Wanted: easy holiday cookie recipes

[portland]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

1. In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter and butter and stir with a wooden spoon until evenly blended. Add the powdered sugar and stir until the mixture has the consistency of sticky play dough.
2. Use a double boiler to melt the chocolate chips with the shortening, stirring frequently. If you’re using different types of chocolate, melt them in separate batches. White chocolate doesn’t contain cocoa butter, so it requires extra shortening. The Family Fun people used 2 tablespoons for semisweet chips, and 3 tablespoons for white chocolate.
3. While the chocolate melts, roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls and set them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. (Reader tip: If the dough is too sticky, add more confectioners’ sugar and/or wet your hands with warm water to prevent sticking.)
4. Brilliant – Put the baking sheet in the freezer until the peanut butter balls are solid enough to pick up with a toothpick, about 5 to 10 minutes. Why have I never thought of this?
5. Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball, then dip it into the melted chocolate. Set the chocolate-coated balls on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Remove the toothpicks. Immediately place a chocolate or peanut butter chip over each toothpick hole. Cool the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator until the chocolate has hardened, about 5 minutes.

Makes 100 (1-inch) peanut butter balls.

[DrFU]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

1. In a medium bowl, combine the peanut butter and butter and stir with a wooden spoon until evenly blended. Add the powdered sugar and stir until the mixture has the consistency of sticky play dough.
2. Use a double boiler to melt the chocolate chips with the shortening, stirring frequently. If you’re using different types of chocolate, melt them in separate batches. White chocolate doesn’t contain cocoa butter, so it requires extra shortening. The Family Fun people used 2 tablespoons for semisweet chips, and 3 tablespoons for white chocolate.
3. While the chocolate melts, roll the peanut butter mixture into 1-inch balls and set them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. (Reader tip: If the dough is too sticky, add more confectioners’ sugar and/or wet your hands with warm water to prevent sticking.)
4. Brilliant – Put the baking sheet in the freezer until the peanut butter balls are solid enough to pick up with a toothpick, about 5 to 10 minutes. Why have I never thought of this?
5. Insert a toothpick into each peanut butter ball, then dip it into the melted chocolate. Set the chocolate-coated balls on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Remove the toothpicks. Immediately place a chocolate or peanut butter chip over each toothpick hole. Cool the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator until the chocolate has hardened, about 5 minutes.

Makes 100 (1-inch) peanut butter balls.

Anybody else hear Chef from Southpark singing when they read this?

They sound yummy.

[WalkInMyShoes]

DOUBLE DELIGHT BOURBON BALLS

6 oz semisweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp corn syrup
1/2 cup bourbon
8 oz chocolate wafers, crushed
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/3 cup chopped candied red cherries
Granulated sugar

Gently melt chocolate in a double boiler over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in syrup and bourbon. Cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix wafers, nuts, confectioners sugar and cherrires. Add the chocolate mixture and stir to blend. Let stand for 30 minutes. Shape into one inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar, then refrigerate, covered.

Yield 2.5 dozen

[Babyblue]

I am not sure what one to try now. They all sound so yummy

[DrFU]

Okay, Southerners, here is the to-die-for praline recipe:

1 cup white sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups pecans

Combine sugars, milk, butter, and salt in a heavy suacepan. Bring to a rolling boil. Add pecans. Continue cooking to the soft ball stage. Remove from heat. Stir until the candy begins to look creamy. Drop by spoonsful on wax paper to cool.

Tips from making these about a zillion times: It doesn't take very long to reach the "soft ball" stage, like 3-5 minutes after the rolling boil starts. Put paper towells under the wax paper to keep these from sticking to the kitchen counter and breaking when you try to pick them up. It takes the candy longer to get to the "creamy" stage when you are stirring it if the weather is humid or warm. Freshly shelled pecans from the farmers market taste way better in these than packaged ones from the grocery store.

