Italian Sprinkle Cookies!!

*These are awesome with Coffee*



Ingredients

• 6 eggs
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup shortening
• 3 teaspoons almond extract
• 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
• GLAZE:
• 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Colored sprinkles

Directions

• Using a heavy-duty mixer, beat eggs on high speed until light and foamy, about 5 minutes; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and baking powder; on low speed, gradually beat in shortening and extracts until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Gradually add beaten eggs (dough will be stiff).
• Roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes (tops of the cookies will not brown, but bottoms should brown slightly).
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, milk and extracts until smooth. As soon as cookies are removed from the oven, quickly dip two or three at a time into glaze. Remove with a slotted spoon or tongs; place on wire racks to drain. Immediately top with sprinkles. Let dry for 24 hours before storing in airtight containers. Yield: about 7 dozen.

Chocolate Mint Kiss Crinkles!

 

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoon green colored sugar (optional)
bag of mint truffle flavored Hershey's Kisses

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, and eggs until well mixed. Whisk in extracts.
3. Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into 1/2 Tablespoon balls. Roll balls into mixture of powdered sugar/green sugar. Place on cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until cookies crackle and dough doesn't look raw. While cookies are baking, unwrap the kisses and make some room in your refrigerator or freezer for the cookie sheets. When the cookies come out of the oven, immediately place a kiss in the center of each cookie and press lightly. The kisses will start to get melty, so it's best if you are able to place the cookie sheet (with the kiss cookies still on it) directly into the freezer or refrigerator until the kisses can cool off and set up.
* I got this recipe from the blog listed below these are sooooooo yummy. This might just be my favorite cookie of this year.
http://www.recipegirl.com/2007/12/15/chocolate-mint-kiss-crinkles/

Butter Cookies!

What you need:

1 cup butter (softened)
1 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 2/3 cup flour

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375*F
Blend together butter & sugar
Add rest of ingredients & mix well
Drop them onto cookie sheet or use a cookie press
Decorate if you would like
bake for 10 minutes

Cookie Dough Truffles!

These are awesome! Like eating raw cookie dough? if the answer is yes these are a MUST make for the holidays. There isn't any raw egg so eat to your hearts desire.

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or Pecans ( I use pecans)
1-1/2 pounds dark chocolate candy coating, coarsely chopped ( large bag of semi sweet morsels works well too)
1/2 stick of gulf wax (this is optional, it helps keep the chocolate from clumping & also make for a shine on the chocolate)

Directions
In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
Shape into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.
In a microwave, melt candy coating & gulf wax; stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 5-1/2 dozen.

Melting Snowman Cookies!

Someone posted these on there FB page & I couldn't resist making these for my kids. The kids just loved them & they really weren't that hard to make. I totally cheated & used pre-made sugar cookie dough. Just cut & bake!

What you need:
Pkg of sugar cookie refrigerator dough
1 bag of white chocolate chips or white chocolate disks ( you can buy the disks at craft or candy making stores)
1 bag of large marshmallows
Tube of black icing
Tube of Orange icing
Tube or red, blue or green icing or all if you want to be extra creative.

Directions:
Cut & bake cookies according to pkg directions. (cool)
Melt white chocolate & smear onto cooled cookies to make it look like a puddle.
before the white chocolate sets cut a large marshmellow on an angel & push into white chocolate.
using the tube of black icing put on eyes, mouth & arms
using orange icing squeeze on a carrot like nose
using the red, green and or blue icing, put on a scarf or buttons down the snowman.

Christmas Cookie's 2011!!!

Here is my list of cookies I will be making this year. Some are ones I have done before with a couple of new ones thrown in. They aren't all cookies, some are  just too good not to be on the cookie platter.

1) Toll house chocolate chip cookies
2) Sugar cookie Cut-outs
3) Pizelles
4) Snicker Doodles
5) Peanut Butter balls
6) Cookie Dough Truffles
7) Peanut butter cup cookies
8) Chocolate raspberry sandwich spritz cookies
9) Chinese noodle cookies
10) Bourbon Balls
11)Butter Cookies
12) Chocolate Mint Cookies
Haven't decided on my 13th cookie, so we'll see.
13) Cranberry White chocolate cookies / Russian tea cakes/ or ginger bread people (Catherine's request)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!

YES! it is getting to be that time again, cookies 2011 is going to be great. I am trying some new recipes & posting a few of my favorites. So look out for those in the future. I have been wanting oatmeal raisin cookies lately & finally I found a good chewy oatmeal raisin cookie recipe, enjoy!

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt ( only add this if your using unsalted butter)
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups raisins      

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture. Stir in oats and raisins.
2. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 11-12 minutes. ( mine took a little longer like 14-15 minutes, some ovens are just different, so make sure to keep checking the cookies so they don't burn) cool on wire racks.

M&M cookies!



1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup butter softned

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups M&Ms

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla thoroughly. Add flour, salt, and baking soda to creamed mixture. Blend well. Add 3/4 cup of M&M candies.
2. Drop dough by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet. Slightly push a few candies on top of each dough ball with remaining candies.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F  for 9 to 11 minutes, to your liking