Christmas Baking is in full swing right now, and I wanted to share my recipes. Hopefully I'll just add one a day instead of slamming you with 6 at once. And how do you like that I was to lazy to divide posts?
Macaroon Kisses
Probably one of my favorites. Especially eating all the left behind toasted coconut on the cookie sheets.
1/3 c. butter, softened
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg yolk
1-1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 tsp. orange juice
1-1/4c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
5 c. flaked coconut, divided
Chocolate kisses
In a mixing bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Combine egg yolk, extract, and juice; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in 3 cups coconut. Cover and chill for at least one hour. Shape into 1" balls and roll in remaining 2 cups coconut. Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Immediately place a chocolate kiss on top of each cookie and press lightly. Cool 5 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Yield: about 4 dozen
Mountain Cookies(I have no idea why these are called mountain cookies, but since I couldn't come up with anything better...)
1 c. butter (no subs)
1 c. confectioners sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
In a bowl, cream butter sugar and vanilla. Combine the salt and flour, and mix in slowly, 'til well combined.
Shape into 1" balls, and place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. With a wooden spoon, make a deep well in the middle of each cookie. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until edges just start to brown. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.
Filling:
3 oz. cream cheese softened
1 c. confectioners sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. flaked coconut
Beat together first 4 ingredients. Add pecans and coconut and mix well. Spoon about 1/2 tsp. filling into each cookie.
Topping:
1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. water
1/2 c. confectioners sugar
Heat chips, butter and water in a small saucepan until melted, stir in sugar and drizzle over cookies.
Yield: 4 dozen
Peanut BlossomsEveryone probably has this recipe, but in case *you* don't, here 'tis.
1/2 c. shortening
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
sugar for rolling
48 chocolate kisses, unwrapped
Beat shortening and peanut butter together until well blended. Add sugars and beat until fluffy. Mix in milk, egg and vanilla. Stir together dry ingredients and gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. Shape dough into 1" balls and roll in extra sugar. Bake on ungreased sheets at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into center of cookie, until cookie cracks around edges. Remove to wire rack to cool.
Yield: 4 dozen
Eggnog SnickerdoodlesI don't like eggnog, don't know that I ever have, but I DO like these cookies. A LOT.
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
1-3/4 c. sugar divided
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. rum extract
2-3/4 c. flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
In a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening, and 1-1/2 cups sugar. Beat in eggs and extract. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.
In a shallow bowl, combine the nutmeg and and remaining sugar. Roll dough into 1" balls, then roll in sugar mixture. Place 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Yield: 6-1/2 dozen
Gumdrop Cookies(B. LOVES these. Thats why I make them, 'cuz they're kind of a pain, chopping all those gumdrops)
1 c. butter softened
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2-1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. finely chopped gumdrops (I have no tips for doing this. Its sticky.)
Blend together butter and sugars; beat in milk and vanilla and set aside. Stir together flour and baking powder, and blend into butter mixture. Stir in gumdrops. Shape dough into two 14 inch rolls. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill thoroughly. Cut into 1/4" slices and place 2" apart on parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Bake 375 for 10 minutes.
Makes 4-5 dozen
Also posted on my regular blog. I forget the name of these.
Also posted on my regular blog. I forget the name of these.1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 Tbsp. water
1 6-oz. pkg. (1 cup) semi sweet chocolate chips
1 egg
1 bag Hershey's Candy cane Kisses OR those large pastel mints you some times find at wedding showers
*Stir together flour and baking soda in a bowl. Set aside. In a medium sauce pan heat and stir together brown sugar, butter and water over low heat till butter is melted. Add chocolate chips. Heat and stir till chips are melted. Pour into a large mixing bowl and let stand 10-15 minutes or until cool.
*Beat egg into chocolate mixture. Stir in the flour/baking soda until well mixed. (dough will be soft) cover and chill for 1-2 hours or till easy to handle.
*Shape into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 8 minutes. Remove and immediately top with a Kiss. Remove from pan and cool on a rack until kisses are firm.
* For using the pastel mints, place cookies back in oven (with the mints) for 2 minutes. Remove and swirl mints with a knife to "frost" the cookies. Cool until mints are firm.
The heat of the cookies was enough to melt the Kiss, and 8 minutes baking time seemed to be plenty.
Yeild: about 4 dozen
