I was commenting in my last post that as I enter year 4 of writing the Friends Food Family blog, finding 12 new cookie recipes for the holiday can be a challenge. My parents called the other day to request some cookies for a few of their holiday gatherings. I went into a panic mode because I didn't have any of the traditional cookie favorites, everything I had baked was from a new recipe.
As much as I love new cookies and new tasting experiences, I still fall back on my family favorites as we have been baking them for over 30 years. So on the 6th day of our 12 Cookies of Christmas, I'm going to share our family favorites.
To begin:
1. Nannie's Oatmeal Cookies - The BEST oatmeal cookie you will ever taste. Brown sugar based with oatmeal, wheaties, raisins and chocolate chips. When we were young, my grandmother had us mix the butter and brown sugar with our hands. Amazing what will keep kids busy...and baking.
2. Danielle's Special Thumbprint Cookies - A white sugar shortbread with mini semi-sweet chips. We add a Hershey's Kiss and push it down while it is melting. Everyone goes CRAZY over these!
3. Seven Layer Bars - Who doesn't love a homemade dessert that tastes like a candy bar. Extremely sweet, but who cares, you can't beat the taste of chocolate, butterscotch, coconut and nuts!
4. Andria's Chocolate Chip Cookies - These are a staple at our hose, whether it's the holiday or just a party. These cookies are a true baking for success. I've never left a party with any left on the plate.
5. Jelly Thumbprints - A brown sugar based shortbread cookie recipe that I received in 8th grade. This is the only jelly thumbprint recipe I use. Raspberry and Strawberry jam are our favorites.
6. Cranberry Almond Biscotti - We always make a batch of these when we make jelly thumbprint cookies. The thumbprints call for two egg yolks, the biscotti calls for two egg white. Perfect cookie combination with no waste.
If you are anything like me and love to try new cookies and treats, but not sure you want to bring them to a big gathering, skip all the hassles and make one of these cookies. I have been making them for years and these are the cookies I have stayed with through the holidays for two main reasons:
1. They are easy to make - no special ingredients. Mix, Bake, Clean, Done!
2. They are the cookies people eat - For years I made all different fancy holiday cookies. What tended to happen was they looked pretty but were normally the last cookies left on the plate. We know that at the end of the party, those cookies end up in the trash. With these cookies, they are gone usually before any of the other desserts.
Keep these recipes close to your heart because you know the old saying, "A way to a person's heart is through their stomach!"
GIVE THEM COOKIES, and they'll love you forever!
Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
Written by Tricia White