[portland]

Okay, Southerners, here is the to-die-for praline recipe:

1 cup white sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups pecans

Combine sugars, milk, butter, and salt in a heavy suacepan. Bring to a rolling boil. Add pecans. Continue cooking to the soft ball stage. Remove from heat. Stir until the candy begins to look creamy. Drop by spoonsful on wax paper to cool.

Tips from making these about a zillion times: It doesn't take very long to reach the "soft ball" stage, like 3-5 minutes after the rolling boil starts. Put paper towells under the wax paper to keep these from sticking to the kitchen counter and breaking when you try to pick them up. It takes the candy longer to get to the "creamy" stage when you are stirring it if the weather is humid or warm. Freshly shelled pecans from the farmers market taste way better in these than packaged ones from the grocery store.

Yum....thanks I am going to give this a shot!

[Enigma869]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

As an aside, it's also wise to have your cardiologist on speed dial once you ingest all of the lard in this recipe, and don't forget to tell family and friends that the chocolate or peanut butter chips are only for decorating, and not meant to be ingested

[bluejeangirl76]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

As an aside, it's also wise to have your cardiologist on speed dial once you ingest all of the lard in this recipe, and don't forget to tell family and friends that the chocolate or peanut butter chips are only for decorating, and not meant to be ingested

I can't stand cooking/baking with veg oil and all that stuff. My (absolutely delicious) zucchini bread recipe calls for a full cup of veg oil and I cut it to half and sub the other half with applesauce. I'm told I can sub out the whole cup with applesauce without wrecking it but I haven't tried that yet. But so much healthier than all that oil and crap. BLECH! I always find ways to sub out stuff like that.

I don't like subbing out sugar but I do anyway... it just tastes funny with substitutes. Although, I haven't tried subbing in stevia for sugar yet - that might actually be ok. I've switched to stevia (from splenda) for coffee and it tastes just like the real sugar.

[Don]

Not cookies but maybe something that you can try.






Spicy Sponge Cake Roll

Ingredients

1/2 tsp Baking powder
2-3 tsp Curry powder
2/3 cup Sour Cream
2/3 cup Cream cheese
1/2 cup Blueberries
1/2 cup Raspberries
4 Eggs
3/4 cup All-purpose flour


#1 Preheat the oven to 350. In a bowl, combine the eggs and the sugar and beat together until light and foamy. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, the curry powder and the baking powder. Stir and sift it into the egg mixture. Using a spatula, gently fold together until smooth.
# 2 Pour the mixture into a rectangular baking dish lined with wax paper, no more than two thirds full (if you don’t have a suitable dish, try to shape the batter into a rectangle, and trim the edges when it is baked). Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until risen and golden and firm to the touch. Check it is cooked by inserting a metal skewer. If the skewer comes out clean, the cake is done.
# 3 When the cake is cool enough to handle, but still soft, put it upside down on the kitchen table and carefully remove the paper (if the paper sticks to the cake, carefully dab it with a moist kitchen towel).
# 4 For the topping, beat the cream cheese until smooth and then fold in the sour cream. Spread the mixture over the cake and cover with berries. Carefully roll the cake lengthwise. Leave to sit for 30 minutes before cutting.

[bluejeangirl76]

Spicy Sponge Cake Roll

Omg that sounds YUM! If I don't do it for this work thing I will definitely do it for Christmas Eve!!

[portland]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

As an aside, it's also wise to have your cardiologist on speed dial once you ingest all of the lard in this recipe, and don't forget to tell family and friends that the chocolate or peanut butter chips are only for decorating, and not meant to be ingested

Ummm you are not suppose to eat them all in one sitting!

[Babyblue]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

As an aside, it's also wise to have your cardiologist on speed dial once you ingest all of the lard in this recipe, and don't forget to tell family and friends that the chocolate or peanut butter chips are only for decorating, and not meant to be ingested

I can't stand cooking/baking with veg oil and all that stuff. My (absolutely delicious) zucchini bread recipe calls for a full cup of veg oil and I cut it to half and sub the other half with applesauce. I'm told I can sub out the whole cup with applesauce without wrecking it but I haven't tried that yet. But so much healthier than all that oil and crap. BLECH! I always find ways to sub out stuff like that.

