Christmas Cookies

Hi all, I am a bit new around here but I am loving it. I wondered if some of you more experienced bakers could help me. 

I have a Christmas cookie exchange coming up, and I am looking for good cookie recipes. If they happen to be light that would be nice, but not necessary. I have been searching a few recipe sites, but I would really like to find something that others can vouch for. Traditional (like sugar cookies) or maybe something a bit "different". I was thinking of making biscotti, but have never attempted it before and don't have a proven stand-by recipe. Any ideas?

Well, since you stated that light is not necessary, I'll share one of my faves - not a cookie, but the best dessert bar ever:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oatmeal-Carmelit as/Detail.aspx

For good light cookie recipes, search the CC recipes.  I have always gotten good results with "pumpkin cookies", "Bannana cookies", and "gingerbread cookies."

Of course, search for anything gingerbread here on CC and you'll get good results....;-)

Chocolate blizzard cookies - these are not light either, but they are my current favorite and people can't seem to get enough of them. You can sub in any nuts you want. The original recipe calls for pecans, but I've always used walnuts.

http://caloriecount.about.com/recipe/73351.ht ml

I just made a double batch last night to have around for the holidays. You mould the dough into rolls and then wrap them up and freeze them. Pull them out and bake as many (or as few) as you need and they'll be ready in 15 minutes. Just make sure you don't overbake them.

 

Thanks for the ideas! They all sound delicious. I might just have to "test" a couple of batches first, lol. :) Thanks!

Here is a delicious low-cal biscotti recipe from the Heart Healthy Magzine.

2T softened butter

1 C sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C frozen egg product

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond exract

2 1/4 C all-purpose flour

1 C dried cranberries

3/4 C pistachio nuts

1/2 C snipped dried apricots

1 recipe White Chocolate Drizzle (optional)

In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Beat to combine.  Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in remaining flour, the cranberries, nuts and apricots.  Cover and chill about 2 hours.

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease cookie sheet.  Divide doubht in half and shape each into 12 inch long loaf.  Place about 3 inches apart on the cookie sheet and flatten slightly to about 3/4 inch thick.

Bake 25-30 min till lightly browned and a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean.  Cool on cookie sheet for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Using serrated knift cut each loaf diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices.  Place slices on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 6 minutes.  Turn over and bake for 6-8 minutes more till dry and crisp.  Transfer to rack, cool.  If desired decorate with drizzled white chocolate.  Makes 48 cookies.

White Drizzle:

In saucepan heat and stir 1/3 C coarsely chopped white chocolate baking squares (with cocoa butter) and 1/2 tsp shortening over low heat till melted, cool slightly.

Calories:  65  Fat: 1g  Sat Fat 0g  Cholesterol 1 mg Socium 39mg  Carbs 12g  Fiber 1g

Please do look at the thread at the top of the board
Holiday Recipe Makeovers

Scroll down to the post where I've collected a lot of cookie recipes by CC members!  Have fun!