Mrs. McBane’s Sugar Cookies

Photos updated Oct. 2019

Mrs. McBane’s Sugar Cookies are my favourite. I don’t know Mrs. McBane, but I imagine her to be a very a proper lady with a bit of a wild side. I could have this all wrong. She is a friend of my grandmas, or so I think. I’m not even sure of her first name, the colour of her hair, the names of her children, or even if she has children. What I do know is that she is incredibly generous to have shared this cookie recipe with my grandma.

Every year my grandmother would make a tray of dainties at Christmas time. There was always plenty of options, but I don’t remember them. Wait, let me rephrase that, I don’t remember them the way I remember the forgotten kisses (a mint meringue cookie, which I’ll share shortly) and these sugar cookies. They are by far the best sugar cookie I’ve ever had, but to be fair, they’re not your typical sugar cookie, oh they’re loaded with sugar, don’t worry about that. They’re just not the decorating kind of cookie. Forget the sprinkles and the icing, these little guys don’t need the extras.

They’re pressed with a glass dipped in sugar. My grandma would use her crystal for this, which is maybe why I think Mrs. McBane probably had a wild side. Who would break out the only-used-for-special-occasions crystal just to make cookies? Did I just out my grandma as having a wild side too? When I would help with these cookies, I always felt it was a real privilege to be handling the fancy schmancy crystal. I’ve since inherited some crystal bowls and now I make Mrs. McBane’s sugar cookies with these.

The real story behind using the crystal, is that crystal generally has all these great cutouts around the glass, sometimes bottom included.  My grandma’s crystal had cutouts in the bottom and those little cutouts when pressed into the cookies, leave a design that will remind you of sand dollars from the beach. I have used a regular ol’ everyday glass and they work just as well and taste just the same. For me however, using the crystal reminds me of my grandma and really when would I break out the fancy schmancy crystal if not for this?

These cookies are a bit tedious, but don’t let that scare you off. Trust me the time spent will be well worth it. Each cookie is rolled small then pressed with a sugar-dipped glass (crystal or not) and baked until barely golden. These sugar cookies will fly off your cooling rack, plate, kitchen counter, whatever it is you use to cool cookies. They will disappear. I store most of the batch in the freezer, apart from those that disappear in the cooling process. Frozen they literally seem to melt away in your mouth.

How to make Mrs. McBane’s Sugar Cookies

The recipe itself is super simple, it’s the time it takes to actually roll and press each cookie that makes the recipe tedious. Let me walk you through this quickly, so you know what to look forward to. 

Cream together the sugars, butter, oil, eggs, and vanilla until they’re completely combined and lighten in colour with a hand mixer. Next, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt and mix that into the wet mixture. I use the hand mixer here too, just on low until it forms a soft dough.  Then, pinch off about a teaspoonful of dough and roll it into a ball. Place these onto a cookie sheet and then pressed with a glass (crystal or not) dipped in sugar. Dip the glass before pressing each cookie. Bake, cool and try to get these put away before they all disappear.

The boys and I stopped by to visit my grandmother today. We’re taking in all things winter this December in Canada. I noticed she had some butter tarts on her table. Offered to bake her a batch of Mrs. McBane’s Sugar Cookies. Her reply, “It’s a must!”. So, we’ll be baking a batch tomorrow or the next day for her, along with a batch for my brother, who I’ve been told, refuses to share with anyone. You won’t want to share Mrs. McBane’s sugar cookies either. I have an ice cream pail full, in my freezer back in Georgia, that I could have brought up and saved myself some extra work, but between you and me, I don’t really want to share either. These cookies truly are a must.

If you love Mrs McBane’s Sugar Cookies, check out these other delicious recipes inspired by my grandmas, I’m sure they’ll hit the spot:

• Grandma’s Oatmeal Coconut Lace Cookies
• Grandma’s No Bananas Foster Sauce
• Grandma’s Soft Gingersnaps

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If you get a chance to make this or any other recipe on the blog and want to share. Please feel free to tag @candyjarchronicles or use #candyjarchronicles on Instagram, so I can see your post. I’d love to see what you’re cooking in your kitchen!

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