Christmas Cookies Recipes

[JediMistressDragon]

It's looming and since Thanksgiving is this Thursday, thought why not, post a cookies thread. here's Ugly cookies--got this from local garden shop from their annual Christmas open house alreay had:


Ugly Cookies


1 can condensed milk
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup raisins
1 box of Ritz crackers
1/2 teasthingy vanilla

Combine the milk, nuts, raisins and vanilla. Cook on low heat until it thickens. Remove from heat and spread on crackers; place on cookie sheets.

1/4 cup soft butter
1 cup confectionary sugar
1 teasthingy vanilla
1 dash of salt
Red and green candied cherries
Place a small pat on each cookie, then decorate with a section of red or green cherry for Christmas (green ones can be used for St. Patrick's Day; jelly beans for Easter). Makes approximately 45 cookies. Place in 250 degrees oven and bake until icing melts

[Solinbeb Newau]

Those actually sound pretty good.

[Leda EmBorr]

I think I might try making a gingerbread house... does anyone have a really good recipe for that? I mean, like with real gingerbread, not just graham crackers---

Oooo... or maybe I can try making a gingerbread Jedi Temple....

[ayanabashu]

ledaemborr said:

Oooo... or maybe I can try making a gingerbread Jedi Temple....

Pictures, I want to see pictures.

[JediMistressDragon]

2 more cookie recipes--second one seems simple:
Cocoa Fudge Cookies

You can mix these incredibly easy, fudgy cookies right in the saucepan. When freshly baked, these thin cookies have crisp edges and chewy centers. You can make them with either Dutch process or natural unsweetened cocoa powder; we opted for the latter.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teasthingy baking soda
1/8 teasthingy salt
5 tablesthingys butter
7 tablesthingys unsweetened cocoa
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 teasthingy vanilla extract
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly sthingy flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, soda, and salt; set aside. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in cocoa powder and sugars (mixture will resemble coarse sand). Add yogurt and vanilla, stirring to combine. Add flour mixture, stirring until moist. Drop by level tablesthingys 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until almost set. Cool on pans 2 to 3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pans; cool on wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)



Toasted Coconut Marshmallows

7 ounces sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1 recipe Homemade Marshmallow batter, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar

Sprinkle half the toasted coconut in an 8 by 12-inch nonmetal pan. Pour in the marshmallow batter and smooth the top of the mixture with damp hands. Sprinkle on the remaining toasted coconut. Allow to dry uncovered at room temperature overnight.
Remove the marshmallows from the pan and cut into squares. Roll the sides of each piece carefully in confectioners' sugar. Store uncovered at room temperature.


Homemade Marshmallows:
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teasthingy kosher salt
1 tablesthingy pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.

With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly. Yield: 20 to 40 marshmallows.

[JediMistressDragon]

I sent email on link to The food Network about gingerbread house recipes, but this one is considered easy. Not sure if it is, but here it is for everyone:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup light molasses or dark corn syrup
1 tablesthingy cinnamon
1 tablesthingy ground ginger
1 1/2 teasthingys ground cloves
1 teasthingy baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablesthingys water
For assemblage and decoration:
Melted white chocolate or Royal Icing (recipe follows)
Gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired


Gingerbread House:
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda together until the mixture is smooth. Blend in the flour and water to make a stiff dough. Chill at least 30 minutes or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut paper patterns for the gingerbread house:

Two rectangles (figs. A and B), 3 by 5 inches, to make the front and back of the house. Two rectangles (figs. C and D), 3 by 5 1/2 inches for the roof. Two pieces for the ends of the house (figs. E and F), 3 inches wide at the base, 3 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 5 1/2 inches from the bottom. Four smaller rectangles (figs. G, H, I, and J), 1 1/2 by 1 inch for the roof and sides of the entryway. And one piece (fig. K), 2 inches wide at the base, 1 1/2 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 2 1/2 inches from the bottom for the front of the entryway.

Roll gingerbread dough out to edges on a large, rimless cookie sheet. Place paper patterns onto the rolled out dough. With a sharp, straight edged knife, cut around each of the pieces, but leave pieces in place.

Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes until dough feels firm.

Place patterns on top of the gingerbread again and trim shapes, cutting edges with a straight-edged sharp knife. Leave to cool on baking sheet.

Place royal icing into pastry bag with a writing tip and press out to decorate individual parts of house, piping on decorations, windows, door, etc., as desired. Let dry until hardened.

Glue sides, front and back of house together at corners using royal icing. Place an object against the pieces to prop up until icing is dry (it only takes a few minutes).

Glue the two roof pieces to the pitched roofline of the house. Then, similarly, glue the sides and roof of the entryway together with icing. Attach the entryway to the front of the house.

Continue decorating the house, glueing on gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired.


Royal Icing:
1 pound (3-3/4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
1 to 2 large egg whites, or substitute 4 teasthingys packaged egg whites and 1/4 cup water
1 teasthingy almond extract, vanilla or lemon juice

Mix all of the ingredients together using an electric hand mixer, until the icing is smooth and thin enough to be pressed through a pastry bag with a writing tip. Add more lemon juice, if necessary.

[Leda EmBorr]

Cool, thanks again!

I like the one for homemade marshmallows! Now that's different!

I'll be sure to take pics of the gingerbread temple before it gets eaten!