Picnicking with Channi Higgins
Channi shares her favorite picnic-ready summer cookies to bring to any picnic or gathering!
Growing up in Saint Augustine, Channi watched her mother bake everything from scratch. Whenever another birthday would roll around, her mother baked a cake. That's where her love of baking sparked.
She began baking by learning from her mom, reading books on top of books, and gifting anything sugar-related to her church community group and friends. As Channi took on dessert chef roles across town, she continued to find her joy of baking in other people. Challenging herself to make anything her friends are into, her love for the craft is apparent.
Her sweet treats are popular across town, and we feel very fortunate for a peek into her kitchen. Thank you Channi for sharing this recipe with us for National Picnic Month!
Lemon Basil Sugar Cookies
“My love for baking, how i learned, and was first inspired was all from my mom. she baked everything for us, and i just started baking.”
Lemon Basil Sugar Cookies are a great light and refreshing treat to share with friends and the unique combo of flavors have a summery feeling. Give them a try and let us know what you think!
Ingredients
1/3 cup of chopped basil
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
7 oz softened unsalted butter
3/4 cup of granulated sugar
1 large egg
Zest of 2 lemons
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Recipe Preparation
Mix dry ingredients (flour, Baking Soda, salt) in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Add the egg and beat until incorporated. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until just combined. Do not over mix. Scoop dough into balls (I like to use a medium cookie scoop), slightly flatten the tops, and roll in granulated sugar. Put cookie dough in fridge or freezer until cold and firm.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake cookies for about 12 minutes, until lightly golden. I recommend rotating the pan 180 degrees at around 6 minutes to ensure an even bake.
*Note: Using ingredients that are at room temperature will ensure best results