I don't like subbing out sugar but I do anyway... it just tastes funny with substitutes. Although, I haven't tried subbing in stevia for sugar yet - that might actually be ok. I've switched to stevia (from splenda) for coffee and it tastes just like the real sugar.

BJG,what is your recipe for your zucchini bread?

[bluejeangirl76]

BJG,what is your recipe for your zucchini bread?

Bluejeangirl's AbFab Zucchini Bread:


Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

(throw in some nutmeg and/or ground ginger for extra holiday goodness!!)

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
(or 1/2 cup veg oil and 1/2 cup applesauce for a lighter/healthier choice)
2 1/4 cups white sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts

(optional: raisins!!)

Directions
Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon (and nutmeg and/or ginger if desired) together in a bowl.

Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl.
Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well.
Stir in zucchini and nuts (and optional raisins!!) until well combined.
Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

OM NOM NOM!!

[DrFU]

Here are 31 more recipes:

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interacti ... ies_month/

[Babyblue]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

As an aside, it's also wise to have your cardiologist on speed dial once you ingest all of the lard in this recipe, and don't forget to tell family and friends that the chocolate or peanut butter chips are only for decorating, and not meant to be ingested

I can't stand cooking/baking with veg oil and all that stuff. My (absolutely delicious) zucchini bread recipe calls for a full cup of veg oil and I cut it to half and sub the other half with applesauce. I'm told I can sub out the whole cup with applesauce without wrecking it but I haven't tried that yet. But so much healthier than all that oil and crap. BLECH! I always find ways to sub out stuff like that.

I don't like subbing out sugar but I do anyway... it just tastes funny with substitutes. Although, I haven't tried subbing in stevia for sugar yet - that might actually be ok. I've switched to stevia (from splenda) for coffee and it tastes just like the real sugar.

BJG,what is your recipe for your zucchini bread?

Thanks! i will be trying this one.

[Voyager]

Scooby Snacks

2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 cup quaker dry oatmeal
1 tbl vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
1 tsp walnut extract
1 oz. of finely ground cannabis

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. If there is not enough liquid to mix all ingredients after 5 minutes of stirring, add a tiny amount of milk to aid in mixing of remaining ingredients. Taste batter before cooking and adjust amount of sugar to your liking. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on how large you made your cookies. Can be cooked for a shorter time for chewier cookies, or a longer time for drier, crisp cookies.

[treetopovskaya]

drop cookies... mmm...

http://allrecipes.com/Search/Recipes.as ... %20cookies

}:C)

[Ehwmatt]

Scooby Snacks

2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 cup quaker dry oatmeal
1 tbl vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
1 tsp walnut extract
1 oz. of finely ground cannabis

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. If there is not enough liquid to mix all ingredients after 5 minutes of stirring, add a tiny amount of milk to aid in mixing of remaining ingredients. Taste batter before cooking and adjust amount of sugar to your liking. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on how large you made your cookies. Can be cooked for a shorter time for chewier cookies, or a longer time for drier, crisp cookies.

LOL, I was reading for peanut butter or something like that and I come across that last ingredient... where can I get that? Whole Foods? World Market? Trader Joe's?

[Babyblue]

Scooby Snacks

2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 cup quaker dry oatmeal
1 tbl vanilla
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 pound (1 stick) butter
1 tsp walnut extract
1 oz. of finely ground cannabis

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. If there is not enough liquid to mix all ingredients after 5 minutes of stirring, add a tiny amount of milk to aid in mixing of remaining ingredients. Taste batter before cooking and adjust amount of sugar to your liking. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on how large you made your cookies. Can be cooked for a shorter time for chewier cookies, or a longer time for drier, crisp cookies.

So we will be on a high then.

