How to make...Brownies.

Ingredients

• Non-stick cooking spray (or butter) for greasing pan
• 5 ounces 70% bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 8 tablespoons (4 ounces) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup (3 3/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 large yolk
• 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Procedures

1. 1
   Adjust oven rack to medium position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 8- by 8-inch baking pan with non-stick pan spray. In heatproof bowl over pan of barely simmering water, heat chocolate and butter until just melted, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
2. 2
   Sift flour and cocoa into medium bowl; set aside. In large bowl, whisk sugar with eggs, yolk, salt, and vanilla until light, about 30 seconds. whisk in chocolate mixture. Using wooden spoon, stir in chocolate mixture until combined. Stir in flour mixture until combined.
3. 3
   Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Evenly sprinkle walnuts over top. Bake until just set and toothpick inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs about 30 minutes. Let cool on wire rack about 45 minutes before cutting into squares.

How to make...Pumpkin, cranberry and orange cookies.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup (7 ounces) sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 packed teaspoon orange zest (from about 1 medium orange)
• 1 cup pureed pumpkin
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 
  
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Procedures

1. 1
   Adjust oven racks to lower and middle positions and preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
2. 2
   In a large bowl, cream together butter, light brown sugar, and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg. Beat in vanilla and orange zest, followed by pumpkin puree. Add dry ingredients to the bowl and beat until just combined. Use a rubber spatula to fold in cranberries.
3. 3
   Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake until golden at the edges and dry on top, about 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on sheets then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

How to make...Jack-O-Latern cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 extra large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• About 4 tablespoons peanut butter

Procedures

1. 1
   In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar with an electric beater until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and beat until just combined. Dough should come together, if too crumbly, add 1 teaspoon water. Form dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for one hour.
2. 2
   Adjust oven rack to upper and lower middle positions and preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide dough in half and roll one half out onto a lightly floured surface to a thickness of approximately 1/8th- inch. Cut out 12 pumpkins using a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter and transfer to a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Using a pairing knife, cut jack-o-lantern faces into 1/2 of the cookies. Bake cookies until just dry on top, about 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. When completely cooled, spread top of faceless cookies with about 1 teaspoon of peanut butter (more or less depending on how much you like peanut butter). Top with a face cookie to complete sandwiches.

How to make...Nutella cookies.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 jar (13 ounces) Nutella (you may not use the whole thing)

Procedures

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. 2
   Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. 3
   In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter; once fluffy, add the sugar and beat until smooth. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla extract. Gradually stir in the flour mixture, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl with each addition.
4. 4
   Pull a piece of dough, about 2 tablespoons, from the bowl. Form a 2-inch flat (but fairly thick) circle by hand. Spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the filling on top of this dough-pancake. Close the dough over the filling to form a soft dome, making sure dough is covering the filling on all sides, and pinch the top to seal the cookie (it might resemble the top of a Hershey's Kiss; you can also flatten it with your hand, but make sure that the top of the cookie is sealed!).
5. 5
   Place cookies on the prepared sheets, 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 14-18 minutes, or until golden. Let cool on the pans. If desired, garnish with confectioners' sugar.

How to make...Ginger biscuits

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz (225g) Flour

• 4 oz (100g) Golden Syrup

• A Knob of Butter

• 4 oz (100g) Demerara Sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger

• 10 Drops of Lemon Essence

• 1/4 teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda

METHOD

1. Rub the butter into the flour; add the sugar, ginger and lemon essence. 

2. Then mix in the golden syrup, and lastly the soda. 

3. Roll out, cut into biscuits and bake in a moderate oven (190C, 375F, Mark 5) for about 15 minutes until crisp.