Archive for the ‘Cookie Cutters’ Category
Sometimes simple is good. That’s definitely the case with these cookies which get their delicious flavor from the perfect blend of dough and anise oil. Oh, the kids can get involved too because these cookies are great for cookie cutters.
Christmas Cookies (Directions): Cream together eggs, sugar, shortening and salt. Take milk, vinegar and soda and mix together until foamy. Add to sugar mixture and beat. Add baking powder and anise oil then mix well. Add flour, one cup at a time, until mixture is stiff and able to roll out. Roll dough out on flour about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters and bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Cookies will be white on top and will move easy on pan when done.
Ingredients
* 3 eggs
* 2 cups sugar
* 1 cup shortening
* Pinch salt
* 1 cup milk
* 1 tbsp vinegar
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1/2 tsp anise oil
* 2 heaping tsp baking powder
* 6-8 cups flour
As a special holiday treat, I usually drizzle decadent melted chocolate over these yummy shortbread cookies. My son and daughter have egg allergies, so the fact these delicious treats are egg-free is incredible! To top it all off, they’re a breeze to prepare. Enjoy!
Peanut Butter Shortbread Cut-Outs(Directions): Heat oven to 350°. Combine the butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl; beat with electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in vanilla. Slowly beat or stir in the flour and cornstarch until mixture holds together. Blend in the very finely chopped peanuts. Roll out on a lightly floured board to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters and place on an ungreased baking sheet or baking sheet lined with a silicone mat. Or, shape the dough into small balls and place on a cookie sheet, dip the flat bottom of a glass in granulated sugar, and flatten gently to about 1/4 inch thickness. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cookies are set and bottoms just begin to brown. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, melt 1 cup chocolate chips with 2 teaspoons of shortening and drizzle over the cookies. Makes about four dozen cookies.
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter, 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 3/4 cup very finely chopped roasted or honey-roasted peanuts.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the holiday hoopla and forget the true meaning of the season. That’s why I make it a point to spend quality time with family and friends when at all possible. With a little creativity, I’ve come up with several activities we can do together as a family, but baking holiday cookies, and hosting a “cookie swap” definitely top the list.
When I was a child, we had a time honored tradition of holiday baking, and it was so much fun! All the kids learned how to cook (and had a blast doing it!), and I wouldn’t trade the time spent with mom and dad for anything. We always made a variety of cookies and pastries, and when people stopped by, an assortment was arranged on a fancy tray to serve. My absolute favorite “event” was the “cookie swap”. Several friends and family members would bake a large batch of one type of cookie. Everyone would then pack up their cookies and bring them over to our house to “swap”. We would spend the rest of the evening or afternoon sampling all the cookies; at the end of the “swap”, everyone would take a variety home with them. I can’t wait until we have our own “cookie swap” latter this year!
My kids and I enjoy baking cookies together during the holidays. It’s a wonderful way to spend time together and create something the entire family can enjoy. In fact, my children have turned into pretty good bakers and they always say that making cookies is their favorite part of the holidays. Unfortunately for my waistline, eating them is my favorite part!
Our homemade sugar cookies are always delicious, but we make them even more festive by using Christmas cookie cutters to cut our goodies into holiday shapes (my kids love cutting them into little Christmas Bells or candy canes or snowmen). Having holiday themed cookies on the dessert table brightens the mood and helps get everyone in the holiday spirit.
Cookie making is an activity that people of all ages – and all genders – enjoy. Most people would recall their first memory of cooking making as a child, most likely with mom in the kitchen. Learning that cookie dough is just as tasty, if not better than, the cookies you make is an exciting moment for a child. Whether it’s chocolate chip or sugar cookies, both are certain to recall fun and scrumptious memories for everybody.
Sprinkles – or sugar spices as I’ve heard men refer to them as before – are another way to add color and enjoyment to your cooking making experience. In my opinion, the most spectacular way to create cookies is to mold them into different shapes and designs. Cookie cutters allow the baker to craft treats for any holiday or special occasion because they come in hundreds of fun shapes.