I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to write this until next week, but Syracuse’s defy-all-odds basketball season finally came to an end Saturday night. It’s easy for me to feel down about the Orange ending their season in Boston rather than New Orleans at the Final Four, but they sure did have a good run this year despite everything thrown at them, and it was a probably one of the most thrilling years I’ve ever had as a Syracuse fan. Only seven more months ’til next season! 
I know what you’re thinking… I thought this was a baking blog? What has been going on the last three+ weeks? Bear with me, one more week of Cookie March Madness!
Syracuse might be done playing, but four other teams are still vying for the national championship, which can only mean one thing… it’s Final Four Cookie Week! 
That’s right. I’ve created four cookies, one to represent each team in the Final Four: Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, and Ohio State.
Here’s (what I think is) the extra fun part. You can vote for your favorite cookie! I’ve inserted a poll below where you can choose the cookie you think has what it takes to make it all the way. Scroll down to read about each cookie, then VOTE! We’ll see which one comes out on top at the end of the week. Who knows, maybe the cookie favorite will determine the teams’ fate down in New Orleans.
Which cookie is your top pick for Final Four Cookie Week?
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Kansas: Whole Wheat Butter Cookie with Sunflower Seeds (4%, 2 Votes)
Kentucky: Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies (24%, 12 Votes)
Louisville: Chocolate Mint Julep Cookies (10%, 5 Votes)
Ohio State: Peanut Butter Buckeye Thumbprint Cookies (62%, 30 Votes)
Total Voters: 49
Now, let’s meet the contenders, in alphabetical order:
University of Kansas Jayhawks: Whole Wheat Butter Cookies with Sunflower Seeds
First up are the University of Kansas Jayhawks who claimed their spot in the Final Four Sunday evening by defeating the University of University of North Carolina Tarheels. Knowing very little about Kansas (other than the fact that Syracuse beat them to win the 2003 National Championship), this was a tough one. A cookie for Kansas? Hmm. Alas, with a little research I found that Kansas’ state flower is the sunflower. Combine that with its location in the nation’s breadbasket, and I whipped up a Whole Wheat Butter Cookie with Sunflower Seeds: a chewy butter cookie with a nutty flavor, topped with candy coated chocolate covered sunflower seeds (and yes, I made sure to pick out the blue & red’s just for the Jayhawks).
University of Kentucky Wildcats: Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Next are the University of Kentucky Wildcats, who were basically a shoe-in for the Final Four this year (seriously, those guys are good), but had to get past the Baylor University Bears to get there. After receiving some Twitter advice on Kentucky-ish flavors, I decided to fancy up my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe to make Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies: a sweet & salty cookie with chocolate chips, chopped salted pecans, kicked up with a subtle bourbon flavor. If the State of Kentucky is looking to adopt a state cookie, this could definitely be a contender!
University of Louisville Cardinals: Chocolate Mint Julep Cookies
Scoot down the road a bit (literally) and we have the University of Louisville Cardinals, who defeated the University of Florida Gators Saturday afternoon to earn their spot in the Final Four. Now, here’s where things get complicated. That Kentucky chocolate chip cookie up above was almost the Louisville cookie, but when Kentucky booked its own trip to NOLA, I had to call in for backups. So I went local. Louisville = Kentucky Derby. Kentucky Derby = hats & drinks. I wasn’t about to make hat-shaped cookies, so instead I created a Chocolate Mint Julep Cookie: a soft chocolate mint bon-bon shaped cookie with yet again, a subtle bourbon flavor. Those Kentuckians sure do love their whiskey.
The Ohio State University Buckeyes: Peanut Butter Buckeye Thumbprint Cookies
Last but not least are the (The) Ohio State University Buckeyes, who beat – it’s hurts so much to type this – the Syracuse University Orange Saturday night to earn a place in the Final Four. You’re going to think I’m nuts, but I actually had a feeling Syracuse wasn’t going to win this game because (a) I’ve sort of beat the whole Syracuse cookie thing into the ground and (b) I had an awesome idea for Ohio State’s cookie: Peanut Butter Buckeye Thumbprint Cookies. These cookies are basically every peanut butter lover’s dream, including myself. A chewy peanut butter cookie with a creamy peanut butter buckeye candy in the center. Syracuse’s absence in the Final Four hurts my heart, but if I close my eyes and eat one of these cookies, everything might be okay.
Alright… now that we’ve been through all four cookies, it’s time to VOTE! Scroll back up and let me know which is your favorite… which one you think has what it takes to make it all the way!
Recipes for all four cookies are below. May the best team cookie win!
Makes 2 dozen cookies Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the vinegar, egg and vanilla; beat until fluffy. In a small mixing bowl, stir the salt, baking soda, and whole wheat flour. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, beating on medium until combined. Form the dough into one-inch balls and set onto the prepared cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Immediately press the candy coated sunflower seeds into the top of the cookies. Allow the cookies to cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing from the cookie sheets to cool completely.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, shortening, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the eggs and bourbon; stir until mixed well. Add the baking soda and salt; stir until mixed well. Gradually add the flour, mixing until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans. Drop the cookie dough by rounded tablespoon onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown Allow the cookies to cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing from the cookie sheets to cool completely.
Makes 1 1/2 dozen cookies
- 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 sleeve Thin Mint Cookies, finely crushed (Keebler Grasshopper cookies work, too)
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- Pecans (optional, for garnish)
Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the shortening, crushed cookies, bourbon and egg with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Add the baking soda, salt, and flour and mix until combined.
Roll the dough into one-inch balls and set 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies are set. Immediately insert a pecan in the center of each cookie. Allow to the cookies to cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing from the cookie sheets to cool completely.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a small mixing bowl, beat the peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth. Roll into 30 balls; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, egg, and vanilla on medium speed until smooth. Add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt; mix well. Gradually add the flour until mixed. Roll the cookie dough into one-inch balls, then set onto the prepared cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown (cookies may flatten a bit while baking – if so, immediately remake thumbprint once the cookies are out of the oven). Allow the cookies to cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing from cookie sheet to cool completely. Once the cookies are cooled, place the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on High in 30 second increments, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted. Use a spoon to dip the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate, leaving an oval shape uncovered. Place the ball in the center of a cookie, and repeat with the remaining peanut butter balls. Chill the cookies until set (about 30 minutes).
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