Christmas or Anytime Cookie Recipes

This lens was featured on Cabaret Squidoo on Nov. 11, 2008.
 

When I was working on my "Baking" project in 4-H, one of the first things that I learned how to bake was cookies. I love cookies. My husband loves cookies (a lot) so I have many recipes for a number of different kinds that I'll share with you right now. We'll start with our personal favorites: Snickerdoodles, Chocolate Chip and Sugar Cookies.

These cookie recipes also make nice gifts for the holidays. Everyone loves these three kinds and you can get the cutest holiday cookie cutters and use colored sugar to make the sugar cookies an outstanding decorative treat.

I have also added an old recipe for Tiny Fudge Tarts. This melt in your mouth, chocolate delight is absolutely delicious. It's a little more difficult than the others, but not too hard to make. I made them often when I was in high school. Hope you enjoy.

Here's another favorite recipe, Cinnamon Nut Slices. It's an easy to make kind of refrigerator cookie, that stores well, so it's good for holiday giving. Just be sure that you hide the dough well when it's in the refrigerator or it will be all gone when it's time to bake the cookies.

Buy cookies, Just hand me the Cookies, and Nobody g... by MedinaA42

My husband's favorite cookies are Snickerdoodles. Some people call them "tea cakes". The original recipe I use came from an old copy of Betty Crocker's Cooky Book. I have also included a variation of the original recipe that I developed, which is quicker to make.

Original Snickerdoodles Recipe
1 cup of shortening (part butter or margarine)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups Gold Medal Flour
2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Heat oven to 400 degrees F (mod. hot). Mix shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and eggs thoroughly. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Blend flour, cream of tartar, soda, and salt; stir in. Shape dough in 1 inch balls. Roll in mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. These cookies puff up at first, then flatten out. Makes 6 dozen cookies.

My Snickerdoodles Variation
This bar cookie style recipe is a little healthier, chewier and quicker and easier to make.
1/2 cup of Canola Oil
1/2 cup of butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups raw sugar
2 eggs (free roam)
3 cups unbleached Flour
2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Heat oven to 400 degrees F (mod. hot). Mix shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and eggs thoroughly. Measure flour by dipping method. Blend flour, cream of tartar, soda, and salt; stir in. Sprinkle half of 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon mixture into the bottom of 2 ungreased 7 X 11 inch cake pans. Press half of the cookie dough into each pan and sprinkle with the rest of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cut into squares when they have cooled 5-10 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of my favorite cookies to make. I have a couple of recipes that are really good. We like our cookies hot and chewy with a glass of milk.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 4-5 dozen (depending on how much raw dough you eat)

2/3 cup shortening (part butter or margarine if desired)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour (For a softer, rounder cookie, add 1/4 cup more flour.)
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix shortening (part butter), sugars, egg and vanilla thoroughly. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Stir dry ingredients together and blend in well with wet mixture. Mix in chopped nuts and chocolate pieces. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until delicately browned. Cookies should still be soft. Cool slightly before removing from the cookie sheet.

Original Toll House Cookies

2 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup softened butter or shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon water
2 eggs
a 12 ounce package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and set aside. Combine softened butter or shortening, granulated and brown sugar, vanilla and water and beat until creamy. Beat in 2 eggs. Add flour mixture and mix well. Stir in the package of semi-sweet chocolate morsels and chopped nuts. Drop by well rounded half teaspoon-fulls onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Recipe makes 100 2 inch cookies.

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Sugar cookies are fun to make around the holidays and there are so many darling cookie cutter shapes that can be used. Here's an old recipe from the Betty Crocker's Cooky Book that always comes out well and tastes great.

First here are some pointers from the book about how to make Perfect Rolled Cookies.

Mix dough as directed. Using part of dough and keeping rest chilled, lightly roll dough to desired thickness; the thinner you roll, the crisper the cookies. Rub flour into rolling pin cover and cloth to prevent sticking.

To cut: dip cooky cutter in flour, shake off excess, cut with steady pressure. Cut as many cookies from each rolling as possible. Cut diamonds or squares with knife. Carefully lift cut-out cookies to baking sheet with spatula. Bake.

Perfect rolled cookies have:
  ~ uniform shape of cutter
  ~ lightly browned surface
  ~ crisp texture or soft texture, depending on thickness
  ~ rich, delicate flavor

Ethel's Sugar Cookies
A time-tested family favorite...made with granulated sugar.

3/4 cup shortening (part butter or margarine)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon lemon flavoring or 1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups Gold Medal Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Mix shortening, sugar, eggs, and flavoring thoroughly. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together; blend in. Chill at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 400 degrees F (mod. hot). Roll dough 1/8 inch think on lightly floured board. Cut with 3 inch cooky cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes, or until cookies are a delicate golden color. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
Note: DO NOT use Self-Rising Flour in this recipe.

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A Christmas Cookie Tray - 24 Gourmet Cookies - $ 48.00
Every year we offer one of these large wood trays and it is one of the first items to sell out! Loaded with two dozen cookies and is painted white with silver snowflakes. Great gift for an office or large group of people.. Or someone that really loves cookies!