Christmas Cookies - Brown Sugar Hazelnut Rounds

 

Ok, they aren't round.  I told you I wasn't a baker and perfection is not my style!

Also, I wish I would have dusted the crumbs away before I took the shot.

They may not be pretty here but they are delicious!

Brown Sugar Hazelnut Rounds

½  c Vegetable Shortening

½ c Butter

1 ¼ c Brown Sugar

1 t Vanilla Extract

1 lg. Egg

2 ½ c Flour

½ t Baking Soda

¼ t Salt

¾ c Hazelnuts, chopped & toasted

Cream together shortening and butter.  Add about 1 c flour to the shortening mixture.  Add brown sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda & salt.  Beat thoroughly until combined, scraping sides of bowl on occasion.  Beat or stir in remaining flour and nuts.

On waxed paper, shape dough into two 10-inch rolls.  Lift & smooth the waxed paper to shape the roll.  Chill for 4-48 hours

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut dough into ¼ inch slices.  Place slices 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are firm.  Cool on racks.

Notes:  I drizzle or frost melted milk chocolate on top of cookies after cooling.

Christmas Cookies - Triple Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies

 

A cookie with a Mexican flair!

Triple Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies

¼ c flour

¼ c unsweetened cocoa

1 ½ t cinnamon

¼ t baking powder

Pinch salt

6 T unsalted butter, room temperature

7 T sugar

2 lg. eggs

8 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped, melted, cooled

1 c chocolate chips

1 c walnuts, toasted

Walnut halves

Melted semi-sweet chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease cookie sheets.

Combine flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, salt.

Beat butter, sugar & eggs in another bowl.  Stir in 8 oz. melted chocolate chips.  Stir in dry ingredients.  Add chocolate chips and walnuts.  Drop by tablespoons 1 inch apart.  Press walnut halves on each cookie.

 Bake til dry and cracked by soft – about 11 min.  Let stand on cookie sheet. 5 minutes before moving to rack to cool.

Dip tines of fork into melted chocolate (or pipe) and drizzle onto each cookie

Notes:  This dough is  little difficult.  Even though the recipe does not suggest chilling, I do for a short time.  Chilling allows for a more substantial cookie.  Otherwise, the dough will spread into a thin cookie which breaks easily.  The crumbs are spectacular on vanilla ice cream!

I usually make a double batch - they go quickly!

Christmas Cookies - Russian Teacakes

 

Another favorite Christmas cookie at our house, these cookies may also be known as Mexican Wedding Cakes. They hold a delicate sweetness that is addicting!

Russian Teacakes

1 c butter, softened

½ c sifted confectioner’s sugar

1 t vanilla

2 ¼ c flour

¼ t salt

¾ c finally chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix butter, sugar & vanilla.  Blend flour & salt; stir in.  Mix in nuts.  Chill 2-4 hours.

Roll in 1 inch balls.  Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 10-12 min.

While warm, roll in confectioner’s sugar.  Repeat when cool.

Christmas Cookies - Toffee Almond Sandies

Each Christmas season I bake 12 - 15 different cookies.  I am not a sweets lover but I love this cookie!  It isn't overly sweet and the flavors are quite appealing to me. 

I'm also not a baker.  It is only during the holiday season do I go to all the trouble of exactly measuring, stirring, molding, chilling, cutting, baking, decorating and freezing numerous batches of delectable treats. My house smells delightful and my family anticipates the official opening of the holiday season on the day the cookies come out!

Toffee Almond Sandies

1 c butter

1 c sugar

1 c confectioner’s sugar

1 c vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 t almond extract

3 ½ c all purpose flour

1 c whole wheat flour

1 t cream of tartar

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

2 c almonds, toasted and chopped fine

6 oz toffee bits

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugars.  Add oil, eggs and extract. 

Combine flours, baking soda, salt and cream of tartar; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Stir in almonds and toffee bits.  Shape into 1 inch balls; roll in sugar.  Place on ungreased baking sheet and flatten with fork.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned.

Yield:  12 dozen cookies.

Christmas Cookies - Snickerdoodles

This cookie is a family  favorite!

 

I first made this cookie  in my high school home economics class many years ago - back when they still taught home ec in high schools.  I guess it is really not a traditional Christmas cookie but it has become so in our house.  This is the cookie I start out my holiday baking season with!


Snickerdoodles

1 c shortening

1 ½ c sugar

2 eggs

2 ¾ c flour

2 t cream of tarter

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

Cinnamon & sugar

Mix together shortening, sugar, & eggs.  Sift together and stir in flour, cream of tarter, baking soda & salt.  Roll into balls and roll in 2 t cinnamon & 2 t sugar.

Bake 8 – 10 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees.

Christmas Thoughts in July

We have had such a long above average streak of summer days throughout the Midwest.  The farmers are devastated by the drought that plagues our area.  Lack of rain and sweltering heat send my thoughts to cooler days and the good things to come - like Christmas!

I can't wait til my Christmas things come out of storage!  My mind whirls with decorating ideas.  I browse ebay and pinterest for ideas that spark my imagination.  I am filled with anticipation as I ponder holiday treats from my kitchen.

Perhaps I'll share some of my Christmas Cookie recipes as we all anticipate Christmas in July!

Merry Christmas...

To my Orthodox friends!