Christmas Cookies

The holidays are here! That means it is time for Christmas Cookies. First lets look at the Christmas Cookie in a little more detail. The Germans call them Plätzchen, in Spain they are galletas, and here in America they are the beloved Christmas Cookie. Most Christmas Cookie recipes trace back to the medieval times. By the 1500's they were popular all over Europe. And around 1600 the Dutch and the Germans introduced cookie cutters and molds to America, and they have been a holiday tradition ever since. There are so many to choose from but I have gone through and found some excellent recipes for you this season. Some are new to me and some have been in my family for quite sometime... Enjoy!

The Ultimate Sugar Cookie

3/4 cup Butter-flavored Crisco (shortening)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Coloured decorations or icing

1. Cream the Crisco, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large mixing bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and creamy.
2. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl.
3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to creamed mixture, mixing on low speed until well blended.
4. Cover the dough and chill 1 hour for easy rolling.
5. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
6. Roll out half of the dough at the time. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4-inch thickness.
7. Using a cookie cutter cut into desired shapes. And place on ungreased baking sheets.
8. Reroll leftover pieces and cut into desired shapes.
9. Sprinkle with coloured decorations or leave plain to decorate when cool.
10. Bake at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until edges are light brown. (Time will vary with cookie size.)
11. Cool slightly, then remove to cooling rack.

Melt Away the Snow Cookies

1 cup butter

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla.
3. Measure flour and salt into a bowl, and slowly blend into butter mixture.
4. Drop onto cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 8 minutes.
6. While warm, dip in confectioners sugar.

Fabulous Party Cookies

1 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup plain M&Ms

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Mix shortening, brown sugar, sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and creamy.
3. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl.
4. Slowly blend the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, mixing on a slow speed until blended.
5. Mix in the M&Ms and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake 10 - 12 minutes. cool slightly and place on cooling rack.

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

1 1/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
2. Cream the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and creamy.
3. Combine flour cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.
4. Slowly combine the dry ingredients with the creamed mixture until blended.
5. Drop by rounded tsp onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 9-10 minutes.
7. Cool slightly on cookie sheet, and move to a cooling rack.