Have an Office Cookie Exchange for Holiday Fun!

Have an Office Cookie Exchange for Holiday Fun! If you and your family love having (or giving) a variety of home-baked cookies for the holidays, but you just don't have the time or energy this year, here's the solution: a holiday cookie exchange!

You can bake just one large batch of your favorite holiday cookies, take them to the cookie exchange, and come home with several different kinds of freshly baked cookies! You'll be the family hero, with minimum effort! