Christmas Cookie Recipes

You need a special pizzelle iron for these. Gram always made pizzelles. Every year, we would get out the pizzelle iron and the work would begin. This is one of my most precious childhood memories of her holiday baking. Fortunately for our family, my niece now also makes them! You can add food coloring to your batter if you want to have red and green ones, and can also substitute a different flavoring if you aren't crazy about anise.

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups margarine
12 eggs
3 cups white sugar
8 teaspoons baking powder
7 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons anise extract

DIRECTIONS:
Mix ingredients in order given. Should be the consistency of a drop cookie.
Heat Pizzelle Iron.
Drop about 1 heaping teaspoon on hot iron, wait approx. 40 seconds.

We always liked making these. They are so colorful.

INGREDIENTS:
1 (16 ounce) package large marshmallows
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons green food coloring
4 1/2 cups cornflakes cereal
1 (2.25 ounce) package cinnamon red hot candies

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan over low heat, melt together the marshmallows, butter, vanilla, and food coloring. Mix in the cornflakes cereal.
Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper, and decorate with red hots. Set aside, and allow to cool.

How about taking this to a party as a gift? Share it with your neighbors and friends. Decorate your jar with a Christmas ribbon and you have a gift! They will love having the cookies ready to mix and bake.

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup orange flavored dried cranberries
1 cup vanilla or white chips

ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
In a 1-qt. glass jar, layer the sugar and brown sugar, packing well between each layer. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; spoon into jar. Top with oats, cranberries and chips. Cover and store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.

To prepare cookies: Pour cookie mix into a large mixing bowl; stir to combine. Beat in butter, egg and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Drop by the tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Many of us grew up with these goodies!

INGREDIENTS:
10 ounces vanilla milk or white chocolate chips
1 cup almonds, toasted
1/2 cup candied red cherries, quartered
1/2 cup candied green cherries, quartered
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

DIRECTIONS:
Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Stir vanilla chips in a double boiler over low heat until smooth, or microwave on medium power for 2-1/2 minutes or until soft, then stir until smooth.
Remove from heat and stir in almonds and cherries. Drop tablespoonsfuls onto prepared cookie sheet. Sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate until hard. Store in an airtight container.

Not just for theholidays, yet these are great cookies to take for a cookie exchange.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

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

In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Stir in the eggs. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. In a small bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of sugar, and the cinnamon. Roll dough into walnut sized balls, then roll the balls in the cinnamon-sugar. Place them onto an unprepared cookie sheet, two inches apart.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be slightly brown. Remove from sheets to cool on wire racks.

This is the old fashioned fantasy fudge recipe from Kraft that they took off the jars for some reason. It works like none other! I usually do this one in the microwave just because it's quick!

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. (340 g) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 7-oz. (198 g) jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Traditional method:
Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

Microwave method:
Microwave margarine in 4-quart microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) 1 minute or until melted. Add sugar and milk; mix well. Microwave on HIGH 5 minutes or until mixture begins to boil, stirring after 3 minutes. Mix well; scrape bowl. Continue microwaving on HIGH 5-1/2 minutes; stir after 3 minutes. Stir in chips until melted. Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Cool at room temperature; cut into squares. Makes 3 pounds.

This is a real hit at holiday parties or dinners because it's just so pretty!

INGREDIENTS:
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup solid pack pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons butter
8 ounces cream cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a jellyroll pan (large cookie sheet with sides).

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs on high for five minutes. Gradually add white sugar, pumpkin, and lemon juice. Add flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and ginger. Spread batter evenly in pan. Sprinkle pecans evenly on top, and press lightly into batter.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until it springs back when touched. Loosen edges with a knife. Turn out on two dishtowels that have been sprinkled with powdered sugar. Roll up cake, and let cool for about 20 minutes.

To Make Filling: Mix confectioners' sugar, vanilla, butter or margarine, and cream cheese together till smooth.

Unroll pumpkin cake when cool, and spread with filling. Reroll, and push aside the dishtowel. Unroll long sheet of waxed paper. Put pumpkin roll on waxed paper. Dust pumpkin roll with powdered sugar. Twist ends of waxed paper like a piece of candy. Put pumpkin roll in refrigerator and chill overnight. Before slicing, dust with powdered sugar. Serve chilled.

A German cookie, this has always been a favorite of our family.

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortning
1 beaten egg
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
powdered sugar -- optional

DIRECTIONS:

Combine first 4 ingredients in saucepan; cook and stir until shortening and sugar melt. Cool. Stir in egg. Mix flour with soda and spices. Add to honey mixture; mix well. Form into balls using one level tablespoon of dough for each; place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375F about 10 minutes. Cool. If desired, sift powdered sugar over tops.

Kids love to make sugar cookies and decorate them. Don't miss out on a special family time making these.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

DIRECTIONS:

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg and extracts. Combine flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Chill for at least 1 hour. On a surface lightly sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, roll out the dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough. Bake at 350 degrees F for 7-8 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.

You can sprinkle cookies before or after baking with colored sugar to add a bit more holiday!