Favorite Holiday Cookies

More cookie recipes coming up.  These are my favorites.

Magical Cookies

Russian Tea Cakes

Brown Sugar Refrigerator Cookies

Happy Baking!

More Cookies

For all your holiday baking needs... I'm going to have to find some time to do these myself.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Rosemunnar

Fruit Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Holiday Cookies Redux

The holiday season is upon us and everything gets busy.  Don't hate me, but I have my holiday shopping pretty much done.  It's much easier when you tell your husband, I'm getting you this, pick out the one you want. I got him a new laptop. His was pushing seven years and had been rebuilt a couple times too. Maybe this will inspire him to do more with photography. I got my wish and am getting a Kindle Fire. Amazon said that it shipped yesterday, so I am waiting on pins and needles.

Last December, I posted a bunch of my favorite cookie recipes and I am going to reshare them this year.  They are all delicious and easy which is something we all need this time of year. Enjoy!

Lemon Squares

Cream Cheese Kolacky

Split Second Cookies

Magical Cookies

Today I’m guest blogging at Lisa Haselton's Blog (http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com).  Stop by and say hi, then try out these fantastic cookies.  They are my absolute favorite. 


Thanks for hopping along the tour with me.  Check back after the New Year for more tour stops. 


Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season. 

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cocoa

About 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES, unwrapped (any flavor works)

Powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until creamy. Stir together flour and cocoa; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Mold scant tablespoon dough around each chocolate piece, covering completely. Shape into balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

2. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool about 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Roll in powdered sugar. Roll in sugar again just before serving, if desired. About 4 dozen cookies.

http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=8068&page=1&per=25& CategoryPage=true&keyword=mint%20kiss%20recipes&omnituresearch=true&category_id=20&rectypecat=Cookies

Lemon Squares

Today I'm guest blogging at Classic Romance Revival (http://classicromancerevival.blogspot.com) about our Christmas tree.  What are your stipulations for the perfect tree?


Lemon Squares

Prep: 10 min Bake 50 min
Makes 25 squares

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup stick butter or margarine, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel, if desired
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
Powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix flour, margarine and powdered sugar. Press in ungreased square
pan, 8 x 8 x 2 or 9 x 9 x 2 inches, building up 1/2-inch edge.
3. Bake crust 20 minutes.
4. Beat remaining ingredients with electric mixer on high speed about 3
minutes or until light and fluffy. Pour over hot crust.
5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched
lightly in center. Cool in pan on wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.
Cut into about 1-1/2 inch squares.

Sugar Cookies

Have you worn a bridesmaid dress a second time?  Or even a third? I have. Find out why at Terry O'dell's Blog (http://terryodell.blogspot.com/).

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

1 cup margarine or butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon almost extract

1 large egg

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Granulated sugar

Directions:

Mix powdered sugar, margarine, vanilla, almond extract and egg in large bowl.  Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar.  Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheet lightly with shortening.

Divide dough in half. Roll each half ¼ inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2- to 2 ½ inch cookie cutters.  Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheet.

Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Makes about 5 dozen.

From Betty Crocker’s New Cookbook

Cream Cheese Kolacky

Today, there is an excerpt of Courting Sparks posted at Romancing the Book (http://www.romancing-the-book.com/).  Commenters are eligible to win a copy of the book.

Ingredients:

3 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup any flavor fruit jam

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

Directions:

Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add flour slowly until well blended. Shape into a ball and chill overnight or for several hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Roll dough out 1/8 inch thick on a floured pastry board. Cut into 2 1/2 inch squares and place 1/2 tsp (approx) of jam or preserves. Overlap opposite corners and pinch together. Place on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool. Sprinkle lightly with confectioner's sugar.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cream-Cheese-Kolacky/Detail.aspx

Russian Tea Cakes

Okay, so I’ve never actually made Russian Tea Cakes.  They are one of my husband’s favorites. He used to make them with his grandpa when he was a little boy.  Isn’t that a cute image?  

I’m being interviewed at the Lovestruck Novice (http://thelovestrucknovice.blogspot.com/) and you read about how I met Mitch Malone at W.S. Gager on Writing (http://wsgager.blogspot.com).

Ingredients:

1 cup stick margarine or butter, softened

½ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup finely chopped nuts

¼ teaspoon salt

Powdered sugar

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix margarine, ½ cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.

Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

Makes about 4 dozen

From Betty Crocker’s New Cookbook

Split-second Cookies

I feel privileged to be one of the first people to meet Mitch Malone, Grand River Journal crime reporter. Find out more about him and meet my critique partner, W. S. Gager, at W.S. Gager on Writing (http://wsgager.blogspot.com/).

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup jam

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Divide dough into four equal portions; shape each into a 12-in. x 3/4-in. log. Place 4 in. apart on two greased baking sheets. Make a 1/2-in. depression down center of logs; fill with jam.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes; cut diagonally into 3/4-in. slices. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Split-Second-Cookies-2/Detail.aspx

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Today, I am being interviewed at Love Romances and More (http://loveromancesandmore.blogspot.com/).  Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Courting Sparks.

Ingredients:

3 cups white sugar

1 cup evaporated milk

1/4 cup cocoa

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

Butter one 9x9 inch pan.

Combine the sugar, evaporated milk and cocoa in saucepan. Stir over high heat until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Lower heat to medium and continue cooking to a soft ball stage.

