Monday, December 8, 2008

A Christmas Cookie Exchange

Hi Friends....

Come on in...so glad to see you!

The holiday music is playing, my candles are burning with the scent of cinnamon and the fire in the fireplace is warming the entire house.

I'm inviting you to my No-Bake Christmas Cookie Exchange. It's no-bake (all we need is the recipe), so there will be very little work for you to do. It's all just for fun and friendly sharing.

Here are the rules:

-Leave your favorite Christmas cookie recipe under my "comments"

-Your recipe can be for either bake or no-bake cookies. Candy is also acceptable.

- Copy and then paste it into the comment box.

- If you see a recipe in my comments that you want to try, you may copy it for your own collection.

- Anyone leaving a recipe will receive 5 extra entries into the new PASHMINA scarf giveaway. Giveaway will take place in a few days...in time for Christmas.

***So get out those cookbooks and/or file boxes and tell us about your family favorite. I'm looking forward to receiving and sharing your scrumptious recipes.

Holiday Blessings.

22 comments:

Eggs In My Pocket said...

How much fun is this, may I ask?{: Hi Barbara, just loved visiting here and reading your words. Your blog just lifts my spirit!{: Here is my recipe:These are my sweeite's favorite.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COCONUT COOKIES
1 cup(2 sticks butter)room temp.
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups white chocolate chunks
(about 9 ounces)
1 3/4 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 3/4 cups coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350.F. Put butter and sugars into mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until smooth. Mix in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla.
Sift flour, cocoa, soda, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Mix into butter mixture on low speed until well combined. Stir in chocolate, coconut, and walnuts.
Using an ice cream scoop, drop batter onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly. Bake until set, 10-12 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to plate to cool completely. Enjoy!

Joanne said...

Barbara, I'm not a baker, so sadly I have to be innovative in my pursuit of cookies. Here's my recipe, I hope you'll consider it for the kitchen-shy :)

Christmas Cookie Caper
Ingredients:

1 Car
1 Favorite Holiday CD
1 Friend or Family Member
1 Local Bakery

Select music, then mix ingredients together to get to Bakery.

Peruse cookie shelf 5 -10 minutes.

Drop fresh-baked cookies carefully into large cardboard box.

Tie with white bakers string and proceed to register.

Return home singing along with Christmas CD.

Arrange cookie assortment in festive Christmas Tree platter and enjoy!

Pat's Place said...

Great IDEA! Here is my entry:

FORGOTTEN COOKIES
2 egg whites, at room temperature
3/4 c. sugar
1 16 oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate bits

Preheat oven to 375°F for 15 minutes. Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually add sugar until thoroughly mixed. Fold in chocolate. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking sheet. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto lined cookie sheet, spacing cookies 2 inches apart. Place cookie sheet in oven and turn oven off. Leave cookies in oven (without opening the oven door!) until oven has completely cooled. Makes about 2 dozen.

Barb Davis said...

Kathleen- Thanks a million for the recipe. Looks delicious!

Barb Davis said...

Joanne- How creative!!

Barb Davis said...

Pat- Oh, these look so easy and delicious!!

Anonymous said...

Barbara ~ Just spent a little while perusing your latest entries and sidebar. You are putting me in that holiday mood... the artwork, crackling fire and music... very inviting. Thanks, Deb

Avily Jerome said...

I actually just made cookies the other day- my mother-in-law's recipe.

SOOOOO yummy!

Here you go!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar

Add and mix 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla

Add and mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups oatmeal (can be quick OR old-fashioned- put in blender and make it into a powder), 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda

After everything is mixed, add one bag chocolate chips

(I actually did three batches- one with white chocolate chips, one with butterscotch chips, and one with Heath pieces, so it made a very delightful variety. You could also add nuts or whatever else you want.)

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 375 for 6-8 minutes

Barb Davis said...

GardenAuthor- Thanks for dropping by. Come back anytime and stay awhile.

Barb Davis said...

Avily- I love the idea of putting different things in the recipe, especially, white chocolate.

