Christmas Cookies Recipes - Joyofbaking.com

Christmas baking wouldn't seem complete without a batch of gingerbread men. Fragrant with ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves the amount of which can be adjusted to suit your own individual taste. moreRum balls are the perfect adult indulgence for as their name implies, 'rum' balls contain rum and since we do not bake these cookies the alcohol taste and content are not lost during baking. moreThese sweet and buttery cut-out cookies are always a favorite for not only can you tailor the shape of the cookie to the occasion but you can also dress them simply with granulated or colored sugars or make them very decorative by frosting them with royal icing. moreThese rich and elegant, bite-sized round petit fours are made from a mixture of dark or white chocolate and cream to which various flavorings can be added: butter, liqueurs, extracts, nuts, coffee, purees, spices, candied or dried fruits. moreThese melt-in-your mouth, shortbread-like cookies go by many names; a Russian Tea Cake, a Mexican Wedding Cake, an Italian Butter Nut, a Southern Pecan Butterball, a Snowdrop, a Viennese Sugar Ball and a Snowball. moreShortbreads are traditionally a Christmas cookie that blends butter, sugar, and flour to make a rich and delicate tasting cookie. moreA seasonal favorite, buttery balls of dough are rolled in toasted nuts and filled with jam. These little gems get their name from the fact you use your "thumb" to make an indentation into each ball of dough for the jam. moreSpritz Cookies, also known as Swedish Butter Cookies or Pressed Butter Cookies, are a very popular Christmas cookie. They have a lovely vanilla flavor and a rich buttery texture that is tender crisp. morePeanut Blossom Cookies consist of a peanut butter cookie that has a chocolate Kiss sitting happily on top. moreMost of us have favorite cookie recipes that we like to bake at holiday time. They are the ones we look forward to baking and serving as they are part of our family traditions and invoke pleasant memories.?But, if you are like me, I always like to try something new and a little different.?Sometimes they will get added to the next year's "must bake" list and sometimes not.?Here are a few of my favorites, some I am sure you will recognize, others you may want to try.

