At our house, it wouldn't be Christmas without cookies. Here are some of our family's favorite recipes:
Great Grandma Barnes’ Chocolate Cookies
½ cup shortening
1/3 cup cocoa
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 2/3 cups flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
½ cups chopped nuts
Melt shortening and cocoa. Add sugar and egg. Add remaining ingredients and mix well (may need extra flour). Bake at 375 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes. Frost with chocolate icing (2 tbsp cocoa, 2 tbsp margarine, 1 cup powdered sugar and 1½ Tbsp milk). Sprinkled with crushed candy cane or Christmas sprinkles. Makes 2-3 dozen.
Russian Tea Cakes
2 cubes margarine
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cup flour
¼ tsp salt
¾ cups chopped nuts
Mix and roll into balls. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes at 400 degrees. Roll in or sprinkle with powdered sugar.
For Ambrosia Balls, omit nuts and add orange peel and coconut instead of nuts.
Gingersnaps
1½ cubes margarine or spread
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
½ cup molasses or honey
½ Tbsp vinegar
3 ¾ cups flour
½ Tbsp baking soda
½ Tbsp ginger
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
Mix together and roll into 3/4" balls or scoop with small cookie scoop. Bake @325 degrees for 12 minutes. Makes 4 - 5 dozen.
Peanut Blossoms
1 cups sugar
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup margarine
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
2 Tbsp milk
Chocolate kisses
Combine all ingredients. Chill 30 minutes. Shape into balls and roll in sugar. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 375 degrees. Press a chocolate kiss into the center of the cookie while still hot. Makes about 3 dozen.
