3 DELECTABLE FESTIVE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES

Hello all,

For me, baking means the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I especially love baking Christmas desserts and cookies, and there' no time like the present. Cookies makes great gifts and great for those festive get togethers. I found some incredible recipes for some awesome mouth watering delicious Christmas cookies to share. Enjoy:



1. CANDY CANE COOKIES FROM BETTY CROCKER -



INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp red food color
1 tbsp finely crushed peppermints
2 tbsp sugar



DIRECTIONS;
In large bowl, stir egg, butter, milk vanilla, peppermint extract, and sugar. Add the baking powder, flour and salt. Divide the dough in half. Stir food coloring into half. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together peppermint candy and sugar and set aside.
For each candy cane shape, shape 1 rounded tsp of dough into a 4 inch rope by rolling on a floured surface. Place 1 red and 1 white rope side by side and press together lightly and twist.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 9-12 minutes until light brown.
Sprinkle candy cane mixture over cookies and let cool.

3 DELECTABLE FESTIVE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES - CANDY CANE COOKIES

2.  CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIES FROM BETTY CROCKER



INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cups soft butter
3/4 cups sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp grated lemon peel
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt


ICING:
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp meringue powder
5 tsp lemon juice
5 tbsp water



DIRECTIONS:
In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy. On low beat in egg, lemon peel, and 2 tbsp lemon juice. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt.
Divide dough into 4 parts, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough between sheets of plastic wrap 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick.
Cut out with cookie cutters to your desired shapes. Place on ungreased cookie sheets 1 inch apart.
Bake 10- 12 minutes until edges are golden brown. Let cool.
For the icing, mix together meringue powder and powdered sugar. add 5 tsps lemon juice and 5 tsps water. Paint the whole cookie and let dry.
Beat the rest of the icing until peaks form. Squeeze onto cookies and decorate.

3 DELECTABLE FESTIVE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES - CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIES

3. GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES FROM TASTE OF HOME



INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup soft butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tbsp water
2 2/3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
Frosting


DIRECTIONS:
Mix butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
Beat in molasses, egg, and water. In another bowl whisk the remaining ingredients, not the frosting, into a creamed mixture.
Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough onto floured surface into a 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut with a cookie cutter and place into ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Bake 8-10 minutes, cool, and decorate.

3 DELECTABLE FESTIVE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES - GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES