Christmas Cookie Recipe

[WolverineSyr]

I'm late on the upswing with this, but I have a pretty damn awesome recipe for christmas cookies (or any other reason to make awesome cookies.) I know some of you are pretty good cooks, and others have kids - so this might appeal to you. I've never found another recipe for chocolate pressed cookies & everyone I've made them for loves them.

I'm not a baker, but if I can make these, anyone can. Merry christmas, eat a lot & if you have a good cookie recipe - let us know!

Chocolate cookies

mix 2 eggs, 1 stick of butter and 1 cup of sugar together until it's well mixed.

Add 2 cups of unsifted flour, half cup of cocoa, one teaspoon of baking powder, half teaspoon of baking soda and a half teaspoon of salt.

This all doesn't mix smoothly so you may have to dig your hands in after some mixing to make the dough form. The dough will be sticky, roll it into a ball & stick it in the refrigerator for an hour (or overnight, whatever...)

Once it's cooled & firm, roll it out. Use cutters to cut into shapes. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 for 7 to 9 minutes. Let them cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes then remove to paper towels for another 10 or 15 minutes. You can frost them for extra awesomeness!

If you're interested in getting the old red press cutters from the 1940's & 1950's - this company still makes them: http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/cooky ... tm#NURSERY

(cookiecutter.com has better pictures, but higher prices...)

[hexicon]

Thanks Wolvie. I'm always looking for a good cookie recipe.

In the spirit of sharing, I'll contribute what I think is the best biscotti recipe ever. (Basic version comes from Martha, with numerous Hex additions.). For some reason using the extra egg yolks instead of butter results in a much nicer texture, IMHO--less likely to crumble when sliced.

To fit with the New Wave theme, we could call these Oranges and Lemons Biscotti.

Happy holiday eatin'. I'm off to bake another batch.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 tsp orange or lemon extract, or 1/8 tsp oranage or lemon oil, or 1 tsp vanilla. King Arthur Flour catalog has a really nice flavoring called Fiori di Sicilia that is vanilla-orange, like a creamsicle.

1 tablespoon grated orange or lemon zest

Pinch of salt

3 large eggs, plus 2 large egg yolks

1 cup nuts, such as hazelnuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds, or walnuts, lightly toasted and chopped

Optional: additional goodies, such as chopped candied orange or lemon peel, or dried cranberries or sour cherrries that have been soaked in boiling water and then chopped.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, zest, and salt. Beat together eggs, yolks, and flavoring. Add to dry ingredients, and mix until a sticky dough is formed. Work in chopped and whole nuts and other mix-ins, if using. WARNING. Dough will be extrmely sticky. Avoid the temptation to add more flour. Mix with wet hands if necessary.

3. Turn out onto a well-floured board, and divide into two portions. With wet hands, roll into logs about 12 inches long, and transfer to a greased and floured baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and firm to the touch in the center, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand until cool enough to handle. Reduce oven temperature to 275°.

4. Using a serrated knife, slice logs on an angle into bars about 1/2 inch thick. Return to cookie sheet cut side up, and bake until lightly toasted and hard, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely. Biscotti will keep for several weeks in an airtight container.

[birdmadgirl]

Double Chocolate Snowquakes


1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk-chocolate chips
1 cup confectioners' sugar



1. Make the dough: Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Cream butter until smooth in a large bowl with an electric mixer set on medium speed. Add the sugars and beat until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Reduce mixer speed to medium low, add the flour mixture to the egg mixture, and mix until a soft dough forms. Add chocolate chips and mix to incorporate. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

2. Bake the cookies: Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper and set aside. Place the confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl and set aside. Keeping dough well chilled, shape 1 tablespoon of dough into a ball. Roll the ball in the confectioners' sugar to coat generously -- do not shake off excess sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking pans. Bake until cookies have puffed and cracked and are slightly firm to the touch -- 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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[manekineko]

[quote]Originally posted by WolverineSyr
I have a pretty damn awesome recipe for christmas cookies[/quote]
I can personally vouch for the awesomeness of these cookies. I've certainly eaten enough of them...

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[DayGloJo]

Me too! Thanks for the recipe, Wolverine. BTW, You ought to post a photo of your fantastic tree, too! You get my award for "Mister Christmas Spirit!" [:)]

Merry Christmas to all my NWO pals. I've missied you all. Sorry I've been away for so long. I've got a new job and am still in school so there's not too much time for anything else. [:0] I'll try to hang out here a bit more between semesters!

Best wishes for the coming New Year!

NWO: way more fun than data modelling.

[oldmotherhub]

Great recipes! Can't wait to try these out with the kids over the school break. Here's one from my childhood that I still make every year...

Christmas Butter Cookies

12 hard boiled egg yolks
1&1/2 pounds of butter
1&1/2 cups of sugar
1&1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 teaspoon of salt
6 cups of flour

Take the hard boiled egg yolks and push them through a strainer using a tablespoon, set aside. Cream butter-add sugar, vanilla, salt and egg yolks. Stir in flour. Pack dough into a cookie press fitted with desired design and squeeze out cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets 1 inch apart. Decorate with assorted sprinkles. Bake in oven preheated to 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden.

Merry Christmas to you all !

[marie3]

How did I miss this thread?
I make about 8 to 10 different cookies at Christmas time.
I will try these recipes next Christmas. [:D]

Thanks for posting these. Lets do another thread like this next year so I can share too.

[WolverineSyr]

Why wait for christmas? I make my chocolate cookies all year long! [:p] Any holiday is an excuse...

[randy]

Wolvie--you must still have my address--when do I get a box?[:o)]