Crunch Drops

It's been forever since my last post! I've barely been cooking, thanks to my b-day, work craziness, and then a fully booked weekend.

  I am very involved with the Junior League here in Owensboro. For those of whom who don't know what this is, it's a woman's volunteer organization. The League's been on summer break now since June. In September meetings get going again, and I have been starting to get busier and busier because of it, as we get ready for fall.

Junior League's are known for a lot of things (if you've seen The Help, you'll know one of them, but I swear that's not the way we really are here in Owensboro!), and cookbooks full of great recipes is one of them. Owensboro's Junior League has two books, one called 'To Market, To Market' and the other 'Home Again, Home Again'. Both of these books are chock full of Southern recipes.

Kentucky has a unique cooking tradition all of its own, many of which incorporate one of Kentucky's greatest traditions, bourbon. Or they originate from the Kentucky Derby. (You know, for a so called 'Bible Belt State', Kentucky is the home of most of America's home grown vices - Burley Tobacco, Bourbon and Horse Racing. Funny.)

There are MANY Kentucky recipes I want to try, but there was one recipe in Home Again, Home Again that I've been itching to sample since I got the book, called Crunch Drops. These may or may not be a Kentucky recipe, but most Owensboroans know of this cookie. It was a favorite of Senator Wendell Ford, who is from Owensboro and was the US's longest serving Senator (record has been taken by another Kentucky Senator, interestingly). I've had the pleasure of meeting Senator Ford several times, and I have much respect for a man who loves so delicious a cookie!

Crunch Drops are flour cookies with oats, shaved coconut and Rice Krispies in them. I could also see adding a dried fruit, like raisins, or cinnamon. Or butterscotch chips. Or chocolate. (My list could go on.) They get their 'crunchiness' not only from the Rice Krispies and oats, but also from the fact that there is no butter in them, just shortening. Shortening is, by the way, the secret to crispy fried chicken, too.

The dough will come out very stiff and dry, and will crumble easily. I packed it before setting it on the sheet.Came out perfect. And tasty.

print recipe

Crunch Drops

by Pulled from Home Again, Home Again by Junior League of Owensboro August-27-2012

A favorite of Kentucky Senators

Ingredients

• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 2 cups crisp rice cereal
• 1 cup shredded packaged coconut

Instructions

Sift the flour, baking soda and salt together. Beat the shortening in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and brown sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and flour mixture. Add the oats, cereal and coconut, mix well. The dough will be very stiff.Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Details

Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 35 mins Yield: 5 dozen cookies