When I was a child, I used to dream about visiting Disneyland. We had next door neighbors who shared a driveway with us, and they had travelled just about everywhere. They had decals from all the places that they had been to on the back windows of their station wagon to prove it.
I can remember standing on the driveway and respectfully admiring all of those decals, but the one which I admired most was the one from Disneyland, complete with its Magic Castle and Tinkerbell.
As an adult I still have not been to the Magic Kingdom, and I seriously doubt that I will ever visit it now. My days of riding on roller coasters and the like are far behind me.
That doesn't mean I cannot enjoy some of the tasty foods that people get to indulge in when they are there, however. I have a thing for copycat recipes, and I love cookies. When I saw this recipe for Molasses Crackle Cookies, said to be from the Magic Kingdom, I just HAD to try it out!
- 1 cup (210g/237ml) light olive oil
- 2 1/4 cups (430g) granulated sugar, divided
- 1/3 cup (115.5g/78ml) molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 TBS baking soda (yes that is correct)
- 1 TBS ground ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 3 cups (375g) plain, all-purpose flour, unsifted
You could use any flavorless vegetable oil. I used light olive oil as it is the only oil I keep in the house aside from EVOO. You could use canola, grapeseed, etc.
Large eggs here in North America would be considered medium eggs in the U.K.

Magic Kingdom Molasses Crackles
Sweet sugar crusted cookies made with wonderfully warm baking spices and the smoky sweetness of molasses. Its nigh on impossible to eat just one!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (210g/237ml) light olive oil
- 2 1/4 cups (430g) granulated sugar, divided
- 1/3 cup (115.5g/78ml) molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 TBS baking soda (yes that is correct)
- 1 TBS ground ginger
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 3 cups (375g) plain, all-purpose flour, unsifted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Line two large baking sheets with some baking parchment. Set aside.
- Measure out 1/2 cup (96g) of the sugar into a small bowl and set aside. Put the remainder into a large bowl.
- Add the oil to the sugar in the large bowl and cream the two really well together. Beat in the egg and the molasses until well combined.
- Sift the flour together with the spices and the baking soda. Add this mixture to the wet ingredients a third at a time until all of the dry ingredients have been thoroughly amalgamated.
- Scoop out the dough and roll into balls that are 2 inches in size. Roll the balls in the granulated sugar in the small bowl and set onto the baking sheets, leaving at least 2-inches in between each ball.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown.
- Leave to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before scooping off onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container. These can also be frozen.
Did you make this recipe?
This content, written and photography, is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CROCK POT HAM & MACARONI DINNER
Five simple ingredients (exclusive of the topping) and a crock pot/slow cooker. That's all.
- 1 cup (120g) grated strong cheddar cheese (or any cheese of your choice)
- 1 cup (116g) uncooked macaroni
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whole milk
- 1 can (10 1/2 ounces/297g) condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup
- 1 1/2 cups (225g) cooked ham cubed (I used a small ham steak)
- 1 sleeve of saltine crackers, crumbled (8 single crackers)
- 1 TBS butter, melted
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT HAM & MACARONI DINNER
Nothing could be easier. Simply add it all to the crock pot/slow cooker, stir and cook. Do make the optional buttered cracker crumb topping if you can. It adds extra interest and texture.
I used a 2QT slow cooker, which is a smaller one. Spray it with some non-stick cooking spray.
Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Give them a stir to combine well.
Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
To make the optional cracker crumb topping. Mix the crumbled crackers with the melted butter.
Spread out on a small baking sheet and bake in a 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4 oven for 5 to 8 minutes until golden brown.
Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs over top to serve.

Ham & Macaroni Dinner
This might not look like much, but it is delicious. This makes a great meal for those days when you know you are going to be too busy to spend much time cooking a meal!
Ingredients
- 1 cup (120g) grated strong cheddar cheese (or any cheese of your choice)
- 1 cup (116g) uncooked macaroni
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) whole milk
- 1 can (10 1/2 ounces/297g) condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup
- 1 1/2 cups (225g) cooked ham cubed (I used a small ham steak)
- 1 sleeve of saltine crackers, crumbled (8 single crackers)
- 1 TBS butter, melted
Instructions
- I used a 2QT slow cooker, which is a smaller one. Spray it with some non-stick cooking spray.
- Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker. Give them a stir to combine well.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
- To make the optional cracker crumb topping. Mix the crumbled crackers with the melted butter.
- Spread out on a small baking sheet and bake in a 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4 oven for 5 to 8 minutes until golden brown.
- Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs over top to serve.
Did you make this recipe?
This content, written and photography, is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com.
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