12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 12 The Best for Last

Merry Christmas Eve! It's time for the final cookie! And the best cookie out of the bunch. What would Christmas be without sugar cookies? Here's literally the best sugar cookie recipe out there, thanks to my Grandma Dorothy. The recipe yields at least 3 dozen, but I only baked up about a dozen to decorate with the niece. More Christmas cookies to come later in the week with some cool decorating techniques. Here are the pics of the ginger cookies from yesterday. Christmas ditty is Ms Ella again with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Have a wonderful Christmas Eve!


Grandma Dot's Sugar Cookies

1 c. white sugar
1 c. powdered sugar
1 c. oil
1 c. butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (also a little almond extract if you want)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
4 1/2 c. flour

The best little cookie decorator. :)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together, white sugar, powdered sugar, oil and butter, until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat more. Stir in baking soda, cream of tartar and flour. Chill for at least 2 hours. Roll into balls and press down lightly with bottom of glass, or roll out and cut with cookie cutters. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly brown on the edges. Frost with icing and decorate.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 11

Day 11 and Christmas Eve is upon us! Are you ready?? A certain "super-chain" store was ridiculously packed today, with too many people, trying to get last minute shopping in. Yuck. Today's cookie is a delicious ginger cookie. I made them this evening, so no good lighting for pictures, but pics will be posted tomorrow. Today's song is Ella Fitzgerald singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town. What a voice. I adore her Christmas album. It's an essential in the Christmas playlist. For reals.


Soft Ginger Cookies
adapted from My Baking Addiction
makes 2 dozen

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 butter, softened
1 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp. water
1/4 c. molasses
1/4 c. white sugar (for rolling)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift dry ingredients together. Set aside. In large bowl, cream together butter and 1 cup white sugar, until fluffy. Beat in egg, then stir in water and molasses. Gradually stir in sifted, dry ingredients into molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut-sized balls, and roll in 1/4 cup white sugar. Place dough balls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 9 and 10-Double Whammy

Well, I finally made it home for break yesterday. It's so nice to be done with homework, b.s. classes, and work for the next few weeks. Today, I'm bringing two recipes. The first one is not much of a recipe, in fact, you only need two ingredients. White chocolate-dipped Oreos ("Dressed-Up Oreos"). Super simple, but somewhat fancy and something you can get really creative with. The second recipe is killer. It's cookie in dip form. Let me say that again, "A COOKIE IN DIP FORM." Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip. Oh, goodness, this could give your waistline problems. ;) Jessica over at How Sweet It Is, knows what's up. Tunes for the day are Frank Sinatra with I'll Be Home for Christmas (cause I finally am!) and Bill Nighy (Billy Mack from Love Actually) with Christmas Is All Around (cause he's hilarious and I love this movie).


White Chocolate-Dipped Oreos

1 pkg. almond bark/melting white chocolate
1 pkg. Oreos
Sprinkles (optional)


Melt bark according to package. With tongs (or fingers) dip half of Oreo in chocolate and lay on wax-covered cookie sheet to dry. If you wish to decorate with sprinkles or crushed up Oreos, immediately decorate cookie after dipping.

My "helper" who almost took off with the plate.

See what I mean about getting creative?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
adapted from How Sweet It Is

1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. brown sugar
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. chocolate chips

"Hey, Nate. Come eat something for me."

Why, yes, that is a chocolate chip cookie he is using.

Clearly, he doesn't want to. Oh, the agony.

Poor brother.

Melt butter in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add brown sugar and whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Set aside to cool and whisk in vanilla.
Cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar. With mixer on low speed, add in brown sugar/butter mixture, mixing until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate for about 1-2 hours. Garnish with chocolate chips. Serve with fruit, cookies, crackers, pretzels, whatever sounds good!

Day 9 On Hold...

The 9th day of Christmas cookies will come to you tomorrow. I'm too busy driving home, playing basketball, eating chili, and fighting off "monsters" with the niece. ;)

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 8 and I'm Out of Eggs...

I am out of eggs. Do you know how hard it is to make cookies without eggs? Oh, it can be done, but I did not want to attempt that this morning. So here is a classic, Chocolate Chip cookies. And waking up this morning I wanted pancakes, but the boxed mix in the house calls for eggs. Dang it. But check this, eggless pancakes! Thank you, Google.


So good! It reminded me of french toast, but shaped like a pancake. Yes, please. And today's Christmas song is Dave Barnes with Christmas Tonight. I highly recommend buying this album. Love, love, love, Dave! Ok, that was a lot thrown at you, go make some cookies and pancakes for dinner!


"Out of Eggs" Pancakes
adapted from cooks.com

1 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. sugar
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. milk
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. butter, melted

Combine dry ingredients. Add milk, oil, water, and vanilla. Whisk together until just combined, should be lumpy. Set aside. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. While pan is heating, add butter to skillet. As soon as butter is melted, add 2 tbsp. melted butter to pancake batter. Pour 1/4 c. batter onto skillet for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on surface. Carefully flip pancakes with spatula. Cook until golden brown.

Every Puppy Should Have a Girl

No sugar, no eggs, no flour.

No creaming, no stirring, no preheating.

Just a spunky, little girl and her spunky, new puppy. Goodness, this makes my heart melt.

