Holiday Baking: Top four holiday Christmas cookies

I mentioned yesterday that I made some special deliveries to some special friends and neighbors: Holiday cookie tins! Baking Christmas cookies has been a tradition since I was a little girl. My mom and I would spend hours in the kitchen baking. And my parents would pass along their goodies to friends, family and neighbors.

When I went away to Baylor for school, it was something I looked forward to when I would fly back to California for Christmas break. And now, it’s a tradition that I carry on in my own home. I love spending the days before planning out my Christmas cookie menu (so many to choose from). Turning on a holiday movie while I do my baking is one of my favorite parts of the holiday.

Our new neighbors have been so thoughtful. They have dropped cookies off, checked on us and really gave us a nice welcome to the neighborhood. So, I knew I had to put our neighbors on the list for some baked goods this year. We also put some tins together for some friends. Now, onto the good stuff. Here is a list of everything I made this year.

Top Four Holiday Cookies

1. Peanut Butter Blossoms
2. Christmas “Crack”
3. White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
4. Lemon Squares

The peanut butter blossoms and the Christmas “Crack” are two tried and true recipes. Everyone loves them. The white chocolate peppermint cookies and the lemon squares were new to the mix.

Christmas “Crack”

I know I know. The name – great for the office party, let me tell ya. But in all seriousness, my team loves the Christmas Crack. I typically make a big batch for them to pick at throughout the week. it takes about ten minutes to make, and it takes about an hour to cool. It’s this delicious toffee that has a mystery ingredient: Ritz crackers.

You need the following ingredients:

• 1 bag of milk chocolate chips
• 2 sticks of butter
• Salt
• 40 Ritz crackers
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla

You will need to line a regular cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil before you begin.

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line your cookie sheet with with Ritz crackers (about 40)
• Melt butter, sugar and salt on the stove over medium heat. Your mixture will come to a boil. Boil for about 7 minutes or until the color starts to turn to a brown color.
• Take off the burner and mix your vanilla in right away.

• Pour over the crackers and put in the oven for 13-15 minutes.

• Take out and pour your chocolate chips over right away. Let the chocolate chips melt for about 2-3 minutes, then spread the chocolate with a knife. Make them pretty with your sprinkles.
• Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour and then break into bits!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

For this recipe I use fresh peanut butter, and it really makes a huge difference in the taste. I also mixed it up with sugar cookie Hershey’s kisses in addition to the milk chocolate ones.

You will need the following:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 stick of butter melted
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 bag of Hershey’s kisses

• Cream together your sugars with your melted butter.
• Add the rest of the wet ingredients.
• In a separate bowl combine your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda).
• Slowly mix the dry ingredients into your wet ingredients.

• Roll small 1-inch balls and place on your cookie sheet.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Press Hershey’s kisses into the middle of your cookie as soon as they are out of the oven.
• Cool on your oven racks.

White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

This was a new recipe I tried this year, and I’m so glad I did. It was delicious. I used this recipe, and they turned out fabulous. I think next year I might try the andes dark chocolate pieces to mix it up a bit!

Lemon Squares

This is from a recipe my mom gave to me in a recipe box when I first moved away from home. You will need:

• 1 cup of melted butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cups+2 Tablespoons flour
• 6 eggs
• zest of one lemon
• 1 cup lemon juice

• Preheat the oven to 325.
• Mix your butter, sugar, vanilla, salt and 2 cups of the flour together. Your mixture will be kind of crumbly.
• Press into the bottom of a 9X13 baking dish.
• Heat in the oven for about 10-12 minutes or until the edges are brown.
• While the crust is in the oven, you can make your filling.
• Mix together your eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice and the 2 TBSP. of flour.
• As soon as your crust mixture comes out of the oven, pour your filling on top.
• Place back in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the middle is set.
• Let cool.
• Dust with powdered sugar.

All in all, it took me about half a day to get everything cooked and cooled. I bought some holiday tins similar to these, and I tie them up with a nice bow and a Christmas card, and Aaron and I deliver them to our friends and neighbors. It’s a great way to meet new neighbors, and a nice way to spread some cheer to your friends! Happy Wednesday, friends!