Two Great Holiday Cookie Recipes

Classic Cookies With A New Flair

Nov 24, 2009 Marcelle Greene Edins

Creamy peanut butter cookies mixed with chocolate chunks and buttery sugar cookies combined with fruit and nuts are sure to have mouths watering at holiday parties.

The refrigerated aisles of grocery stores everywhere are filled with pre-made cookie dough. Grabbing that tube of chocolate chip cookie dough is a great way to save on time and toil, but baking cookies from scratch is always worth the extra effort.

Holiday time is the perfect time to bake some scrumptious treats for family and friends, and take the delicious credit for not taking a short-cut. Classic cookie recipes like sugar cookies and peanut butter cookies are even better when combined with some new ingredients to spruce them up. Dried fruit pieces, candy or chocolate pieces and various types of nuts are easy to fold into traditional cookie recipes to give them a new zing. Enjoy.

Sugar Cookies With Cranberries and Hazelnuts

• 2 sticks softened butter (1 cup)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup dried, sweetened cranberries
• 1/2 cup toasted hazelut pieces

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream butter, sugars and vanilla together until fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs, baking soda, and salt until mixed well.
4. Mix in the flour and stir until well blended.
5. Fold in the dried cranberries and hazelnuts.
6. Drop rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased baking sheet.
7. Bake for 9 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Remove to wire rack and allow to cool before serving.

Peanut Butter Cookies With Chocolate Chunks

• 1/2 cup creamy style peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips

Directions:

1. Using an electric mixer, mix together creamy peanut butter, butter, sugar and brown sugar until smooth.
2. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
3. Add the baking soda, salt and as much flour as can be added using the electric mixer.
4. Stir in any remaining flour with a spoon or a whisk.
5. Fold in the chocolate chunks or chips.
6. Cover the dough and allow to chill for at least one hour.
7. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees.
8. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches between each dough ball.
9. If desired, use a fork to flatten the dough by lightly pressing criss-cross shapes onto the top of the dough balls.
10. Bake for about 9 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool on a wire rack before serving.

This recipes will make about 3 dozen cookies.

** Try other variations, like adding pieces of candy, such as Heath bars or M & M's.

The copyright of the article Two Great Holiday Cookie Recipes in Baking & Desserts is owned by Marcelle Greene Edins. Permission to republish Two Great Holiday Cookie Recipes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies