holiday cookie favorites

Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Christmas cookie-baking is in full swing at my house, and this is a new recipe that everyone is just lovin’.  You’ll need one can of Solo Almond filling: and one can of Solo Raspberry Cake & Pastry Filling: Both of these items should be available in the cake-mix aisle at your grocery store. Print RASPBERRY […]

Gingerbread Snowflakes

As the snow was falling from the sky yesterday, these gingerbread snowflakes were adorning my kitchen table.  I sat there for hours, my pastry bag filled with royal icing, having too much fun decorating each and every one.  I had baked the cookies a couple of weeks ago, and stored them (undecorated) in the freezer.  […]

Raspberry White Chocolate Bars

This is one of my all-time favorite holiday cookies.  The recipe for this heavenly bar cookie comes from Land o Lakes.  Seedless raspberry jam, white chips and a shortbread crumble are sprinkled atop a partially baked shortbread base, and then the pan is returned to the oven for final baking.   The directions specify using […]

Italian Amaretti Cookies

Here’s the story: 1.  Went to a Baptism…party followed at the house. 2.  After a delicious dinner…dessert time…HUGE tray of Italian cookies baked by “Grandma”. 3.  Ate a half-dozen of these gems…TOTALLY needed the recipe. 4.  Stalked “Grandma”.  Got her alone (very important), complimented her gorgeous cookies, took a deep breath and asked for the recipe. […]

Buttery Bakery Spritz Cookies

It is holiday cookie time, for sure, and these spritz-like cookies are a delicious addition to my cookie tray this year.  They have a tender crumb and deep almond flavor, and they are piped rather than pressed. Here’s the recipe: Print Buttery Bakery Spritz Ingredients 1 lb . butter (4 sticks) 3/4 cup almond paste […]

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

Yes.  It is 100 degrees outside and I’m still baking.  (Isn’t EVERY baker inspired when the thermostat rises past 90 degrees??) Well, if you love coconut like I love coconut, you’ll crank up your oven and give these macaroons a go.  They are SO moist and delectable, and the finishing dip into melted chocolate puts […]

Christmas Cutout Cookies – Ornaments & Trees

Little a and I enjoyed our marathon holiday baking weekend, and there’s so much to share.  Instead of snowflakes this year, we chose to decorate ornaments and trees: The basic sugar cookie and royal icing recipes came from Sweet Sugarbelle.  I just love her blog and her cookies inspire me to keep trying, although I […]

Homemade Peppermint Patties

Move over York.  I’ve found me a new peppermint patty, and it is DE-licious! Easy to make, too.  My inspiration was from sweetapolita, who was inspired by Joy of Baking, who was inspired by who knows.  And who cares.  These are fun and easy, and make a great new addition to my holiday baking (although, […]

“Party Perfect” Cookie Tray II: Rainbow Cookies

Rainbow cookies are deliciously moist and rich tri-color cookies that are  usually found at Italian bakeries.  They have an intense almond flavor and are held together with thin layers of either raspberry or apricot jam (or orange marmalade) and a layer of melted chocolate tops them off. They are a fussy and time-consuming cookie to […]

Linzer Cookies

Butter + sugar + flour + almonds + raspberry jam = delicious.  The little twist with these Linzer Cookies is that you add a tablespoon of freshly grated lemon zest, which gives them a tang and complements the sweet raspberry filling. Making them is a bit labor intensive (actually, more than a bit), I admit, […]

Christmas Cookies – Snowflake Cutouts II

The truth?  These cookies are lots of work, but they are totally worth the effort!!  For me, it was a two-day event.  I cut and baked the cookies on one day, and frosted and decorated them the next. I used the No Fail Sugar Cookie recipe (minus one teaspoon of baking powder) and my favorite […]

Merry Mitten Cutout Cookies

The cookie baking blitz is on, so I decided to roll some dough and start with the cut-outs!  Since there’s a bit of winter in the air, and I’ve been wearing my new hand-knitted mittens (thank you, Teresa :), I thought merry mittens would be the perfect choice. I used this No Fail Sugar Cookie […]

“Party Perfect” Cookie Tray – Pignoli Cookies, Butter Cookies & Double Coconut Biscotti

Pignoli cookies are delicious and impressive, so a “party perfect” cookie tray just wouldn’t be complete without them!  I have used the Epicurious recipe for years, and I always get great results.  The posted recipe calls for canned almond paste, but I buy almond paste by the pound at a local Italian deli. This is […]

Esther’s Mandelbrot

I’m fully aware that it was a little too hot outside today to crank up the oven, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to make some delicious mandelbrot.  The literal translation of mandelbrot is “almond bread”.  It is similar to biscotti in that it is twice-baked, but it is made using oil instead of butter. […]

Molasses Sugar Cookies & Nutella Sandwiches

My “Christmas Baking Extravaganza” is this Saturday.  You’ll hear all about this wonderful tradition, complete with photos and recipes, in my next post.  In the meantime, I’ve been busy baking these: Print Nutella Sandwiches Ingredients 1 and 2/3 cups all purpose flour 1 cup butter 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/3 cup blanched almonds 1 tbsp. […]