Graham Cracker Toffee Bars: This Christmas
cookie requires very little baking time and is a must-have
for your holiday gift baskets!
You’ll need:
1 package Graham crackers
1 package Chocolate Chips
1 package chopped walnuts
2 sticks butter
2 cups brown sugar
Line a cookie sheet with tin foil. Place about 12 graham
crackers closely together on the tin foil. In a saucepan,
melt two sticks of butter. Add 2 cups of brown sugar
and stir until bubbly. Pour over the crackers and place
in the oven at 375 until it bubbles. Remove from the
oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Pat the chocolate
until it melts and is smooth. Finally, sprinkle with
crushed walnuts and refrigerate.
It usually takes several hours for it to set. Then just
break into pieces and devour!
Candy Cane Cookies: Fresh, festive
and a favorite Christmas cookie for all!
You’ll need:
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 cup powdered sugar
1 ½ teaspoon almond flavoring
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
For your topping:
½ cup sugar
½ cup crushed candy canes
Red or green food coloring to create colored dough
Mix your ingredients together until doughy. Chill in
the refrigerator for one hour. Separate the dough, so
you can add red food coloring to it until it turns red.
Cut dough into strips, twisting the red and plain dough
together into “candy canes.” Bake for 8-10
minutes at 375 degrees. Remove and promptly sprinkle
the candy mixture on the cookie.
Martha Stewart’s Honey Gingerbread
Men: This traditional Christmas cookie is also a fun
way to enjoy the season with your kids while they decorate
their treats with icing, licorice or gum drops!
You’ll need:
5 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 teaspoons ground ginger
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 sticks unsalted butter (at room temp)
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup honey
½ cup unsulfured molasses
Gingerbread men cookie cutters
Optional: icing, gum drops, icing, M&M’s licorice
or any other decorative candy.
Mix the flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a medium
bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy;
add eggs, one at a time. Beat in honey and molasses.
Gradually add flour mixture. Once your dough is completely
mixed, divide into 3 sections and refrigerate for an
hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll your dough on a floured
piece of parchment paper, once you reach ¼ inch
thick, you are ready to cut your gingerbread men! Freeze
them for 15 minutes. Finally, cook your gingerbread
men for 15 minutes (6 minutes on each side).
Frost, decorate and enjoy! (Makes about 6 dozen little
men!)
Low Fat Pumpkin Cookies: Pumpkin, it’s
not just for Turkey day anymore! Although not as cute
as the gingerbread men, these Christmas cookies are
festive and feel right for the season. Enjoy!
You’ll need:
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple sauce
½ cup low-fat, plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour, sifted
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips (optional, but so tasty!)
Mix together the pumpkin, sugar, yogurt, apple sauce
and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, mix together
your dry ingredients and then add the pumpkin mix until
blended. Add chocolate chips.
Using a spoon, drop your cookies onto a greased baking
sheet and cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until
golden. Leave space between cookies as they expand when
cooking! Makes about 3 dozen.
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