COOKIES

Ok I know everyone loves cookies and most of us made them or saw them being made as kids around this time of year. Here are some great recipes that hopefully you will share with your family and maybe make a tradition.
White Chocolate and Cherries or Cranberries

• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts or walnuts or even Pecans
  
• 1/2 cup candied cherries or dried cranberries
  
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, with electric mixer, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until just combined. Set aside.

Sift together flour, soda, and salt. Add milk to the butter mixture and then add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Batter should be stiff.

In another bowl, combine nuts, cherries or cranberries, and white chocolate. Then add to batter, stirring only to blend. On a greased baking sheet drop the cookies using a truffle scoop or a spoon into 1" rounds about 2" apart and bake for 10 - 14 minutes.

Italian Wedding Cookies - (one of my Faves)

• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups finely ground almonds
• 4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Cream butter or margarine in a bowl, gradually add confectioners' sugar and salt. Beat until light and fluffy. Add almonds and vanilla. Blend in flour gradually and mix well.

Shape into balls (or crescents) using about 1 teaspoon for each cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheets, and bake for 15-20 min. Do not brown. Cool slightly, then roll in the extra confectioners' sugar.


Gingerbread Men

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tablespoons orange zest
2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt


Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets.

Cream the butter and the sugar together. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the orange peel and dark corn syrup. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves and salt, mixing until well combined. Chill dough overnight.

Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Decorate to your liking.


I will add some more tomorrow so be on the lookout. I hope you like these and let me know what you think. ENJOY and INDULGE.