Notes on Storing Cookies:? Freshly made cookies need to be cooled completely before storing in airtight containers or the cookies will become soft from the steam they produce while they are still warm.? For frosted cookies, always let the frosting dry completely before storing or the cookies will stick together.? It is best to store filled and frosted cookies in a single layer or between layers of parchment or wax paper.? Always store each type of cookie separately.? If you store different flavored and textured cookies together they will end up taking on the characteristics of each other i.e. a dry crisp textured cookie stored with a soft textured cookie will absorb its moisture and become soft.? Likewise, a shortbread stored with a spice cookie will end up tasting like a spice cookie.? continued below These sweet and buttery cut-out cookies are always a favorite for not only can you tailor the shape of the cookie to the occasion but you can also dress them simply with granulated or colored sugars or make them very decorative by frosting them with royal icing. moreThese are known as Chocolate Crinkles or Black and Whites. Both are perfect names for this deliciously soft, fudge-like chocolate cookie that is encased in a coating of confectioners sugar. moreMelting Moments are a delicious shortbread-like cookie covered with confectioners sugar that literally melt-in-your-mouth. moreCandy Cane Cookies are dressed for the holidays with their red and white stripes that are tender crisp with a buttery sweet almond flavor. morePeppermint Whoopie Pies takes two round domed shaped chocolate cookies and sandwiches them with crushed candy canes in a marshmallow filling. moreThis recipe contains all the necessary S'more components; chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers only presents them in bar form. moreSnickerdoodles are an old fashioned cookie that have a sugar cinnamon coating and a sweet and buttery flavor. moreCoconut Macaroons have a wonderfully sweet coconut flavor with a crisp exterior and a soft and chewy texture. moreChocolate Chip Cookies are made with butter and a combination of white and brown sugars which produces a rich and chewy cookie with caramelized edges. moreLoaded with oats, this version produces a crisp and chewy cookie that can be filled with chocolate chips (white or dark chocolate), dried fruits, and/or chopped nuts. moreThis biscotti has a wonderful dark chocolate-colored dough, which comes from using both ground semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa powder. moreLinzer Cookies use the same ingredients as the Linzertorte but present them in a different way. Two cookies are sandwiched together with a layer of preserves. morePumpkin Cookies have a wonderfully soft and spongy texture and taste of pumpkin and its complementary spices (ground cinnamon, ginger and cloves). Absolutely delicious with a cream cheese frosting. moreGinger Cookies are aptly named, as they are both ginger colored and ginger flavored. They have a sugar coated crackly surface and when you bite into one you will find the texture soft and chewy with a flavor that is buttery and spicy. moreNanaimo Bars are British Columbia's best known confection. They are wonderfully rich with two layers of chocolate that are separated by a layer of buttercream icing. moreGinger Snaps are a highly addictive, sugar coated cookie that gets its chewy texture and spicy flavor from adding brown sugar, molasses, and spices (cinnamon, ginger and cloves) to the batter. moreTurtle Brownies consist of a fudgy brownie that is topped with a layer of caramel mixed with toasted pecans, and finished with a drizzling of melted chocolate. moreThis cookie is a chocolate lover's delight. Not only are they made with a whole pound of chocolate, but they also contain both white and dark chocolate chips. moreShortbreads are a buttery cookie (biscuit) that taste absolutely delicious when sandwiched together with raspberry jam and grated white chocolate. moreCombining the subtle flavor of Dutch-processed cocoa powder with dark and white chocolate chips produces a chocolate filled cookie that is chewy yet has nice crisp edges. moreFlorentines are a delicious mixture of toasted nuts and candied fruit that are coated with a sweet sticky mixture of honey and sugar. They are finished with a layer of melted chocolate. moreChocolate Brownies have a lovely deep chocolate flavor and dense fudge-like texture that are topped with a smooth and glossy Ganache frosting. morePumpkin Whoopie Pies take two round domed shaped pumpkin cookies and sandwich them together with a soft and creamy vanilla filling. morePecan Shortbread Cookies have a deep golden brown color and come out of the oven wonderfully crisp and crunchy. moreMincemeat Shortbread Bars have two buttery layers of shortbread sandwiched with a layer of spicy mincemeat. morePeanut Butter Cup Cookies are delicious. Each cookie has a miniature peanut butter cup pressed into the center which makes for a wonderful treat. moreThis beautiful looking and delicious tasting square combines the flavor of an oatmeal cookie with raspberry jam. moreMagic Bars simply layer six ingredients; melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, sweetened coconut, chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, and a can of sweetened condensed milk in a pan and the bars are baked. There is no mixing. moreRugalach is a Eastern European cookie that is made with a cream cheese flavored dough that is cut into triangles and rolled around a filling to form a crescent. This recipe makes Rugalach in bar form which is much less work. moreFor this recipe we add Dutch processed cocoa powder to a basic shortbread dough to give it a smooth chocolate flavor and cornstarch has replaced some of the all purpose flour to produce a delicate melt-in-your-mouth texture. moreCowboy Cookies are sweet and buttery and loaded with chocolate chips, rolled oats, raisins, sweetened coconut, and walnuts. moreSince this shortbread is baked in a tart pan, we cut it into wedges which are called "petticoat tails". moreChocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies use cocoa powder, melted dark chocolate and chocolate chips for a cookie that is rich with chocolate flavor. moreThis popular British shortbread consists of three delicious layers; a buttery shortbread, a smooth caramel, and a shiny layer of melted chocolate. moreChocolate Coconut Macaroons are bursting with flakes of sweetened coconut and have a wonderful deep chocolate flavor. moreWhile browsing through the website it suddenly occurred to me that there wasn't a recipe containing both chocolate and mint. I decided the perfect dessert to feature these ingredients was a three layer square, really a Nanaimo Bar, only peppermint flavored moreChocolate Mint Brownies consist of a dense and fudgy brownie that is topped with a mint flavored butter frosting and a shiny chocolate glaze. more

