Challenge Butter Review & Giveaway. And Soft Holiday Eggnog Cookies

I recently got a package from Challenge Dairy asking me to create a dessert recipe using the ingredients pictured below. One of the ingredients was butter!!! To me the best cookies and desserts are the result of using real butter. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of butter especially when I bake, to me there is just no substitute. I also use it in a lot of my pasta sauce recipes. My normal butter of choice is Members Mark. I purchase a 6 lb package at Sam's Club every other month. I had never tried Challenge Butter before and I am always up for trying something new. Who knows it just might be better than my current brand. It took me a bit to think of exactly what recipe I wanted to make. I went back and forth for a couple days and finally settled in on a recipe for Soft Eggnog Cookies. This recipe is kind of a spin off an old favorite that I love. The recipe I am talking about is for Old Fashioned Buttermilk Cookies. I thought if I improvised and substituted some of the ingredients and added a few new ones that I just might have a new holiday favorite. So off I went.......

I used all of the ingredients below that were sent to me so I was really excited about that. I was a bit of a nervous wreck wondering if the cookies would turn out or if I would just end up with a big old flop on my hands. Well I am happy to say the recipe turned out great. The eggnog flavor really came through in these soft pillow like cookies. I also frosted these cookies with a eggnog flavored frosting. They were perfect!!! so I have a new cookie recipe perfect for any holiday cookie tray. I really liked the challenge butter and so glad I had the opportunity to give it a try. What I liked most about the butter was it's creaminess and great flavor. The price is pretty good as well retailing for around $2.50 regular price. Plus it's made from Pasteurized Cream from cows not treated with growth hormones.

I also wanted to mention that Challenge Dairy is hosting a great giveaway right now. You can enter for your to chance to win "A Taste of the West Sweepstakes" for a 7-day/6-night trip for 4 people to the incredible Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana’s Paradise Valley, just North of Yellowstone National Park. Airfare, food, accommodations, and lots of activities are included in this $17,000 luxury getaway! Go here to enter! Who wouldn't want to win that. I for one would love to go spend some time on their beautiful ranch. Spice Island and OXO will be also be giving a runner-up a $850 kitchen package. So go enter for your chance to get a taste of how life is in the West.

These were the ingredients Challenge Dairy sent me:
Challenge Butter, Spice Island Ground Cinnamon, Spice Island Ground Nutmeg and Spice Island Pure Vanilla Extract.

These cookies turned out so festive and yummy. I know they wouldn't be the same without the use of butter. But don't take my word for it why don't you try Challenge Butter yourself.

Today I will be giving away Three Coupons for Free Challenge Butter to one of my readers. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. If you cant wait to try Challenge Butter you can go to their website and get a Coupon for .50 off good towards your next purchase. There is also a store locator listed at their site. I will announce a random winner on:

Wednesday, December 23rd 2009

Contest open to us residents only. If you do not have a blog profile please leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or I will pick a new winner.

Soft Holiday Eggnog Cookies

1/2 - cup (1 stick) real unsalted butter, softened
1 - cup sugar
1 - egg
1 - teaspoon spice island vanilla extract
1/4 - tsp rum extract

dash of spice island ground nutmeg
2 1/2 - cups all-purpose flour
1/2 - teaspoon baking soda
1/2 - teaspoon salt
1/2 - 1 cup - eggnog

FROSTING:
2 - 3 - tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 - 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 - cup eggnog
1/2 - teaspoon vanilla extract
cinnamon sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla and rum extract. Combine flour, baking soda, nutmeg and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with eggnog and mix well. Start by adding a 1/2 cup of eggnog and if you feel that the dough is to thick you can up to 1 cup. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. I used my small cookie scoop for this. Flatten down the cookie dough just a bit and bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Watch them closely they may not take the full 10 minutes, depending on your oven. The cookies are done when they are golden brown around the edges but still light in color on top. Test the cookies with a toothpick to make sure they are done. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove to a cooling rack, cool completely and frost.

I have a convection oven so I lowered my baking temperature to 350.

For the frosting, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, eggnog and vanilla in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth. If the frosting is to runny add more confectioners sugar. If it is really thick add a bit more eggnog. It should be spreadable. Frost the cookies and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar on top. I used regular granulated sugar mixed with spice island ground cinnamon.

Printable Recipe


Disclosure: I would like to thank Challenge Dairy for sponsoring this Giveaway. I was supplied with a Challenge Butter Gift Package consisting of butter coupons, spices and baking utensils for the purpose of reviewing their product.

Tina, The Mom in Mommy's Kitchen