Terri Tiffany said...

If you love soft sugar cookies these are the best!

2 cps sugar
1 cp shortening
3 eggs
1 c milk
1 tbsp vanilla
6 cps flour
1 1/4 tsp soda
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp salt

Combine ingredients as listed. Roll out and bake in 350 oven for 10-12 minutes. Frost when cool!

Barb Davis said...

Terri- Sounds like a real treat to me!

Angie Ledbetter said...

Easy to make, great for gifts:

Candied Pecans
2 1/2 cups raw pecans
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 300F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, stir pecans with egg white.
In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Pour over the nuts and stir until evenly coated.
Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
Slide parchment paper (with nuts still on it) off baking sheet and onto a wire rack (or counter) to cool.
Break nuts up into a bowl to serve or store at room temperature in an airtight container.

Barb Davis said...

Angie- Great sounding recipe!

Mary L. Briggs said...

This is our favorite sugar cookie recipe. I found it when my girls were small and it's a dough that if very 'forgiving'. It can be rolled and re-rolled. And they taste great!

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup butter or margarine

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tbsp milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 1/4 cup all purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Cream butter in a large mixing bowl, gradually add sugar., beating well. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Add milk and vanilla, beat well.

Mix flour, baking pwdr, and salt in a bowl. Gradually add to creamed mixture, stirring well. Divide dough in half and wrap each half well and refrigerate at least 5 hours if you want to roll out and cut into shapes. You can make just plain cookies without refrigerating.

Roll out to 1/4 thickness on well floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters, Place 1 inch apart on baking sheet and bake at 350 for approximately 8 minutes. Cool on wire racks before frosting.

They should be just a light brown on the bottom.

I make our 'icing' with about a tsp. of butter, a cup and a half of powdered sugar, and enough milk to make a good spreading glaze. Food coloring and sprinkles are optional, but kids love them to look pretty!

I'm mentioning your giveaway on my blog! Thanks so much for visiting mine and entering my first giveaway!

R~Mary

Barb Davis said...

Rose Mary- Welcome and thanks for the great recipe!

Donnie said...

Here's a cookie recipe for a chance.
English Shortbread
1 lb sweet butter, 8 oz sugar,4 cups of flour(about) 1 tsp vanilla. Beat the butter, sugar & vanilla then slowly add the flour til stiff. Pat into a 11X15 cookie sheet and prick with fork. Bake 35-40 min at 325 degrees. Cut while still warm & sprinkle with either cinnamon sugar or confectioners sugar. Thanks.

Barb Davis said...

M- Thanks for stopping by and leaving the recipe. Sounds good.

Dionne said...

Well, how could I resist!!! Here is my latest favorite recipe (Although you might have heard of it)
5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil [I'm going to try it with apple sauce instead]
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to the mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil (or applesauce) and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

Barb Davis said...

Dionne- Thanks for dropping by with the recipe.

Mrs. U said...

Hi there!!
This is my FAVORITE cookie (not just at Christmas!). I am pretty sure I could eat all of them if given the chance. HAHA!! :)

May I enter your drawing?

His,
Mrs. U

Cranberry Orange Cookies
6 T unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 t grated fresh orange peel
3 T thawed frozen orange juice concentrate
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
½ t baking powder
½ t ground cloves
¼ t baking soda
¼ t salt
1 cup dried cranberries
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Orange icing:
1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
3 T unsalted butter, melted
2 T thawed frozen orange juice concentrate

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets or use nonstick or parchment lined cookie sheets.
2) In large bow, with mixer at medium speed, cream together butter and both sugars until light. Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice concentrate, and beat until blended. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cloves, baking soda, and salt. At low speed, add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix until blended. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
3) Baked cookies 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Repeat with remaining dough.
4) Prepare Orange icing: In bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar, butter and orange juice concentrate until smooth; spread on cooked, cooled cookies. Store cookies, with waxed paper between layers, in tightly covered container.

Barb Davis said...

Mrs. U- You're in. This sounds like something my husband would really like. Thanks for stopping by.