|
|
December is here and it’s time to focus on one thing…. a Cookie Exchange. I have 12 friends that each make 12 dozen cookies and then we exchange, hopefully bringing home a huge variety of cookies to enjoy over the holidays. I am already Googling recipes and wrapping ideas for our exchange in two weeks. Do I go traditional? Think Sugar Cookie. Or something fancier? Think frosted gingerbread men. Last year I tried to make red and green pinwheel cookies. While the presentation might have resembled a circle of colors, they were real dunkers! As my grandma called cookies that were hard and dry. Needed a hot cup of coffee to eat them.
My mother-in-law liked to make frosted cookies at Christmas. She had cookies cutters shaped like candy canes, mittens and Christmas balls. I know it took her a lot of time to frost and sugar each cookie. Her cookie trays were always beautiful. My mom makes rosettes for the holidays. I can’t give you the recipe or tell you how they are made. I still need to learn the process. All I know is you can eat 3 in a row and feel like you didn’t eat a thing. They are sweet air and sugar.
A few years ago, I taught a holiday cookie class at the Annandale High School. I had more energy then. I would spend the day making 30 pounds or more of cookie dough and use a wagon to wheel it into the school kitchen. We had six rotating stations and switched every 30 minutes. 12 people went home with several dozen cookies after 3 hours of baking. The stained-glass windowpane cookies were a favorite. I liked to use Jolly Ranchers as they were so bright and clear. (Jolly Rancher candies also make great flavored vodka for Christmas gifts, crush candy, add to vodka, label and gift!) My motto: Cookies in the morning, cookies late at night. Cookies all day, here take another bite!
Just remember that you should always bake enough to share and to save a few for Santa! Happy Holiday Hugs, Sandy
“Make the world a better place one cookie at a time.”
Leave a Reply