December 4 is National Cookie Day, and to celebrate chefs at Buckner senior living communities in Texas are doing the unthinkable: sharing their most popular cookie recipes!

Check out these two resident favorites served fresh every day at Parkway Place in Houston. Bake at home for your personal taste of life at a Buckner community, or visit us "taste and see" for yourself!

Glazed Apple Cookie

Time: 30 minutes

Yields: 24 Cookies

Ingredients:

2/3 cup all-purpose shortening (Crisco)

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 tablespoons pasteurized liquid eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup raisins

1/8 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup fresh apple, peeled and diced

Glaze:

3 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons hot water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine shortening, brown sugar, salt, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Using an electric mixer or a large spoon, mix until well blended.
3. Add eggs and mix until forms a creamy texture.
4. Combine flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture and ¼ cup water to shortening/egg mixture. Mix well.
5. Add raisins, nuts and apples. Mix well.
6. Combine flour and baking soda.
7. Add flour mixture and ¼ cup water to apple mixture and mix thoroughly.
8. Scoop cookie dough onto ungreased baking sheets and bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes.
9. While cookies are baking, make the glaze. Combine powdered sugar and 1 ½ tsp. hot water. Mix thoroughly to get rid of all lumps. Brush over warm cookies.

Sugar Cookies

Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cups white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup white sugar for decoration

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together the flour and baking soda; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, 1 1/4 cups white sugar and brown sugar.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla, then stir in the milk.
4. Mix in the dry ingredients until just blended.
5. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in the remaining sugar.
6. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
7. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the bottoms of the cookies are golden brown. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.