Today is my niece’s fourth birthday. Little Ava was a happy surprise to all of us, arriving just 17 months after her brother, David.
What can I say about this little girl? From the start, she’s been my little doppelganger.
My sister and brother-in-law made my heart swell by naming her after me – we share the middle name Nicole.
As her personality emerged, my sister informed me that Ava also inherited just about all my stubbornness, and also my love for a good “debate”.
If you could create a baby girl with all the fashion sense and girly-girl ‘tude her momma possesses, but with my love of cooking and crafty stuff, you’d have Ava.
She loves princesses and baby dolls, and playing Barbies. She has a collection of purple bunnies, harvested after her one treasured purple bunny lovey disappeared.
3 tear-filled days later, my brother in law found them again, finally. I think he bought a dozen more.
Ava plays soccer, but she likes tumbling and gymnastics too. Tangled is her favorite movie, Rapunzel her favorite princess.
Her favorite colors are pink and purple, just like Rapunzel’s dress.
In honor of her birthday, just like I did for her brother, I made Ava cookies.
This time, I went back to my favorite recipe for Snickerdoodles. They’re so easy to make, and I love that they’re super easy to customize by using different colored sparkling sugars.
Ava is having a Tangled themed birthday party, so I made her cookies rolled in pink and purple sparkling sugars, as well as spices and regular sugar.
Happy Birthday, Baby Girl.
Uncle James and I miss you and love you!
Snickerdoodles
These Snickerdoodles are made using pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon and sparkling sugar instead of granulated sugar. You'll never make Snickerdoodles the other way again.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For Rolling
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons colored sparkling sugar
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Whisk thoroughly to combine and aerate.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and shortening and mix on medium-high speed until creamed together. Add sugar and mix again. Add eggs and vanilla and mix again, scraping down the bowl often.
- Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 2 baking trays with parchment paper. In a small bowl, combine sugar, sparkling sugar, and pumpkin pie spice and mix well with a spoon so that each item is mixed completely.
- Using a tablespoon or medium cookie scoop, scoop 1" cookie dough balls. Roll in your hand to make round, then roll in the sugar and spice mixture.
- Bake 12 to a tray for exactly 10 minutes and remove from the oven immediately. Allow to cool slightly, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Adapted from Pinch My Salt
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 130Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 74mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 1g
This nutritional information is just an estimate and not to be considered perfectly factual.
Tracy
Sunday 30th of October 2011
These cookies are so cute!! Happy birthday to Ava. She is adorable!
JulieD
Wednesday 26th of October 2011
I love your snickerdoodles...what pretty colors! Happy Birthday to Ava!! :) She's so cute!
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray
Wednesday 26th of October 2011
What a sweet post, and what a cutie! She's lucky to have you as her auntie!
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction
Wednesday 26th of October 2011
You are the best auntie ever.... Those cookies look perfect for such a sweet little girl. Plus, I love your idea to use pumpkin pie spice... I can't get enough of that stuff right now.
Katrina
Wednesday 26th of October 2011
Aww what a princess! These cookies sound so yummy. Awesome.