Name the Cookies Formerly Known as Spider Cookies
I do not think I have ever posted about cookies before, but here goes (and yes today was a slow news day around the House of Brent).
The other day I mentioned making spider cookies and received a few ‘gross’ comments, people thinking that I was maybe eating sugar-coated spiders, I guess. Which would be kind of yucky.
But in fact I had made a type of cookie I used to eat as a kid. We always called them spider cookies (I don’t know why).
What follows is the recipe I used. Let me know in comments what you think would make a better name (chocolate macaroon cookies might be their official name though there is some dispute here, figure its safer just to invent a new label instead of getting involved in a nasty cookie turf war).
By the way these things are ridiculously delicious and not good for you in the least. I advise you not to make them if you are at all concerned about your health.
Recipe for the cookies formerly known as Spider cookies:
2 cups brown sugar (I used Cane Sugar instead, just because)
1/2 c. milk (I used Soy Milk instead because one kid is allergic to dairy)
1/2 c. butter (Used dairy free margarine instead)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 c. cocoa
1 c. coconut (flakes)Combine sugar, milk, butter/margarine and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla, rolled oats, cocoa and coconut.
Drop by teaspoons on waxed paper and cool.Brent’s comments: These are very sweet, I used sweetened coconut but I’m sure you could get away with unsweetened. I was also considering reducing the sugar a bit so I don’t feel quite so guilty every time I eat one. I keep them in the freezer, they can be eaten straight from that, no need to thaw since they don’t really freeze.
(Source recipe found here)
(Updated version of recipe with comments in my online cookbook)
I promise this will be my last food post.
Brent Knowles
Former lead designer at BioWare (Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights). Creator of Raiders of the Serpent Sea.
22 Comments
Cori
a) Food posts are awesome.
b) We called those ‘sheep droppings’ growing up. So maybe ‘spider cookies’ is the way to go.
Brent Knowles
Sheep droppings!
I wonder if because these are so fantastically delicious that everyone tries to make their names sound disgusting so nobody else will want to eat them.
Darren
these are my favorite cookies in the world. How about Chocolate Eaves!
Brent Knowles
Renaming a cookie after Empire Avenue? Hmm. You might be onto something.
Chocolate Eaves, Edible Eaves, Empire Eats??
Melissa
My mother called them Chocolate Haystacks. When I make them, I find they always turn out a little bit on the dry side. I’ve had others that seem to be a bit more moist. What’s the trick?
Brent Knowles
Melissa – I’ve only made them once as an adult and they turned out pretty moist.
If I get a dry batch I’ll try and figure out why and let you know.
I am also eating them out of the freezer; I’m wondering if there is a weird freeze/thaw thing helping to keep mine moist?
Shawn Montgomery
My family always called them spider cookies too. going to have to call my mom now. See if she will send me some. my kitchen is in boxes in my basement right now. Makes it a little hard to bake :) Unless your not busy Brent, then you could send me some ;)
Brent Knowles
Shawn – I would have but I just ate the last one… like… right now.
Yum! Sorry!
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Brent Knowles
Melissa, not sure if you are checking here still or not but I just made a batch that turned out dry.
I used brown sugar this time (generally I use cane sugar) and I slightly reduced the sugar. I also used vegetable shortening instead of margarine. Not sure which change caused the dryness but I’ll try another batch and try to determine the problem.
Also I’ve started organizing my recipes online, here’s the link to spider cookies and my comments as I try different ways to make them: http://recipes.brentknowles.com/recipes//showrecipe.php?recipe=1
Sunscream
My family called them that, too! I am from the East Coast and we call them that there, as I understand it. When I moved to Ontario, people thought I was crazy(ier) when I called them Spider Cookies.
Brent Knowles
Cool… I used to get weird looks when I mentioned it but there does seem to be a handful of people who, for whatever reason, knew what I was talking about.
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Kevin Morrice
We called it school fudge!
Brent Knowles
Cool! So strange this cookie has so many names…
June Bragg-Baggio
My family always called them “mud & worm cookies” but I know others who also called them spider cookies. We are from Nova Scotia.
Brent Knowles
Mud & worm! Yuck. Thanks for letting me know :)
Linda
Chocococo cookies!
Brent Knowles
:)
Sharon
I use 2 cups of rolled oats and 2 cups of coconut. This makes them moist not dry. Usually I buy the small bags of coconut and they are the perfect amount.
Brent Knowles
Thanks, Sharon. If I get some ambition I’ll maybe try this again this weekend.