Remove from heat, add peanut butter and margarine. Beat by hand until creamy; pour into prepared pan. Allow to cool and cut into squares.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Fudge/Detail.aspx

Thumbprint Cookies

When was your wedding?  You were probably smart and chose a pleasant month like May or June, instead of a wintry month like January.  Find out what can happen when you get married in the worst blizzard in a decade at the Happily Ever After Blog (http://happilyeverafterauthors2.blogspot.com/).

Ingredients:

½ cup butter, softened

¼ cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

¼ finely chopped walnuts

2/3 cup any flavor fruit jam

¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  Grease cookie sheets.

Separate egg, reserving egg white. Cream butter or margarine, sugar, and egg yolk.

Add vanilla, flour and salt, mixing well.

Shape dough into balls.  Roll in egg white, then walnuts.  Place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.  Bake for 5 minutes.

Remove cookies from oven.  With thumb, dent each cookie.  Put jelly or preserves in each thumbprint. Bake for another 8 minutes.

Courting Sparks - Available today!

Courting Sparks is officially released today!  It is available at Amazon.com.

Double booked again today.  Check out  Anne Patrick's Blog (http://suspensebyanne.blogspot.com/) for an interview and  Stacy Juba's Blog (http://stacyjuba.com/blog/blog/) for some insights into what I was doing twenty-five years ago.

Rosenmunnar

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1/2 cup any flavor fruit jam

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add sifted flour, and mix well. Shape dough into 1 inch diameter balls and place on cookie sheets. Imprint your thumb in the center to make a 1/2 inch indentation. Fill with your favorite preserves.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown at the edges.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rosenmunnar/Detail.aspx

Brown Sugar Refrigerator Cookies

It’s almost time to set New Year’s resolutions.  Do you make any? Sometimes I have to evaluate the goals I’ve set in light of changing situations.  Read more about it at Avalon Authors (http://avalonauthors.blogspot.com).

Ingredients:

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup stick margarine or butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

3 cups all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1/3 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Mix brown sugar, margarine, vanilla and egg in large bowl.  Stir in remaining ingredients.

Shape dough into rectangle, 10 x 3 inches, on plastic wrap.  Wrap and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm but no longer than 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut rectangle into 1/8-inch slices. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until light brown.  Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Makes about 6 dozen.

From Betty Crocker’s New Cookbook

Fruit Oatmeal Cookie Bars

It’s Thursday and busy day for the tour.  Today I’m being interviewed at Romance Reviews Today (http://romrevtoday.blogspot.com/).  Check out the interview, then try these cookies.  Fruit and oatmeal, they’re practically healthy.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups any flavor fruit jam

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Combine the butter, brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt and rolled oats. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the preserves over the top and sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture, gently pressing crumbs into jam.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fruit-Oatmeal-Cookie-Bars/Detail.aspx

No Bake Cookie Balls

Today I’m blogging at RomCon Inc Blog (http://www.romconinc.com/index.php/conversations/post/598) about the things we will do for our friends. Namely, wearing bridesmaid dresses. Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Courting Sparks.

Ingredients:

1 cup (6 ounces) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1-3/4 cups crushed vanilla wafers (about 55 wafers)

1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

1/3 cup orange juice

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

Additional confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Stir in the confectioners' sugar, vanilla wafers, walnuts, orange juice and corn syrup.

Roll into 1-in. balls; roll in additional confectioners' sugar. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 5 dozen.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/No-Bake-Cookie-Balls?pmcode=TX981VH38M&_mid=390300&_rid=390300.342400.100523

Buttery Spritz

Join me at the Book Boost Blog (http://thebookboost.blogspot.com/) today.  Then try out these sweet little cookies.  You need a cookie press, but you end up with wonderful bite-size cookies that tempt you to eat them by the handful. My husband, as with most holiday cookies, likes them straight out of the freezer.  I think this may be because I forget about them and he gets to eat them all.

Ingredients:

1 cup stick butter, softened.

½ cup sugar

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla

½ teaspoon salt

1 large egg

Few drops red or green food color, if desired.

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix butter and sugar in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Place dough in cookie press. From desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 6 to 9 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.  Cool on wire rack.

Makes about 5 dozen.

From Betty Crocker’s New Cookbook

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

Kicking off the Courting Sparks Blog Tour at Elaine Cantrell's Blog (http:/www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com/). Check it out, then try out these cookies.  So easy even I can make them.  There were some issues with the jellies running, but I attribute that to using my mother’s homemade jam.  (See Just Like My Mother. I don’t think there was zucchini in it, but...)  

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar, plus extra for rolling dough

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup shortening

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 large eggs

1/4 cup milk

2 tsps. vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsps. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3/4 cup strawberry jelly, or any jam, jelly or preserves of your choice

Directions:

Heat oven to 375°F.

Beat together sugar, brown sugar, shortening and peanut butter. Stir until blended. Add eggs, milk and vanilla. Beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to peanut butter mixture. Beat well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool 2 minutes. Make a depression in the center of each warm cookie with your finger or the back of a teaspoon. Fill each depression with about 1/2 teaspoon jelly. Cool completely. Yield: 5 dozen.1/3 cup orange juice

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Peanut-Butter-and-Jelly-Cookies?pmcode=IJLDP01T&_mid=397100&_rid=397100.343200.100230