Mike’s Hot Spicy Food Recipes

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour (sifted)
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter (slightly melted)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups sweetened condensed milk (approx 14oz - Eagle brand)

• 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 package - optional)
• 1 ½ cups raisins (optional)
• 1 ½ cups cornflakes (optional)
• 4 ounces shredded coconut (toasted - optional)
• 1 ½ cups chopped dates (optional)
• 1 ½ cups chopped nut meats (optional)

Directions

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add remaining ingredients; blend thoroughly. Add one of the following:

• 1 (6-oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1½ cups raisins
• 1½ cups cornflakes
• 1 (4-oz.) package (1 ½ cups) shredded coconut, toasted
• 1½ cups chopped dates
• 1½ cups chopped nut meats

Drop by level tablespoonfuls onto well-greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Remove from baking sheet immediately. To retain cookie’s softness, store in an airtight container.

The Story

It was touted as the cookie recipe would “make it easier for America’s housewives to keep their cookie jar filled.” It couldn’t have a more appealing name: The Magic 6-IN-1 Cookie. A recipe that “she will use again and again.”

That was from The Borden’s Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk promotional cookbook from decades ago.

They were right. This Magic Cookie is one of those really versatile recipes that everyone should have in their kitchen cabinet—especially with the holidays coming up when cookie platters dominate the sweet scene. Make one basic cookie dough and from it, you can make six—or as many as you like—different varieties.

The main ingredient is Borden’s Eagle’s Sweetened Condensed Milk, that miraculous invention developed in 1856 by a man named Gail Borden. He discovered a way to preserve milk using a process of evaporation under vacuum. Because it maintained so well without refrigeration, it became important product during the Civil War for the military. The canned milk was also heralded as reducing infant mortality in America by helping to keep children nourished without fear of food born illnesses from lack of refrigeration.

My favorite story about Borden’s (aside from Elsie, their famous and longest running Spokes-Cow) is the recipe contest they held in 1931. Borden’s offered homemakers $25 for their original recipes calling for "recipes in which Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk makes cooking quicker, easier, and surer."

Imagine how much money that was back then! Would you believe that the company received more than 80,000 recipe submitions?

Through the years Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk has continued to be a pantry staple, and the Magic 6-IN-1 Cookie recipe is a great example of it’s versatility in the baking department.

I had a lot of fun with this recipe and was surprised at the different flavors and textures I could achieve just by adding an ingredient or two. If you’re short on time and looking for variety, the The Eagle Brand Magic 6-IN-1 Cookie recipe could be a nice kitchen helper!