Christmas Cookie Baking

A time honored holiday tradition is baking festive cookies at Christmas time.

I want to give a shout out to my sister Virginia, who took a baking class when we were in late grade school and she has been an expert baker since that time. Over many years she guided me and every year, this year being an exception due to the pandemic, I would pack up my mixer and all the ingredients and drive out to her house on Long Island and bake cookies all day… she taught me so many things about baking that I feel confident I can bake almost anything. Also, as I have noted previously I have been baking cookies weekly for the local support group.

2020 is a different year – with the pandemic and the need to stay at home as much as possible I decided to bake all of the favorites and a new cookie this year.

Here is the result of about two weeks of baking.

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I will go through each cookie so you can see them up close, if you would like any recipe just leave me a comment and I will send you the full recipe.

The Almond Bars are a family favorite and always the first cookie I bake, the Almond Crescents are tricky to make, you roll the individual balls of dough into a log and shape like a crescent… over the years Virginia would try to show me how to do.. hers were always exactly the same size but mine were not.. I had to do two batches this year but they came out reasonably well… Still very tasty!

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The Peppermint Blossoms are another favorite.

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A few more cookies:

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I want to thank my friend Susan for giving me the Neiman Marcus Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookie recipe. It is one of the most delicious cookies I have ever baked.

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A favorite activity is decorating the Gingerbread Cookies, this year I had to do myself so did not get as creative as our daughter-in-law Gretchen would do but at least it is colorful!!

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Introducing the New Cookie for 2020 – the Confetti Cookie – I picked up this recipe from the internet and chose it for the new cookie:

Baking Cookies, Brownies and Cakes is so much fun and at this time of year very festive. The true joy is giving them out, this year I will give a sampling to the grocery ladies and the neighbors, plus the cookie exchange next week.

I encourage you to try one new cookie, if you choose one of these just ask for the recipe in the comment section.

I wish all my readers a Joyous and Happy Christmas and an absolutely fantastic 2021…. it is precious to have our family and friends and even though we can not see them all this year they will be close to heart and even close via Zoom.

Stay safe and most of all have fun!!!!