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons have wonderfully crispy edges and soft and chewy centers. They are lovely when dipped in melted chocolate. more

Toffee Bars are a delicious combination of toasted almonds, dark chocolate, and buttery brown sugar shortbread. more

Sables (French Butter Cookies)

Cream Cheese Brownies combine a dense and fudgy chocolate brownie with a cheesecake-like topping.? moreThis recipe is one I have adapted from 'Windmills in my Oven' as it still gives you that wonderful spicy flavor of the commercial product only with a softer texture. moreSables, also known as French Butter Cookie or Breton Biscuit, is a classic French cookie originating in Normandy France. moreThis highly addictive, sugar coated cookie gets its chewy texture and spicy flavor from adding dark brown sugar, molasses, and spices (cinnamon, ginger and cloves) to the batter. morePeanut Butter Cookies are instantly recognizable by their crisscross pattern. They have that 'sweet and salty' flavor combination that make them irresistible. moreSpice cookies are a great tasting spicy almond cookie that is crisp and crunchy. moreIn this recipe we pair the almonds with chunks of smooth dark chocolate. moreThis is a biscotti that combines the taste of coffee with chocolate, nuts, and spices. moreThis biscotti makes the perfect Christmas cookie, combining bright red dried cranberries with lovely green pistachios. moreIf you are in the mood for a crispy buttery chocolate chip cookie this recipe fits the bill. moreAmaretti is the Italian name for macaroons, which means little bitter things. Crisp and crunchy on the outside and soft inside, these small domed shaped cookies originated in Venice Italy during the Renaissance period. moreAlthough this recipe is very similar to a plain shortbread, it differs in that it uses not only all purpose flour but also rice flour and almond flour which subtly changes both its flavor and texture. moreThese fruit and nut bars are chewy and crunchy and loaded with flavor. They are healthy for us as they contain lots of dried fruit and nuts and the batter has no butter or oil in it. moreThis recipe is a delicious combination of buttery shortbread, toasted nuts, and chopped chocolate. moreCheesecake Squares are a wonderful combination of a graham cracker crust and a thin layer of creamy smooth cheesecake. moreCranberry Shortbread Bars have two layers of buttery shortbread with a lovely tangy cranberry layer in between. moreThese little gems are baked until the crusts have nicely browned and the filling has set. They are excellent warm from the oven, at room temperature, or even chilled. morePecan Squares are the perfect combination of a shortbread crust topped with a chewy and gooey pecan filling. moreTuiles are one of my favorite cookies. The orange crunchy flavor is absolutely delicious. moreWhether you enjoy them plain or dipped in your tea or coffee, these small petit fours sec make the perfect afternoon treat. moreWhoopie Pies take two round domed shaped chocolate cookies and sandwich them together with a soft and creamy vanilla filling. moreM&M's cookies have wonderfully crisp edges and soft and chewy centers. Kids absolutely love these candy topped cookies. moreAlthough there are many chocolate cookies to choose from, I love to snack on these Chocolate Wafers. Their texture is wonderfully crisp and crunchy and their chocolate flavor is rich. moreChocolate Sugar Cookies are a sweet and buttery cut-out cookie with a mild chocolate flavor that are frosted with royal icing. moreButter Cookies are sweet and buttery with wonderfully crisp edges. Serve them plain with a bowl of fruit sorbet or a fruit salad. These cookies can also be iced with a Confectioners Frosting. moreBrutti ma Buoni is a delicious Italian cookie that has a wonderfully crisp exterior with a texture that is soft and chewy. Very similar to a meringue cookie only with nuts. moreBrownies are America's favorite bar cookie and these are rich and dense with chocolate. moreThis delicious candy-like square is made with rice cereal, melted marshmallows, and margarine. moreLow-Fat Brownies have a wonderfully moist and chewy texture and a deep chocolate flavor. They are wonderful plain or topped with fresh