Tag Archives: christmas cookie recipes

Christmas Cooky #5 – Candy Cane Cookies!

These delightful cookies are the crown to my cooky trays. They have a nice texture and are almond flavored.

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 cup butter flavored Crisco

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

1 room temp. egg

1 & 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon sea salt

Red gel food coloring

1/2 cup crushed candy cane (use the “puff” peppermints for easy crushing. I get them at Dollar Tree)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Mix Crisco, butter, sugar, eggs, and flavorings until fluffy.  In another bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Blend the flour into the butter mixture. Divide dough in half.

Blend red gel food coloring into one half.

Cover your dough with a damp tea towel to keep it from drying out while you work.

Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper, and preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine the crushed candy cane and sugar.

On a lightly floured board, roll small amounts of each dough into strips. Sprinkle with the candy cane mixture. Roll,  gently twist, and shape into a candy cane shape. Please be sure to use half Crisco or the rolling experience will not go smoothly.

Bake around 9 minutes, till just the lightest golden at the edges.

I always use and recommend sea salt for cooking and baking for a brighter flavor.

A silicone mat is very helpful too. These cookies look spectacular on top of the cooky trays, and they are quite delicious.

We topped each cooky tray with The Candy Cane Gospel tract  from Moments with the Book! 

Merry, joyous, peaceful Christmas to you!

sage

Christmas Cookie #1 – Fruit Drops!

These are old fashioned cookies that store well, much as a fruitcake does. They are not difficult to make, but do get a comfortable seat for all the chopping! 

1/2 cup butter flavored Crisco

1/2 cup softened butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 room temp. eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk

3 & 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 & 1/2 cup broken, not chopped, pecans

1 cup chopped red candied cherries

1 cup chopped green candied cherries

2 cups, chopped, pitted, dates

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix the Crisco, butter, suger, and eggs well. Stir in the buttermilk. 

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, soda, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar mixture.

Next, add pecans, dates, and cherries. This is better accomplished with a large, sturdy spoon or spatula.

Next important step!  CHILL!  Do not skip chilling for this very soft cooky dough. My favorite method of chilling is the ice bowl method.

Fill a very large bowl half way with ice, and nestle the dough bowl inside it. Even the softest cooky doughs will stay chilled and workable with this method.

Use a cooky scoop, and drop onto parchment paper lined cooky sheets. My preferred sheets are insulated, covered with parchment. This makes for a perfect cooky bottom.

A dozen cookies per sheet, and bake about 8-10 minutes, until lightly golden brown as shown in the picture. Cool on the sheet for 4 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Happy homemaking!

sage