Holiday Cookie Recipes

[swimmer]

Thank you Skippy for the banana choc chip recipe, here is my fave in return, pistachio crisps in my family or pistachio macaroons if you being technical.


3 c. shelled pistachios (about a bag and a half of the Trader Joe''s shelled ones) Note, this recipe is v. good, but not worth killing yourself over shelling pistachios, get the shelled ones!
1 c. sugar (I like .5 white and .5 confectioners, but all confectioners does not work)
3 egg whites

1. grind pistachios in food processor until ground but not totally pureed
2. beat egg whites until firm
3. fold nuts and sugar into egg whites
4. drop quarter sized balls onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet/pan (at least 1" apart) I pipe with a cut corner ziploc for ease.
5. bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges get golden.

These cookies are small if you follow the directions, like Trader Joe''s triple ginger (YUMMY!), and are great with a buttercreme filling if you want to get fancy and make them into little sandwiches. I like them plain, the pistachio is the main feature then, but made them with dark chocolate pistachio ganache for a cookie trade and they liked the choc even though I thought it was overpowering the pistachio. Note that Nigella has a recipe for these that is wayyyy more complex, but the same resul, only more can go wrong along the way, she calls them the most elegant macaroons ever. I remember someone eating pistachios during the debates and thought they might like this, also good for Passover!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/15/2008 8:49:55 PM
Author: swimmer
Thank you Skippy for the banana choc chip recipe, here is my fave in return, pistachio crisps in my family or pistachio macaroons if you being technical.


3 c. shelled pistachios (about a bag and a half of the Trader Joe''s shelled ones) Note, this recipe is v. good, but not worth killing yourself over shelling pistachios, get the shelled ones!
1 c. sugar (I like .5 white and .5 confectioners, but all confectioners does not work)
3 egg whites

1. grind pistachios in food processor until ground but not totally pureed
2. beat egg whites until firm
3. fold nuts and sugar into egg whites
4. drop quarter sized balls onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet/pan (at least 1'' apart) I pipe with a cut corner ziploc for ease.
5. bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges get golden.

These cookies are small if you follow the directions, like Trader Joe''s triple ginger (YUMMY!), and are great with a buttercreme filling if you want to get fancy and make them into little sandwiches. I like them plain, the pistachio is the main feature then, but made them with dark chocolate pistachio ganache for a cookie trade and they liked the choc even though I thought it was overpowering the pistachio. Note that Nigella has a recipe for these that is wayyyy more complex, but the same resul, only more can go wrong along the way, she calls them the most elegant macaroons ever. I remember someone eating pistachios during the debates and thought they might like this, also good for Passover!

Those sound delicious!!!! Thank you Swimmer. Did you try the banana chocolate chip? I love those because they are low cal and you don''t feel guilty eating them. hehe

CHRGER, thank you,those cookies look great!!!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/15/2008 7:55:38 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 12/15/2008 7:17:53 PM
Author: AGBF






Ummm...Skippy? I haven't been by this thread in a long time because I wasn't in a baking mood. I was involved in the thread on Christmas music. But I happened to notice that you were giving a neighbor some goodies. Is that offer of Christmas cookies still on the table (so to speak)?

Your very, very good friend,
Deb

Of course Deb, you are such a dear one, sending them over now!!!

Hugs and

sweetie pie!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/15/2008 9:09:18 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/15/2008 7:55:38 PM
Author: Skippy123


Of course Deb, you are such a dear one, sending them over now!!!

Hugs and

sweetie pie!

 

[curiopotter]

I made some Black and White Cookies tonight!

• 1 tablespoon dry yeast
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Vegetable cooking spray (not flavored)

Directions

Add dry yeast to warm or room-temperature milk, let stand for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cream the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy.

Slowly add and combine the yeast mixture, and the extracts.

In a separate bowl whisk together the cake flour, all-purpose flour and salt and gradually add them to your mixture. Caution: Do not over mix, but make sure to keep your mixture homogenous.

Prepare a cookie sheet with pan spray. Spray a large spoon or ice cream scoop with cooking spray. Scoop out even balls and pat them around your hand until they make a cookie about 3.5" - 4" diameter and 1/2" thick. Gently place them on a sprayed cookie sheet. Bake until the edges begin to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

Let cool to room temperature before decorating.

Ganache:

• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 6 oz good dark chocolate, chopped
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 6 oz good white chocolate, chopped

Place chocolate into 2 separate bowls, 1 for dark and 1 for white. Slowly boil the cream in 2 separate pots. Pour 1 pot cream over the dark and 1 pot over the white and let chocolate melt. Whisk each until smooth. Add cream or chocolate for desired thickness.

To decorate spread the white chocolate ganache on half the cookie, then the chocolate ganache on the other half.

 

[somethingshiny]

I haven''t looked through the thread, so forgive me if there''s a bunch of cut-out cookie recipes. ( I can''t take the risk of having to make more cookies!!)

This is my grandma''s recipe. She used to make dozens upon dozens of them, freeze them in shirt boxes, and thaw them/heat them on the radiator when we came over. The warm deliciousness is pure childhood.

2 C Sugar
1 C butter (or margarine)
1 C Sour Cream
3 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp lemon flavoring
5 C flour

The only instructions she has are "chill before rolling bake at 325 until done"

So, I will try to add a bit to that....

cream butter and sugar.
add eggs (1 at a time)
add sour cream
add lemon flavoring

mix all dry ingredients in separate bowl

add slowly to wet mixture

chill before rolling in a tightly sealed bowl

separate into workable sections (usually 3)
keep remainder in fridge while working

roll out dough on floured surface with floured rolling pin to about 1/8 inch
cut out desired shapes
place cut-outs on baking sheet
let rest for a couple minutes

bake until "done" (usually 9-20 minutes depending on size) bottoms will appear golden

let the first dough rest in the fridge while you roll the remainder (putting all of the scraps back to rest)

When you re-roll the scraps, be gentle and you will need less flour

upon the third re-roll, keep those for yourself--they will be a bit tough from all the rolling.



