A virtual Holiday Cookie exchange.

Starting a place for us to exchange cookie recipes, add pictures if you can.

Cardamom Butter Star Cookies

3 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Ground Cardamom
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Ground Allspice
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract


1. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and spices; set aside.

2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually stir in flour mixture until well mixed. Refrigerate dough 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough on lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheets.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely

I had some chai just the other day. I bet I would love these. Don't seem to have any recipes typed in to computer so give me a few.

Great idea, I'll have to dig out a cookie receipe. I'm looking for a gingersnap receipe that uses crystallised ginger. Does anyone have that receipe?

Mmm--those sounds divine, ladyg...as does a warm mug of chai! ;) I'll see if I have anything yummy to share. Great idea-thanks for starting it!

Hi Ya'll - I just spent about 30 minutes typing up a recipe that I wanted to share and guess what? I LOST it. This happens a lot of time on here. I typed my soul out and then, phooey it is gone.

I am thinking of baking my CHERRY WINKS later today and then I will come back and type recipe and let you know how these turned out.

Thank you for starting this thread Chris. I am looking forward to getting some great ideas here.

Ruby

Ruby, To help you with "I did all that typing and lost it" problem.

Try typing it in your word processor program or notepad first, minimize that window, go to the Daves garden thread you want to put it in, maximize the notepad window and copy then paste it to Daves garden. It has saved me lots of times.

Looking forward to some great recipes!

a fun one for kids, not really Xmassy but its handy right now:
Honey Milk Balls
Combine:
½ c honey
½ c peanut butter
1 c powdered milk
1 ½ c graham cracker crumbs
Mix well till blended. Press into small balls.
Makes about 2 dozen. Yummy!

For my local cookie exchange I have made magic layered cookie bars, or magic cholesteral bars as my old roomie called them, the graham crumbs-evap milk-choc chip-coconut-walnut chunks of love that I live on between Xmas shopping expeditions. My other usual is a peanut butter dough with M&Ms in them.

What a great idea...gotta find that link someone sent and post it!!!

Coconut Washboards

2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/3 cup flaked coconut

Mix dry ingredients (first 5) together set aside.
Cream butter and sugar together, till fluffy. Add egg,vanilla and almond extract.
mix well, start adding the dry ingredients, a little at a time mixing well. Add coconut to mixture.
Divide dough into 2 parts, Chill if necessary if hard to handle. Roll or pat into a 10 X 9 rectangle. Cut each rectangle into 4 strips, lengthwise.
Cut each strip into 10 pieces. Place each piece about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet press each cookies lightly with a floured fork. Bake in preheated oven at 375º
for 8 to 10 minute, until golden brown.

I used fine coconut in mine.

Jeez, if I get the time, I will post my family's Kolachki recipe. They are a Must at Christmas time, but are labor intensive. Great thread! I love cardamom.

Sally, somewhere around here (Equine Forum, I think), I posted a recipe for homemade "Chai Latte" (GRRR, that yuppified name annoys me. lol) ... Home made is soooo much better!

Hi Chris and everyone - Well, I spent a couple of hours baking the Cherry Winks yesterday. The second batch to go in the oven looked and tasted better than the first ones in. One of the cookie sheets that I was baking on almost burned the whole pan full. I scraped what was burnt off of the bottom of the over cooked ones. I am hoping to get better at making them with practice.

Thank you Chris for the idea of using notepad to copy to here. I haven't tried doing that, so will give it a shot.

It is a new week and I hope that everyone will have a good one. Take care.

Ruby

Well, renegade that I am, here I go posting a non cookie recipe but something I have "bean' making for several years. Cheap easy different tasty gift. This is a jar of beans and pack of seasonings that you can make up and give together. Usually I put the seasoning in a small sandwich bag and cram it in the top of a mostly full pint mason jar of the layered mixed beans. This year I got bags from the candy craft aisle so I can make it lighter weight and even cheaper if I want to mail it. I might make a larger bag of season mix for my step mom who I know likes this and would make it several times. The first part is the instructions you would attach to the jar. "To make this again' is how I make it. Found recipe years ago in Womans Day or similar mag.

