|
The solution?
A great tasting basic cookie recipe that quickly
and easily turns into such a variety of easy to make Christmas
treats, friends and family will think you poured over all
your favorite Christmas cookie recipes.
Let's start with the basics.
|
Basic Christmas Cookie Dough
1/2 cup (or 1 stick) butter (or margarine) at room
temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the flour. Beat with an electric mixer, scraping the sides of the bowl
several times, until the mixture is light and fluffy. With
mixer at a low speed, add the flour gradually, beating just
until everything is well blended. |
Place the mixture on a baking sheet using a tablespoon measure
and press down with a spoon to flatten a bit. Or roll our
and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.
Bake at 350°F for about 12 to 15 minutes, until golden.
This basic cookie mixture is also the base for the following
cookie recipes (all baked in a preheated oven at 350ºF).
Orange Cookies (Makes about 32)
Add 1 tablespoon of grated orange zest to the recipe. Shape
into a log that is about 1 1/2" in diameter and refrigerate
for 4 hours.
Slice dough into 1/4" thick slices. Place on cookie
sheet. Cookies can be decorated with candies, rolled in colored
sugar, or cut into pretty holiday shapes before baking. Bake
in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned.
|
|
Cherry Coconut Chocolate Squares
(Makes about 54 squares)
In addition to the basic dough you will need:
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and coarsely
chopped
Line a 13"x9" baking pan with foil.
Stir cocoa powder into basic dough mixture. Press evenly
into the prepared pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the
crust looks dry. |
In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, almond extract
and baking powder until well blended. Stir in coconut and
cherries. Pour over the baked crust.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until top just begins to brown and
a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool
in the pan on a wire rack. Lift it out on to a cutting board
using the foil ends and cut into 1 1/2" squares. Squares
can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
Coconut Pineapple Cookies
(Makes about 36)
In addition to the basic dough you will need:
1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1/3 cup pineapple preserves (use raspberry or apricot if you
prefer)
Add 1 cup of the flaked coconut to the basic dough mixture
and mix well. Shape the dough into 1 1/2" balls and roll
in the remaining coconut to coat them. Place the balls 1"
apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Make a deep indentation
in the center of each cookie with your fingertip.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookie is firm and the coconut
is lightly toasted. When cooled, fill each hole in the center
of the cookies with the preserves.
You can vary this basic dough to make a wide variety of Christmas
cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or
cinnamon. Add chopped dried fruits like apricots or dates.
Or bake them plain in holiday shapes and decorate with colored
icing.
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. Here's hoping
these quick and easy Christmas cookie recipes help keep the
pressure off the cook.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR-Karen
Ciancio is a cook and lover of all things food and cooking
related. Her website http://www.cookingnook.com
contains more recipes as tasty as these Christmas cookie recipes,like
easy dessert recipes, plus lots of other recipes, cooking
tips, measurement conversions and kitchen ideas. |
Favorite
Christmas Cookie Recipes