Christmas Cookies

Did you have a good Thanksgiving weekend? We had a very enjoyable one and are thankful for so much. As we transition into the Christmas season (my most favorite time of the year), we find our house cluttered with boxes and totes and half-decorated trees. No room is completely finished and the rainy weather hasn't helped any with our outdoor decorations. The wreaths and pine roping are waiting to go into place and everything needs attention since we host our first holiday affair this Wednesday!

This weekend I did tuck-in a tiny bit of baking. I made two kinds of cookies to go in the freezer for approaching events.  I will make a few more varieties as time allows.

I made chocolate mint crinkles using this simple recipe.

 

Crinkles

cake mix of your choice

1/3 cup oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

 

small bowl of granulated sugar

small bowl of powdered sugar

 

Mix ingredients and roll into small balls. Roll each ball in granulated sugar first and then powdered sugar. Bake 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

**This weekend I used a chocolate cake mix and then stirred in half a bag of mint chips.

I also made a batch of honey cookies from Grandmother's recipe. During the depression when sugar was rationed, honey was substituted and that is what is called for in this recipe.

Grandmother's Honey Cookies

1 beaten egg

1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cups honey

1/3 cup melted shortening (I used butter)

2 3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

 Beat egg well. Blend in sugar, honey, shortening (butter) and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and add to liquid ingredients. Mix well and put dough in refrigerator to chill (at least an hour).

Roll dough to 1/4 inch and cut out shapes. Place on heavily greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes (with the combination of my oven, cookie sheets and small shapes, I found 7 minutes to be perfect for the ones I just made). Decorate when cool. Store in a tightly covered container.

 

 

This particular cookie became a family favorite for my dad and aunt growing up and today my aunt continues to make them each Christmas. She always sends a tin of them to my parents. When I made these asterisk snowflake cookies, I used local honey from my friend's apiary!

 

 

 These cookie cutters belonged to my grandmother and are coupled with this cookbook on the planning center. The book is a favorite collection of cookie recipes from my childhood. I love it! What is on your holiday baking list?