berries and/or a scoop of low fat vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt, or a fruit sorbet. moreS'mores are deliciously sweet and gooey. They take roasted marshmallows and pieces of chocolate and sandwiches them between two graham crackers. moreLinzer Squares have a beautiful golden brown lattice crust made with ground nuts (almonds and/or hazelnuts) and spices and filled with ruby red raspberry preserves. moreCheckerboard cookies are appealing not only because they look beautiful but also because they combine both the flavors of chocolate and vanilla. moreChocolate Peanut Squares are a delicious combination of peanut butter, cocoa powder, marshmallows, rice cereal, and peanuts. moreThis is a traditional biscotti, for it does not contain butter or oil, and its moisture comes from the eggs. moreRaisin Cookies have a soft and chewy texture and a buttery sweet flavor. These homey raisin-packed, old fashioned drop cookies are a busy mother's friend. moreRaisin Shortbreads take soft and chewy raisins and sandwich them between two layers of tender and crumbly shortbread. moreRocky Road Brownies are amazing, with their deep chocolate flavor and dense fudge-like texture topped with gooey melted marshmallows jumbled together with chocolate chips and nuts. moreThese rich and buttery Cranberry Pistachio Shortbreads are dressed for the holidays with their chunks of green pistachio nuts and dried red cranberries. moreChocolate Mint Shortbreads take two chocolate shortbreads and sandwich them together with a dark chocolate ganache flavored with pure peppermint extract. moreA stack of these sweet and buttery Icebox Cookies, dotted with flecks of red candied cherries, makes you think of Christmas. moreThese Butter Tarts consist of flaky pastry shells that are filled with a sweet mixture of butter, brown sugar, and eggs. moreBourbon Balls are a sweet and chewy, no-bake confection made from a combination of crushed vanilla wafers, confectioners sugar, cocoa powder, chopped pecans or walnuts, held together with a little corn syrup and bourbon. moreChocolate Shortbreads take a buttery rich round of shortbread and covers it with a chocolate glaze and pieces of crunchy green pistachios. Delicious. moreOatmeal Raisin Cookies are a big and fat, golden brown cookie with a bumpy surface all dotted with raisins. Their edges are crisp, their flavor sweet, and their texture is wonderfully soft and chewy. moreGingerbread Biscotti are not overly sweet, have chunks of hazelnuts, lots of sweet and juicy raisins, lovely flecks of rolled oats, just a hint of molasses, and are warmly spiced with ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. moreHermit Cookies have a soft and chewy texture, are nicely spiced with ground cinnamon, allspice and cloves, and are jammed with raisins, dates, and nuts. moreBlack and White Cookies, also known as Half Moon or Half and Half Cookies, are large, sweet and buttery, dome shaped cookies, that are iced with both vanilla and chocolate fondant frostings. moreMeringue Cookies are so airy, sweet and crisp that they seem to almost melt in your mouth. moreScottish Shortbreads would make a fine Christmas cookie with their rich and buttery flavor and tender and crumbly texture. more

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Notes on Shipping Cookies:? If you plan to ship cookies, choose cookies that keep well and are not fragile.? Place the container of cookies in a heavy duty corrugated container or box that is larger than the package of cookies to allow for packing materials (popcorn, newspaper, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts).? Good examples of cookies to ship: Amaretti, Biscotti, Gingersnaps, Oatmeal, Mexican Wedding Cakes, Plain Sables, Shortbreads, Spice, or Plain Sugar Cookies.?

Notes on Cookie Containers:? For gift giving try to choose a container that matches the personality or hobbies of the recipient.? Ideas for containers are: new or antique cookie jars, hatboxes, flowerpots, baskets, cookie tins, cellophane bags, lunch bags, gift bags or boxes, festive paper or glass plates, bakery boxes, or bowls.? Adorn them with ribbon, raffia, or metallic twine and attach a pretty gift tag.

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