to find something to treat her!

xo tash