5 Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes

The scent of warm cinnamon & spice filling the house does wonders to boost the Christmas spirit. Go ahead! Start your baking early this year & ease your stress at this hectic time of year. You want to enjoy this holiday season, so plan ahead and get your Christmas baking started with these delicious Christmas cookies. Make a batch or two and put them in the freezer. They will freeze beautifully and be waiting for your family and friends to devour at Christmas time.

GINGERSNAP COOKIES

Cookie Bake

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
4 T. molasses
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cloves
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 unbeaten egg

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. With hand mixer, blend sugar, butter, and molasses.
3. In another bowl, mix ground ginger, cloves, flour, baking soda & cinnamon. Sift together until well blended.
4. With hand mixer, blend dry ingredients into wet ingredients.
5. Stir in unbeaten egg.
6. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; dip in white sugar.
7. Bake for about 8 minutes and shake pan, so cookies fall. Bake an additional 2 - 4 minutes.

Watch the baking closely the first time you make these, because it may take less time to bake since all ovens are a bit different.

PECAN TARTS: These were my favorites growing up.

Pastry:
1/2 cup softened butter
3 oz. softened cream cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour

1. Cream butter & cream cheese with hand mixer.
2. Blend in flour.
3. Chill.
4. Form into 24 balls. Press into mini muffin tins or pastry tart pan. Grease pan well.

Filling:
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 T. melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
2/3 cup finely chopped pecans

1. Mix filling ingredients together & fill tart shells 3/4 of the way full. If they are too full, they will cook over & make a big mess in your oven.
2. Bake 20 - 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
3. Cool slightly & remove carefully with a table knife to loosen edges.

SUGAR COOKIES: You can roll this dough out & shape with Christmas cookie cutters; bake & decorate.

1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
4 cups all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. With hand mixer, blend sugars, butter & oil.
3. Add vanilla & eggs; blend together.
4. In a separate bowl; sift together baking soda, salt, cream of tartar & flour until well blended.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix until well blended.
6. Drop by teaspoon onto cooking sheet & press down slightly with bottom of drinking glass.
7. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes. Watch the timing the first time you make these, because every oven is a bit different.
8. After taking out of oven, put a pinch of sugar on each cookie. Don't do this if you are decorating them.

1-2-4 COOKIES: So easy & delicious. They melt in your mouth!

1 cup sugar
2 cups butter, must use butter
4 cups flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Blend sugar & butter.
3. Add flour.
4. Roll into 1-inch balls; flatten slightly with bottom of drinking glass after placing on cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 10 minutes.
6. Roll in powdered sugar WHEN COLD.

RUSSIAN TEA CAKES: Another classic Christmas cookie, and only 5 ingredients. Super easy!

1 cup butter, creamed (always use butter)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla flavoring
3/4 cups crushed nuts (walnuts or pecans)
2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream butter & powdered sugar. Add vanilla.
3. Mix in flour until combined well.
4. Fold in nuts.
5. Shape into balls; flatten slightly with fork in 2 ways.
6. Bake for 15 - 18 minutes. Watch carefully the first time you bake these to gauge your oven.
7. Roll in white sugar while hot & then again when cool.

I hope you enjoy these delicious Christmas Cookies.

5 Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes

Julie DeHart is the mother of 5 and author of http://www.keep-your-home-cooking.com/ Visit her site for home organization & cleaning tips, parenting tips, conversation starters, cooking techniques and delicious, easy recipes. http://www.keep-your-home-cooking.com/cookie-recipes.html

Thanks To : all clad master chef 2 14 piece cookware set cuisinart chefs classic stainless 14 inch stir fry calphalon unison nonstick 12 omelette pan