No symphony orchestra ever played music like a two-year-old girl laughing with a puppy.
-- Bern Williams

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 7

I cannot believe Christmas is just days away. Where did the time go? I have yet to pack to go home tomorrow and have not done a lick of Christmas shopping. Go me. One of the two, or hopefully both, has to happen today. Today's cookie is technically not a "cookie," BUT it involves cookies, so yes, it's kind of a "cookie." I'm talking about Oreo Truffles or Balls, but that makes me giggle, so Truffles it is.


They have become quite popular (thanks to the awesome skills of the talented Bakerella) the last few years as well as their partner, Cake Pops or Balls. (Giggling to myself.) They're perfect for Christmas parties, gifting and a fun activity with the kiddos.
Today's song is the Heat Miser song from The Year Without a Santa Claus. I LOVE this stinkin' movie. And you will most definitely be hearing from his brother, Snow Miser, later. ;)


Oreo Truffles
adapted from Bakerella

1 pkg. Oreo cookies
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese
white chocolate bark (almond bark)

Finely crush 7 cookies (get out all that built up anger). Reserve for later. Crush remaining cookies (more anger releasing!) and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to mash the two together. (I use my hands, much easier.)
Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls and place on wax covered cookie sheet.
Melt chocolate as directed on package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. (Dip them again, for a cleaner finish.) You can sprinkle the tops with the reserved Oreo crumbs or decorate with melted chocolate once dry.

Like so...

Dry and refrigerate. And enjoy! :)

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 6 (and a Rock Chalk win!)

ROOOCCCKKKK CHHAALLKK, JAAYYYHHAAWWKKK!!! Go, KU!!

Holy heck! Did you see that game this afternoon?! My friend scored tickets at the last minute and I'm sooo glad she did. Great game, boys. I only almost passed out a few times and the adrenaline was pumping throughout the whole field house. Such a close game, but the home-game winning streak continues!


I could go on and on, but lets get to the cookies. Day 6 brings you Red Velvet Black and White cookies. Red velvet is seriously one of my favorite things ever. Not only are they gorgeous, but equally delicious and flippin' huge. They will be a hit wherever you take them.


Christmas tune for the day is Weezer with O Holy Night. Yes, Weezer. Yes, a Christmas album. Yes, I did buy it.


Red Velvet Black and White Cookies
adapted from Joy the Baker
makes 10 LARGE cookies

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
5 tbsp. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp. red food coloring
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, or grease and flour the sheet well, so cookies do not stick. In medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
Using mixer, mix 5 tbsp. butter with granulated sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, food coloring and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture alternating with the buttermilk until smooth.
Place 1/4 c. of batter 2 inches apart on baking sheet, spread batter out with butter knife, so they are not completely flat. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 12-15 minutes. Let the cookies sit for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.

Glazes


Vanilla glaze
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-3 tbsp. hot water

In bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, corn syrup and hot water, until smooth.

Chocolate glaze
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
3 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. light corn syrup

In bowl, melt butter and chocolate in microwave for 1 minute. Add corn syrup and stir, until smooth.

Then glaze those red babies!

Told ya, they were big.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 5

I AM D-O-N-E!!!! My last final was taken this morning! No more class, no more homework, no more reading, no more SCHOOL (for the next 5 weeks)! I'm slightly excited, if you can't tell. ;) To celebrate my "doneness" with school, I got in a nice workout, made some pasta, bought a vintage button up, and made some yummy cookies. Now I won't be posting about those yummy cookies, we will wait till tomorrow, but here are some other cookies that are equal in yumminess.

Peanut Butter Cup Blossoms. Oh, yeeeaahhh. Like those peanut butter cookies with the Kisses, but 10X better, cause it's a Reese's cup. Duh. And for the Christmas song, an all-time fave, Eartha Kitt with Santa Baby. Sing it, lady.

Peanut Butter Cup Blossoms

1 roll of peanut butter cookie dough or your fave p.b. cookie recipe
1 bag of mini Reese's peanut butter cups

I made my own dough.

Cause peanut butter is AWWWWEEEESSSOOMMMEEE.

I am notorious for adding more peanut butter than what the recipe calls for, see...

Those hands in the background? I've got the greatest friends. Ever. They unwrap p.b. cups for me.

And pose. Can you say, "Hand model." Nice nails, Kourt.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Shape dough into 1 1/2 in. balls and place into an ungreased mini muffin pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press Reese's cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 4

Ok, so here's the deal. I "attempted" to make cookies today, but they turned out terrrrible. So we are revisiting a tried, but true recipe from this summer. PB&J Thumbprint cookies! Cause what's Christmas without thumbprints? New cookie to come tomorrow, I promise.
And here's Andrew Allen with I Wanna Be Your Christmas. Super cheesy (seriously, listen to the lyrics), but sooo catchy.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies! Day 3

DDDAAAAYYYYY 3!!! Presenting oatmeal scotchies and Sufjan Stevens with Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!


Oatmeal Scotchies

1 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. Quaker oats
1 1/2 c. butterscotch chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, and salt, mix well. Add oats and butterscotch chips, mix well.
Drop dough by rounded tbsps onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets, remove to wire rack.