What You Need:
For My Original Sugar Chewies
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon Almond Extract
2 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
4 tablespoons milk
Decorative sugar sprinkles or turbinado sugar

What To Do:
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and almond extract.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

With the standing mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix in 2 tablespoons of the milk, or enough to just soften the dough.

Roll level tablespoons of the dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Use the spoon to flatten the top of each ball slightly and brush on just enough milk to moisten. Sprinkle with decorative sugar sprinkles or turbinado sugar.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until just barely golden. Let cool on the baking tray for a couple minutes before removing to a rack to cool completely.

The Other 5 Ways!

Chai Chewies
Substitute 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract (page 198) for the S&V House Blend Almond Extract. Whisk 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice, and 1⁄4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper into the flour mixture before adding to the butter mixture. Moisten the tops of the cookies with milk and sprinkle with a simple cinnamon-sugar mixture (2 teaspoons cinnamon mixed with 4 tablespoons sugar) before baking.

Hemingway Chewies
Add 1⁄16 teaspoon store-bought spearmint extract,
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil leaves, and 1 teaspoon grated lime zest to the butter mixture just before adding the flour mixture.

Coconut Sugar Chewies
Substitute 1⁄2 teaspoon store-bought coconut extract for the S&V House Blend Almond Extract. Fold 1⁄2 cup toasted unsweetened coconut flakes into the flour mixture before adding to the butter mixture.

Citrus Crush Chewies
Substitute 1 teaspoon orange extract plus 1⁄4 teaspoon lemon extract (both page 199) for the S&V House Blend Almond Extract. Add 2 teaspoons grated orange zest, lemon zest, or grapefruit zest (or any mixture of the three) to the butter mixture.

Lavender Sugar Chewies
Stir 1 tablespoon crushed dried organic lavender into the flour mixture before adding to the butter mixture.