I don't do much baking anymore. My children are grown. My husband and I don't need the extra calories. And with a full-time job and the stories I want to write, I just don't have the time.
But Christmas is the one time when I take down the dusty recipe box and pull out the old favorites behind the tab labeled "Cookies". Most of the recipes are ones I cut from magazines years ago, the paper now yellowed with age and stained with the evidence of their use.
I remember going to my grandmother's house when I was small and sampling from a dozen tins filled with at least that many different kinds of Christmas cookies. Of course, I had my favorites, like Swedish Snowballs (also called Russian Tea Cakes and probably other names depending on your nationality lol) And some I don't know the name and, like a yummy bar cookie I loved, wish I'd gotten the recipe somewhere down the line.
I've never made that many different kinds of cookies. My life, of course, is different than my grandmother's was. But it doesn't change the fact that while I've streamlined my holiday traditions over the years, Christmas wouldn't be the same without a few dozen Christmas cookies.
Now I have to admit I've gotten a bit lazy over the years. I never did have good luck with cutouts. Maybe I didn't have the patience for perfecting the rolling pin technique, and I never claimed to be a crafty cookie decorator. I stopped rolling, cutting and decorating cookies years ago. I'm down to about three kinds of cookies each year now, and I haven't even made the Swedish Snowballs in a long time.
One cookie I always make every year is my daughter's favorite, Peanut Blossoms. She'll be coming over this week to help me bake, which will make the baking much more fun. We'll be having a couple glasses of wine while we bake, but I'm sure the cookies will turn out fine :)
Another quick Christmas cookie tip I'm happy to pass along is the Christmas brownie. Bake a batch of brownies, frost them (I use milk chocolate frosting) and then sprinkle the top with red and green sugar. They look festive, taste great, and everyone loves them.
So what are your favorite Christmas cookies? Are you incredibly crafty, decorating those cut out cookies? Do your children (regardless of their age) like to help? Do you bake dozens or don't you bake them at all?
You know, I think I'm going to bake those Snowballs this year. Maybe my daughter will help with those too.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Natasha
www.natashamoore.com
9 comments:
What can I say, I just love cookies - all kinds, shapes, sizes, textures, flavors. Thanks for sharing your favorites. Can't wait to try them out.
I haven't baked cookies in a couple of years, but chocolate chippers are the kind I like best. :) Even if they aren't very Christmasy! Thanks for sharing, Natasha!
Love cookies! Hubby's ex always makes us some for the holidays, and we enjoy them even though I think it's a plot to make me gain weight. lol Our Christmas tradition was peanut butter fudge--great memories there. Thanks, Natasha!
We bake dozens and dozens of cookies, most of which we don't eat. I hand them out to whoever comes to the house. One of my kids loves to make the spritz cookies, which are SO much work, coloring the dough, decorating each cookie. Another loves to bake and she has so many gadgets, decorating items, special platters etc. I don't know where she find it all. But it's all good memories and traditions.
Mmmm, Mason, I love cookies too :) Especially trying different kinds that friends share. :)
Terry, chocolate chip cookies are an all time favorite!
Ooh, Cameo, peanut butter fudge. I haven't had that in ages!!
Hi Carly. It's even more special when you bake with family. Most of our cookies go in the freezer to take out when company comes during the year.
I love Christmas cookies of all kinds my favorite cookie is a Snickerdoodle. I don't do any kind of baking I don't have enough time and I'm not that good of a cook.
Hey Sherry! I haven't had Snickerdoodles in forever. I love them! Man, you guys have got me craving all kinds of cookies :)
Wow, those look yummy! My kids and I always bake those Xmas cut-out cookies using a recipe for Scottish shortbread I got from my Scottish friend. I do the mixing and the rolling and then they help me with the cut-outs - Christmas trees, stars, and Santas - and then we sprinkle them with red and green sugar and those little colored beads - nothing too fancy. Of course, we always leave a few for Santa.
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