Easy Good Luck Bean Soup

One jar of beans Six cups of water
One TB veg oil 15 oz can tomatoes
One packet of seasoning (enclosed in jar)

Wash beans and put into a large saucpan with the water, oil and seasoning. Cover, bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 2-3 hours or til beans are tender. Add tomatos and heat through. This soup has black-eyed peas in it for good luck on New Year’s Eve! To make even more soup, you can add meat and diced veggies of your choice (no onions- already in there). Happy Holidays!

To make this again

Seasoning for one batch
3 TB instant minced onion
2 tsp beef bouillon granules
2 tsp chicken bouillon granules
scant half-teaspoon garlic powder
scant half-teaspoon chili powder
scant half-teaspoon basil leaves
1 tsp parsley

This seasons about two cups of beans. A pound bag of beans is just over two cups.

Bean mix- buy two or more kinds of dried beans or peas of your choice. I usually use at least half of a white bean, some split peas and pink or pinto beans for color and black-eyed peas for luck. Black beans or dark kidney beans look good in the jar but if you use alot the soup may get dark.

To make a gift- remember to include the instructions!

Hey there Sally - I received a much similar jar of beans and recipe a few years ago. I loved it. It is a really cool gift.

Before coming here this morning, I was searching for a particular recipe that I plan to try one day this week. I have made these before and they went very fast.

NO BAKE CHOCOLATE OATMEAL COOKIES

Makes 24 or you can double recipe for 48


1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter - either creamy or chunky will work
3 1/2 cups dry quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons vanilla

1 - Add first four ingredients together in a 4 quart saucepan.

2 - Bring to a rolling boil and hold for one minute.

3 - Remove from heat.

4 - Stir in next three ingredients and drop by tablespoons on to wax paper.

5 - Let cool in refrigerator until set.

Everyone will love them!!!

Ruby

Oh Ruby they are one of my favoites.
Wrightie, The receipe for ginger cookies that I wanted was posted by someone on the Equine Forum. Do you have it?

No, Holly! I love ginger!

I'm gonna follow that rebel, sallyg, and post a non-cookie recipe. ;)

Got this from a co-worker in AK many years ago. You can buy caramel popcorn lots of places; but I agree with wrightie, "Home made is soooo much better!"

Caramel Popcorn

8 C popped popcorn, remove kernals (microwave popcorn is the way to go!)
Keep popcorn heated in a covered roaster pan in 300 degree oven. I use cooking spray to coat the sides and bottom of roaster first, easier to stir later.

Butter sides of saucepan and add:
3/4 C packed brown sugar
1/3 C margarine or butter
3 Tbsp light corn syrup

Cook AND stir over medium heat just till boiling. Then cook an additional 4 minutes (exactly).

Remove from heat and stir in:
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp vanilla
Nuts optional

Pour over popcorn and stir gently to coat. Cover and bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes. Stir, cover, and bake 5 more minutes.

Spread on foil to cool before breaking up. Store in airtight container.

yum! sounds like a good way to jazz up the boy scout popcornwe got, it seems to be low fat
: ^(
typing one handed plus one finger, have fist full of choc pb pops cereal. kids are corruptng me.
I am going to make rum balls this year for the first time. will get back with recipe

Here's a Christmas Recipe that I "wrote" while at The Behnke recently:

Ingredients:
10 small ceramic pots, preferably pretty (such as their blue & white African Violet pots)
10 small paperwhite bulbs
1 bag 'coarsely chopped' decorative stone
potting soil to taste
Few yards of Luxurious ribbon

Plant one bulb per pot, top with some stone, then tie a lovely bow around each pot. Set in a sunny window and water ever so lightly, as needed. Keep one for yourself and give the rest away to unsuspecting friends and neighbors....

That's why it's OK that the popcorn is addictive, sallyg--it's low fat! ;)

I love that great gift idea, wrightie!

