Christmas Cookies for a Taste of the Season

Christmas cookies are a big part of the holiday season and come in many forms from snickerdoodles and spritz cookies to sugar cookies with colored icing. These seemed to be made (and disappeared) by the dozens in Christmases long ago and some of the cookie recipes have been lost.

Many survive though, adapted slightly and others remained tucked away on notebook paper notes within the pages of an old cookbook. There were rolled and cut cookies in bells and Santa shapes, pressed cookies sprinkled with colored sugar, bar cookies and others. Real homemade cookies often had farm fresh eggs and butter. These still add a wonderful flavor to home baked cookies today.

Christmas recipes aren't just for Christmas of course although the cookies were most plentiful this time of year.

Cinnamon is a taste of the season and healthy too. Cream together a cup softened butter and a cup each brown sugar and white sugar. When light and fluffy stir in 2 eggs thoroughly then in a separate bowl sift 3 ½ cups all purpose flower together with a teaspoon baking soda, tablespoon cinnamon and a cup of chopped nuts. Add the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture and stir thoroughly, forming a stiff dough that you'll wrap into small rolls for refrigerating. Wrap in waxed paper, chill then slice thinly and bake at 350F for 15 minutes or until light brown. This makes homemade refrigerator cookies - the dough can be kept in the refrigerator and the baked cookies freeze well also.

Another favorite of the season features chocolate kisses with more variety today than ever before. Combine together 1/3 cup peanut butter, ½ cup sugar ½ cup butter and ½ cup brown sugar. Add an egg and one teaspoon vanilla and mix thoroughly then sift in 1 ¾ cup flower, a teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix together completely and shape into small balls, dip in white sugar and bake at 375F for 8 minutes. Press a candy kiss in the center of each one and return to bake 2-5 more minutes. This makes about 3 dozen cookies that usually don't last long!

The memories and taste of Christmas come back years later. The tastes and sounds of Christmas make memories. Make some this year! Whether you're making Christmas cookies for home, for a church function or to give as gifts cookies are a tasty way to indulge in an occasional treat.