Spritz Cookies

Another one of the cookies we make every Christmas is spritz.  These light, buttery cookies are really tasty.  You need a cookie press to make these - Wilton makes a pretty good one and so do some other brands.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 extra egg yolks
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• optional: food coloring (if you use food coloring, be sure to use the paste (or gel) kind - the liquid can mess up the recipe.  We use Wilton's, and it works well.)

Cream the butter in a mixer.

Add the sugar and blend.

Add the eggs, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt and mix.

Gradually add the flour while mixing.

You can add some food coloring if you want to - we used red . . .

and green!

Use the cookie press to form your designs.  Press the cookies onto an unlined cookie sheet.

Bake at 350ºF for 13 minutes.

Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and place on a wire rack to cool.

Enjoy and be sure to give your baking supervisor(s) a little taste too!

Candy Lasses

We make these peppermint cookies every Christmas - they're a family recipe and they are one of my favorites.

Ingredients:

• Cookies
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp. molasses
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes
• Peppermint Frosting
• 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. crushed candy canes
• 3 tbsp. soft butter
• red food coloring
• 1-4 tbsp. milk

Yield: 36 cookies

Begin by crushing the candy canes - I did it in a mixer attachment.  I just used a box of 12 candy canes - the leftover crushed candy is good on top of whipped cream in cocoa or coffee.

Cream the butter in a mixer.

Add both the sugar and the brown sugar and cream well.

Blend in the egg and molasses.

Add the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.

Mix in the 1/2 cup of crushed candy canes.

Drop by teaspoon onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 

Bake at 350ºF for 12 minutes.

Now you need to make the frosting.

Combine the powdered sugar, vanilla, crushed candy canes, butter, and a few drops of red food coloring.

Blend in milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until you get the desired consistency.

Frost the cookies.  Allow the frosting to set and enjoy.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic and today I'm sharing my recipe for this tasty favorite.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup Crisco
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 12-ounce package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate morsels
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Yield: Approximately 36 cookies.

Beat butter, Crisco, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large mixer bowl until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Gradually beat in the flour, baking soda, and salt.  Stir in the chocolate morsels and nuts.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 375ºF for 10 minutes.

Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets on wire racks for 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks until they cool completely.

Enjoy!