Didn't know what 'The Behnke' was, so looked it up. I drive through Beltsville on my way to Baltimore. We might have to detour on our next trip. :)

In fact, my DH and I stumbled upon this amazing Mennonite market off I-95 that had the most delicious baked goods you can imagine. Plus, there was a meat market and all kinds of made-to-order items. I've tried to remember which exit it is and have even made several attempts to find it--no luck. *sigh* That soft, warm, delicious pretzel stick filled with yummies wouldn't be healthy for me anyway...yeah, right, like that'd stop me from having one again!

wrightie- you're cute!

This seems like more of a Rum ball crowd than a PB M&M crowd, LOL
1 stick 8nsalted butter
1/2 c powdered sugar
3/4 cup choc chips
2 eggs beaten
pinch ofsalt
1 3/4 c vanilla wafer cookie crumbs (about 6 ounces cookies ground in a processor)
1/2 c finely chopped walnuts
1/4 c dark rum
1 1/2 c unsweetened grated coconut

In a saucepan combine butter, sugar, choc chips, over med-low heat, stir til meltd and smooth. Slowly whisk in eggs til fully mixed.
Remove from heat, add salt, walnuts cookie crumbs and rum. Allow to cool, then press plastic wrap onto surface and chill 6 hours or overnight.
Place coconut in a medium bowl, scoop 1/2 teaspoon of the mix, roll and roll in coconut. Place balls on wax paper, and store in refrigerator till serving. Allow to come to room temperature when serving.

LOL, tell me how they are. I've never made them! Maybe you can buy 'vanilla cookie crumbs'?

EDIT- in view of the egg yolk concern I checked another book. Even easier here~~~~~

Walnut Rum Balls
! c finely chopped walnuts
2 c vanilla wafer crumbs
1 c confectioner's sugar
2 TB cocoa
3 TB light corn syrup
1/4 c rum OR 3 TB water and1 TB rum extract
Conf sugar to roll

Mix. Shape. Roll. 3 dozen.

This message was edited Dec 5, 2007 10:40 AM

hi, thought I'd chime in ~ I love baking and probably won't get to making any cookies until last minute!!!! The caramel popcorn sounds gooooooooood as do the washboards and cardamom cookies :))) Does anyone have a nice spritz dough recipe?

sallyg that recipe looks interesting...anyone who tries it, I would be careful to keep it refrigerated because of the uncooked eggs in it. I've made a rum ball's that I think came from a Hershey cookbook; it uses the same idea, the vanilla wafers ground up and conf.sugar and walnuts (optional) but no coconut, choc chips or butter. It calls for cocoa powder and corn syrup as the 'glue'. They're ok. Whatever you do don't buy rum balls from a bake shop!!!!!!! oh if you could only see what they dump into them. ugggh the rum covers up all the assorted and stale flavors!

Well Diana - Sounds as though you are still as busy as can be. I love to bake also, if I am not rushed. I tend to goof up something if I feel rushed. One of the things that my mother used to make during the holidays was an Applesauce Cake. I found a recipe very similar to hers a few years ago and have enjoyed making it and getting the compliments from it too. Now, if I can find a fudge recipe comparable to the one she used to make, I will have most of the recipes that makes me think of her.

Applesauce Cake

1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp.salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Allspice
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter and sugar till light. Add eggs, beating well after each one. Sift dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture alternating with applesauce. Turn batter into greased lightly floured pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. Cool in pan.

Enjoy.

Ruby

Ruby,

Here is my 'go to' fudge recipe. It's the Baker's Chocolate "One Bowl Fudge" recipe. It's incredibly fast, so I've whipped it up for last-minute get togethers many times. You don't have to use a microwave of course, a double-boiler is just fine (I prefer that method).

Sometimes I will add peppermint extract either directly to the fudge, or to a layer of ganache, which I'll pour over the top of the fudge. For parties, especially when children will be present, I'll make it more inviting by getting more creative (ex. melted white chocolate over the top, along with crushed candy canes or similar ... there are endless possibilities there). This recipe always gets big compliments for the taste and texture as it just melts in the mouth.:

BAKER'S® ONE BOWL Chocolate Fudge


Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 2 hr 10 min
Makes: 4 doz. pieces or 24 servings, 2 pieces each


2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate (or 16 oz. of high quality chocolate)

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped Walnuts (optional)

LINE 8-inch square pan with parchment paper (or foil), with ends extending over sides of pan. Set aside. Microwave chocolate and milk in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 to 3 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 2 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Blend in vanilla. Stir in walnuts.

