Holiday baking

skcin · #1 12-15-2005, 01:24 PM

Anyone here bake cookies? Other holiday treats? I bake lots of Christmas cookies and I LOVE to do it! Weird thing is that I don't bake anything any other time of the year.

I like to do marathon sessions & get it all done in a day or two. I took some time off from work last week & during that time we cut down our tree & decorated it, had friends over to exchange gifts, baked a lot, had my parents over for dinner, did some shopping, etc. It was great to have the time to do everything & not stress out about any of it.

So, back to the cookies.

I baked on 2 separate days, about 6 hours each day. Everything turned out really well until the very end when I accidentally knocked my hand mix over into the bowl of water in the sink.

Guess who just got a new mixer?

I'm not one for cut-outs, maybe if I had kids I would be. Anyhoo, here's what I did this year:

Ricotta Cheese Cookies:My mom gave me the years ago & I make these every single year without fail. People depend on me to make them, so I usually make a triple batch. They're moist & sweet without being too sweet. One of my favorites.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies: A chocolate cookie rolled in nuts, then a mini Reese's cup jammed in the center while they're still warm so it sticks in nice & snug, then topped with a dolop of melted peanut butter chips. Hubby's fave, so I make a double batch.

7 Layer Magic Bars:I got this recipe off www.christmas-cookies.com a couple of years ago & I now make them every year. So easy to make, so freakin GOOD!

Rum Balls: Made with Captain Morgan. Mix, roll & allow to ferment a few days. Delish.

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies: New one for this year. A chewy chocolate cookie with a marachino cheery pressed into the center. The frosting is chocolate chips, butter-flavored shortening & cherry juice. These are a big hit & will be added to my annual list.

Banana Split Bars: Another annual fave. A mashed banana in the crust & topped with chocolate chips, cherries & marshmallows. Yum.

Snow Covered Mint Chocolate Cookies:Another new one. Soft cookie made with mint-chocolate chips & dusted with powdered sugar. I may make more of these, they are going fast.

Cashew Chocolate Sandwich Cookies:A star-shaped sugar cookie, topped with a filling made up of melted chocolate chips & crushed cashews, topped with another cookie to make a sandwich. Great with coffee, tea or hot cocoa.

Lemon Blossoms: Thumbprint cookie with a twist - they have lemon juice in it. These are really light & fluffy, I filled them with peach & strawberry preserves.

Hungry yet? Anyone else love to bake? Hate it? Any good cookie ideas?

Beachwood Mac · #2 12-15-2005, 02:04 PM

I love to bake as well. I usually do two marathons - one for the gang at work and then again for family. Best investment I ever made was my KitchenAid mixer. Kind of like a Stevie or FM song at every concert there are cookies that are required to make an appearance every xmas. I usually make fudgy bon-bons, chocolate covered peanut butter balls (such a pain to roll into shape!), snow covered mint cookies (hard to find the mint chips though), oatmeal cookies with cinnamon chips, and some old family recipes. This year I added a almond chocolate chip cookie that I got the recipe from the food channel (cute young italian girl - can't remember her name). These are real good and will be a big favorite.

Paula - could you send me the recipe for the Ricotta cheese cookies and banana split bars?

Happy Holidays!

Terry

skcin · #3 12-15-2005, 02:06 PM

^ Sure, I'll do it when I get home. BTW - I brought in about 6 dz cookies to work yesterday & they were gone in about an hour. Vultures.

dissention · #4 12-15-2005, 02:13 PM

The only thing I can cook is toffee. And I make lots of it around this time of year. Lots of it. It's ridiculous. I don't even really eat it because it's so rich, so I end up giving it all away.

Lisa1769 · #5 12-15-2005, 02:37 PM

Damn! You've been a busy girl.

Every year I tell myself I should make lots of goodies and hand them out. I don't listen very well..

I bookmarked the recipe for the 7 layer magic bars though. Thanks!

wondergirl9847 · #6 12-15-2005, 02:41 PM

Snow Covered Mint Chocolate Cookies

I love anything mint-flavored!! Could you post your recipe for these?

GypsySorcerer · #7 12-15-2005, 02:53 PM

I hate any kind of cooking/baking. But I love to eat baked goods.....does that count?

Your cookies sound delish, Paula. I love cherry and mint flavors....and rum balls.

estranged4life · #8 12-15-2005, 03:13 PM

battling whatthehelleveritisIhave (Possibly the flu, though the blood work from my ER visit Tuesday didnt show I had the flu) I would try my Mother's recipes, Snowflake Cookies (Made with potato chips...YUM!!!!), The old' tried-and-true Apple-sauce cookies, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Apple Nut Coffee Cake, and especially the Mint Brownies (Melt yer tastebuds right out)!!!

I made sure to have first dibs on Mom's cookbook...Hehehehe!!! I came, I saw and I took that bad mofo!!!!

jannieC · #9 12-15-2005, 03:36 PM

I would love the Ricotta Chesse Cookie recipe too! Sounds wonderful.

pianogirl04 · #10 12-15-2005, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jannieC

I would love the Ricotta Chesse Cookie recipe too! Sounds wonderful.

Seconded! Those sound delightful. I can't remember what it is that my mom usually makes... some kind of sour cream cookie I think. I'll have to dig for that recipe, they're fabulous... sweet and a little tart, nothing like sugar cookies except in texture. Mmmm, I'm hungry now.

amber · #11 12-15-2005, 03:52 PM

Dear Paula Claus, please send me a tin of your cookies for Christmas. I have been very good.
Thank you,
Amber

skcin · #12 12-15-2005, 03:56 PM

I will post the recipes later.

Amby - I don't know if you've been that good.

amber · #13 12-15-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

I will post the recipes later.

Amby - I don't know if you've been that good.

Pbblllllltttt!

ragandbone · #14 12-15-2005, 04:12 PM

Yum! Can I come over?

Oh wait, Buffalo, NY...Rats!

Did you get one of those swell Kitchen Aid mixers? I covet those. A friend of mine has one, and she is getting an ice cream maker attachment for it.

I bake pies. I just made a berry pie, and it is pretty tasty (I say as I eat most of it by myself)

skcin · #15 12-15-2005, 04:30 PM

^ No, I got a crappy little $19.99 Black & Decker (to replace the 8 year old crappy little $9.99 Sunbeam, lol!) Those Kitchenaids are like works of art. I want an orange one.