[tammy]

Another one that I make as a gift.....no baking either


Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

* 2 cups peanut butter
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 5 cups powdered sugar
* 2 (12 oz) packages of chocolate chips – you can use all one kind or 2 different kinds
* 4 to 5 tablespoons of vegetable shortening
* Chocolate or peanut butter chips for decorating

As an aside, it's also wise to have your cardiologist on speed dial once you ingest all of the lard in this recipe, and don't forget to tell family and friends that the chocolate or peanut butter chips are only for decorating, and not meant to be ingested

I can't stand cooking/baking with veg oil and all that stuff. My (absolutely delicious) zucchini bread recipe calls for a full cup of veg oil and I cut it to half and sub the other half with applesauce. I'm told I can sub out the whole cup with applesauce without wrecking it but I haven't tried that yet. But so much healthier than all that oil and crap. BLECH! I always find ways to sub out stuff like that.

I don't like subbing out sugar but I do anyway... it just tastes funny with substitutes. Although, I haven't tried subbing in stevia for sugar yet - that might actually be ok. I've switched to stevia (from splenda) for coffee and it tastes just like the real sugar.

I always prefer making baked goodies with real butter or canola oil and not shortening/lard. But, I have a sugar cookie recipe a friend gave me that she got from Colonial Williamsburg using shortening and they are good so I sometimes make those...I think the shortening gives a lighter texture. Some recipes can be swapped out using applesauce, yogurt, egg whites for the fat...but, I always use sugar & not substitutes...I think a lot of recipes need that body that sugar gives.

I'm still bummed every Christmas that those little silver balls/dragees' for cookie decoration are illegal in CA and apparently they are illegal in a few more states as I tried to find them in AZ last week when I was there! You can't even order them online because they state "will not ship to CA".

[Michigan Girl]

I'm still bummed every Christmas that those little silver balls/dragees' for cookie decoration are illegal in CA and apparently they are illegal in a few more states as I tried to find them in AZ last week when I was there! You can't even order them online because they state "will not ship to CA".

Why...?!?!

[WalkInMyShoes]

Quote from Wikipedia:

"Silver dragées have long been used for both wedding and holiday food decoration. More recently, metallic gold, copper, and rainbow colors (red, green, blue, etc.), as well as pearlescent colors, have become available.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers the metallic-finish dragées to be inedible. Early in the 20th century, the silver finish may have contained mercury (it does not now). The sale of these dragées was banned for some time. Although the metallic-finish dragées can be purchased in 49 U.S. states, they are no longer sold in California due to a 2003 lawsuit against several sellers. Now, these dragées are sold with a notice that they are for decorative purposes only. However in other countries (including the United Kingdom) they are classed as food items".

I had no idea. I never liked them because I was afraid of cracking my teeth, but...really!

[Michigan Girl]

Thanks WIMS!!!
I ate those things like candy as a child...who knew? I'm ok~I think!!!

[Since 78]

RachaelRay.com

[bluejeangirl76]

RachaelRay.com

You know, I used to watch her show and I just can't get into her recipes... she grates lemon, lime or orange zest all over damn near everything and she uses stuff that *most* people rarely even have around. I've yet to meet the person that keeps fresh coriander on hand.

And no one even mention Paula Deen to me.
I'm sure her baking tastes fab, but that's because there's a pound of butter in everything.
I get sick just watching what she puts into things.

[Don]

I know Giada buys a lot of her stuff from Bristol Farms. We have those and enough different specialty shops in L.A. where every thing she uses is pretty much easy to obtain.

[bluejeangirl76]

I know Giada buys a lot of her stuff from Bristol Farms.

Oh yeah, Giada... "Cooking With Cleavage"

[Don]

I know Giada buys a lot of her stuff from Bristol Farms.

Oh yeah, Giada... "Cooking With Cleavage"

Lots of cleavage but little boobies (which is cool with me, anything more than a mouthful is a waste anyway).

[StoneCold]

I know Giada buys a lot of her stuff from Bristol Farms.

Oh yeah, Giada... "Cooking With Cleavage"

Lots of cleavage but little boobies (which is cool with me, anything more than a mouthful is a waste anyway).

Cleavage cookies.


Sounds yummy.

[artist4perry]

Thanks WIMS!!!
I ate those things like candy as a child...who knew? I'm ok~I think!!!

Might explain that little tick you have developed..........

Where your butt keeps falling off when you laugh...