SPREAD into prepared pan.

REFRIGERATE 2 hours or until firm. Lift fudge from pan, using paper/foil handles. Cut into 48 pieces.



This message was edited Dec 22, 2007 11:51 AM

wow they both sound really great! Hi Ruby hope all is well :) I wanted to post my recipe for my Italian Cucidati Cookies (I'm really into Italian baking in particular and would love a good pignoli recipe if anyone has one) but it is way too long and has photos I added to it in microsoft word and it won't upload to this. I even tried copying it to a blog and you have to reload the images too. oh well, I'll gladly post it if anyone has any ideas.

Meanwhile, here is a really great tried and true recipe for Italian pizzelles! I know it seems strange to use 3 diff fats, but I have experimented so many times, they all contribute a different reaction in the bonding action that takes place, which affects the texture and flavor.

DIANA'S PIZZELLES

1/4 c vegetable oil (I use canola)
1/4 c butter (no salt, if using butter w/salt can omit the 1/4 tsp salt)
1/4 c shortening (I use trans fat free crisco)
1 tsp or so anise seeds [optional, sometimes I do, sometimes I forget. I'm thinking of trying fennel seeds from the garden (bronze fennel) this yr]
6 eggs
1 tsp anise OIL (the oil is fabulous*, if using extract use 1 T)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 c sugar
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1/4 tsp salt


Preheat your pizz. iron. Melt the butter and shortening together in a small pan over low heat, toss in the seeds and set aside to cool; then add the vege oil. Whisk the eggs until light, add the extracts and the sugar. Then add in the cooled melted fats slowly while mixing. In a separate bowl whisk together the dry then add and incorporate into the egg mixture until a smooth shiny batter is formed. I keep the bowl covered near the pizzelle iron while I'm using it. I'll post a photo after I make another batch :) also don't forget to spray the pizzelle iron once before using it or they will stick.

tip: let the pizzelles cool completely on a wire rack before stacking them or they will get soft. That happened to me once when I was rushing ~ they can be saved by recrisping in a heated oven laying one next to another on a sheet pan.
*anise oil is available at Italian markets, Fante's or at specialty stores like the Spice Shop in the Reading Terminal in Philadelphia, PA it makes a BIG difference also great to use in Anise Biscotti :))))

Happy Baking Gardeners :) my favorite kind of people....baking/gardening...my favorite combination!
~Diana
edited for a few minor changes; wanted to add a photo but can't in an edit so I'll post it below

This message was edited Dec 21, 2007 7:18 AM

I edited my rum ball entry and added a super easy version without eggs. Its snowing today (!!!!) I might just whip up a batch. Well, no rum/extract--But I think I have maple extract. That sounds good!

ruby- Is your mom from around there? My mom grew up in Cumberland MD and applesauce cake and fudge are two of her standby treats. Her fudge is slightly grainy so of course I like it that way.

wrightie- sorry but there seems to be a misprint in your recipe. isn't that 2 servings, 24 pieces each?

spelling

This message was edited Dec 5, 2007 6:40 PM

Whew, does anyone else get hungry just reading this thread--YUMMMMY! :)

My DD and I have a baking day planned, and we're wanting to try some new things...I don't need to look any further--thanks y'all. :)

Yes, PlantMover - I'm reading these at dinner time and just drooling! Fraid this year I'll not get much (if any) baking done :-( but I have lots of family members who take pity on me and bake extras :-)

awww....gotta love family for taking care of us!


lol...good catch, sallyg!

Wow, this is a tea party!! All the recipes sound good and worth a stay in the kitchen. I'll be back with one of my old favorites.

Wind, we used to make pizzelles when I was a child and I always LOVED them. We had a combination pizzelle / waffle maker. I have tried for years to find another machine like that, but have had ZERO luck. If anyone sees such a pizzelle maker, I would be grateful if you pointed me in that direction.

