Christmas Cookies

here are a few I will be making this year:

1. Angel Macaroons
2. Cherry Pecan Cookies
3. Chocolate Macaroons
4. Coconut Joys
5. Coffee Hermits
6. French Chocolate Balls
7. Fruitcake Cookies
8. Gingerbread Men with Powdered Sugar Frosting
9. Moravian Sugar Cookies
10. Scottish Shortbread
11. Walnut-Oatmeal Cookie Mix (cookies, plus the mix as gifts)

Angel Macaroons

Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 24
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease cookie sheets well.

Combine all ingredients; mix well.

Drop by teaspoonfuls 1" apart on cookie sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Transfer to cooling racks.

Yields: 2 dozen

Cherry Pecan Cookies
Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 96
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
2 cups maraschino cherries -- sliced

Mix all ingredients together. Chill at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 400°.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

Yields: 8 dozen

Chocolate Macaroons

Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 24
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 square semisweet chocolate -- melted

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease cookie sheets well.

Combine all ingredients; mix well.

Drop by teaspoonfuls 1" apart on cookie sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookei sheet. Transfer to cooling racks.

Yields: 2 dozen

Coconut Joys
Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 36
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup unsalted butter -- melted
2 cups powdered sugar
3 cups flaked coconut
2 squares milk chocolate -- melted
finely chopped nuts -- for garnish

Add powdered sugar and coconut to melted butter; mix well.

Shape rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Place balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then make indentations in the center of each ball.

Fill indentations on each with melted chocolate; sprinkle nuts over chocolate, if desired.

Chill 3 hours or until firm.

Yields: 3 dozen

Coffee Hermits
Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 60
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 Tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease baking sheets.

Combine shortening and brown sugar; blend in egg. Add water; set aside.

Combine flour, coffee granules, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; mix into sugar mixture.

Fold in remaining ingredients; drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2" apart on baking sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Yields: 5 dozen

French Chocolate Balls

Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 48
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups almonds -- finely ground
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate -- grated
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
powdered sugar -- sifted

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add remaining ingredients; beat well.

Pat dough into a ball; chill for one hour.

Shape dough into small 1" balls. Preheat oven to 475°.

Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Bake for 3 minutes, or until they've formed a light crust.

Allow to cool 10 minutes on baking sheet; transfer to cooling racks.

Yields: 4 dozen


Fruitcake Cookies

Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 192
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter -- melted
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
7 cups chopped nuts
1/2 cup milk
12 ounces candied pineapple
8 ounces candied red cherries
8 ounces candied green cherries
16 ounces dates
15 ounces golden raisins

Preheat oven to 300°. Grease baking sheets very well.

Combine brown sugar and butter. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring after each addition.

Combine dry ingredients alternately with milk into butter mixture.

Stir fruit and nuts into dough (use your hands to mix, dough will be VERY stiff).

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto well-greased baking sheets. Bake for 20 minutes.

Yields: 16 dozen

Gingerbread Men with Powdered Sugar Frosting

Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 24
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
Cookies:
1/2 cup shortening
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour -- divided
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
M&Ms® plain chocolate candies
Frosting:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon milk

Beat shortening until softened. Add about 1 1/4 cups flour and sugar, molasses, egg, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Beat until thoroughly combined.

Stir in remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover dough and chill for 3 hours or until easily handled.

Preheat oven to 375°. Roll each half of dough to a 1/8-1/4" thickness. Cut out 4 1/2" cookies with floured gingerbread man cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges are firm.

Frosting: Combine all ingredients, stirring until smooth. Transfer frosting to a pastry bag filled with a small round tip. Pipe frosting onto cookies. Decorate with M&M's.

Yields: 2 dozen

Moravian Sugar Cookies

Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 60
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup unsalted butter -- softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 Tablespoons buttermilk
4 cups all-purpose flour

Cream butter and shortening with sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, vanilla and salt; mix well.

In a small cup, add baking soda to the buttermilk. Let sit one minute, then add to the sugar mixture. Add flour; mix well. Divide dough in half and chill up to 2 hours.

On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8" thickness and use 2" floured cookie cutters to cut dough.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Bake 5-7 minutes or until firm. DO NOT overbake!

Yields: 5 dozen

NOTES : Easily doubled or tripled. They freeze well.


Scottish Shortbread

Recipe By :Cherylann
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 cup unsalted butter -- softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Beat together butter, sugar and vanilla until well blended.

Add flour, 1 cup at a time to butter mixture.

Preheat oven to 325°.

On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-1/2" thick.

With a sharp knife, cut dough into 2" squares (or cut into rounds with floured cookie cutter).

Place on ungreased baking sheet; prick top of cookies with fork. Bake 25-30 minutes until bottoms are golden brown and tops are light in color.

Cool on wire racks.

Store in airtight containers.


Walnut-Oatmeal Cookie Mix

Recipe By :Cherylann
Serving Size : 36
Categories : Cookies

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 1/4 cups quick cooking oats -- uncooked
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

4" diameter X 7 1/8" High empty oatmeal box with lid

Combine all ingredients. Place in decorated oatmeal box. Attach instructions.

Instructions:
-Place mix in a large bowl. Preheat oven to 350°.
-Stir in 1 cup softened, unsalted butter, one egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
-Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
-Bake for 10 minutes; cool.

Yields: 3 dozen