Frost with butter cream frosting. The tiny bit of tang from the lemon flavoring in the cookies cuts the sweetness of the frosting. May be frozen for 1 month.

You can pop them in the micro for 3-5 seconds to warm them back up

 

[Elmorton]

I don''t know if they''ve been mentioned - but using your favorite oatmeal cookie recipe, take out the chocolate chips or raisins, and add in CRAISINS and WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Mmmmmm, soooo good My MIL and I both discovered these last year - they''re super yummy and really pretty for winter.

 

[Skippy123]

Somethingshiny, Curio and SDL, those recipes look FAB

Thanks for the recipes!

Somethingshiny what a treasure of a recipe!!!!

 

[marcy]

Date: 12/15/2008 7:52:13 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/14/2008 9:58:14 PM
Author: Skippy123
Ahhh, you beautiful ladies just made my evening!!!

I would LOVE having you all as my neighbors. Well it turned out to be a very good thing that I made the Ginger Cookies because my neighbors wife announced that she was pregnant and ginger helps her tummy.

Thanks SDL, Irrish, Tacori (Tessa), Linda and Marcyc.

There are a couple of houses for sale in my neighborhood

Wouldn''t we have fun??

We''d have a blast!

 

[marcy]

Date: 12/15/2008 6:52:05 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/15/2008 2:48:14 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/15/2008 8:09:06 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/15/2008 7:59:11 AM
Author: Lorelei
I haven''t received my sample yet.....

That''s cuz I et it.

You ladies crack me up!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/16/2008 11:23:08 PM
Author: marcyc

Date: 12/15/2008 6:52:05 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/15/2008 2:48:14 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/15/2008 8:09:06 AM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/15/2008 7:59:11 AM
Author: Lorelei
I haven''t received my sample yet.....

That''s cuz I et it.

You ladies crack me up!

curio, those cookies look delish!!

 

[curiopotter]

lol thanks Skippy!

Ellen, they were good! I'm making some more this weekend.


I think the sugar rush makes everyone extra silly on this thread

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/17/2008 6:43:37 PM
Author: curiopotter
lol thanks Skippy!

Ellen, they were good! I''m making some more this weekend.


I think the sugar rush makes everyone extra silly on this thread

I agree they look beautiful and yummy; I love sugar iced cookies, yum yum yum!!

 

[icekid]

you guys are KILLING me with these photos... I want to make them all! And unfortunately it seems that there won''t be much time for baking this year, as I don''t get off from work to head home until noon Christmas EVE. I am going to see what I can do about sneaking off half a day early though so I can get some baking in with my little sis at home

 

[Ellen]

icekid, don''t look!

I should be cleaning, baking, wrapping, anything but posting pics of fudge. But I feel like I''m coming down with my annual cold, so I think resting is best. Sounds good anyway.

My peppermint fudge.

Crush in a zip lock bag, much easier. And it''s a great way to get rid of frustrations pounding on them. I use the smooth side of a meat mallet.

 

[Ellen]

Stirring in the food coloring, this is my favorite part. Yes, I''m easily pleased.

 

[Ellen]

Adding crushed candy.

 

[Lorelei]

 

[Ellen]

The whole block scored.

 

[Ellen]

Ready to eat.

 

[Ellen]

All done.

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/18/2008 1:56:33 PM
Author: Lorelei

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/18/2008 2:00:34 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/18/2008 1:56:33 PM
Author: Lorelei

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/18/2008 2:04:02 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/18/2008 2:00:34 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/18/2008 1:56:33 PM
Author: Lorelei

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/18/2008 2:07:30 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/18/2008 2:04:02 PM
Author: Lorelei

Date: 12/18/2008 2:00:34 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/18/2008 1:56:33 PM
Author: Lorelei

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 12/18/2008 1:59:25 PM
Author: Ellen
All done.

Oh geez, that is GORGEOUS and looks delicious!!!

I love the pics, and the step by step process!! hehe Way fun

I want you all to be my neighbor, just think of all the goodies we would make! haha

I would be kicked off the Healthy Thread for sure!

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/18/2008 2:09:59 PM
Author: Skippy123

Date: 12/18/2008 1:59:25 PM
Author: Ellen
All done.

Oh geez, that is GORGEOUS and looks delicious!!!

I love the pics, and the step by step process!! hehe Way fun

I want you all to be my neighbor, just think of all the goodies we would make! haha

I would be kicked off the Healthy Thread for sure!

Fanks!

We''d all weigh about 200 lbs. between the drinks and the food.

 

[icekid]

Date: 12/18/2008 1:52:27 PM
Author: Ellen
icekid, don''t look!

ahh I looked again! Thanks a lot, Ellen. Now I have to add peppermint fudge to the always-growing list

 

[Ellen]

Date: 12/18/2008 3:33:02 PM
Author: icekid

Date: 12/18/2008 1:52:27 PM
Author: Ellen
icekid, don''t look!

ahh I looked again! Thanks a lot, Ellen. Now I have to add peppermint fudge to the always-growing list

sorry!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/18/2008 3:47:04 PM
Author: Ellen

Date: 12/18/2008 3:33:02 PM
Author: icekid

Date: 12/18/2008 1:52:27 PM
Author: Ellen
icekid, don't look!

ahh I looked again! Thanks a lot, Ellen. Now I have to add peppermint fudge to the always-growing list

sorry!

Your nose is growing......