Jeez, I adore good pignolis! I have a pignoli recipe around here somewhere. I'm not sure if I know Cucidati, but I'll go look them up.

Sally, I don't know what they were thinking with that recipe typo. So sorry! Heh heh.

Totally off-topic, but which Christmas show has the Heat and Cold Meisers in it? How come they never play that one -- it was spectacular.

The pizzelle iron I use is VillaWare 5000NS. It works great. I'm sure you can find it other places too http://www.fantes.com/pizzelle.htm#electric. Here's a Fante's link.

The first time I ever tried to make pizzelles was really a riot....I used my ex's Italian grandmothers' old fashioned round, flip over, iron and had no idea what I was doing and batter poured out everywhere and was a complete disaster/mess!!!!!!! oh boy...

Anyone just trying to make them, you only need 1 Tablespoon of batter plunked in the center of each waffle, close the lid and presto...steam puffs out and a in a minute you lift up the lid and pluck off your soft pliable, lightly browned pizzelles with a fork and your fingers. :)

Wow, they have a huge selection ... I hope I find a combo unit! lol

I have to agree about all of this making me hungry as I read. Sally, you asked about where my mom was from. She and I have done the same things with our lives. Both born, raised and stayed in small town Crozet VA. It is not too bad here.

Yep, the fudge, cherry winks and applesauce cakes were done each year at our household too. Those and my brother getting blue jeans, penny loafers and a bottle of English Leather each and every Christmas. ha-ha What made me think of that!!!

Anyway, I am planning to fix the no bake chocolate and oatmeal drop cookies later today. I sent hubby after oatmal and he came back with a huge container. I told him I didn't need that much and he said he hopes that I make a lot of them. ha-ha

John mentioned something last night that sent me here searching for recipes. He was describing this thing for me that his mom made a lot when he was growing up. It turned out to be Christmas Stollen. I found a lot of recipes and now need to decide which one to use. Have any of you ever tried making one? I would like to hear comments, if so. I readily agreed to try making one because, even though my mom never made them, we had friends who always made one for us. It was definitely yummy.

Thanks to all contributors. And thanks for fudge recipe wrightie. I believe that I could handle fixing that one. ha-ha Will add Baker's Chocolate to grocery list.

Ruby

Knocked out another batch of cookies today!
Try these if you can find the Chocolate stars, thats the hard part. lol

Chocolate Star Cookies

50-60 cookies

1 cup Crisco
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 box Brach chocolate stars

Preheat oven to 375°.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together Crisco, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, water and vanilla until well mixed.
Add the flour, baking soda & salt to the mixing bowl and mix well.
Cover and refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Place in preheated oven and bake for 9-11 minutes or until light brown.
As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, place a chocolate star on the top of each cookie.

they look sooo good! My kids may never have seen the chocolate stars, til now LOL. (looking over shoulder)

Wow Chris!!!!! You sure are bringing back old memories for me. They were my favorite candy as a youngster. Whenever my mom and I would make a day of shopping when I was little, a box of those candies were my reward for behaving, I suppose.

Sally, I bet that your kids would also love the No Bake Chocolate/Oatmeal Drop Cookies. They have been a really big hit here this past week.

We are heading in to another week. I hope that it is a good one for each of you.

Ruby

if you can't find chocolate stars: melt some chocolate chips or a hunk of bittersweet chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl. Don't stir it too much, let it set to just when it gets thick enough to hold its shape. Use a pastry bag with a star tip and pipe out some chocolate stars onto wax paper. Let them harden up at room temperature :)

Great idea and one which brings to mind something else that might be done. If I am not mistaken, I have seen this sort of cookie done with Hershey Kisses too. That might work also.

Ruby

Ruby, I have had the Hershey Kisses on cookies. But the stars in my opinion are better. The Kisses seem to over power the cookie.
If any one tries making these let us know what you think.

Wind, never thought about pipeing my own stars, great idea!

Ok guys, where are the cookie pictures?????

I have to go get more quick oats --I usually have them but lately I can't seem to keep all my basics stocked up. Poor planning !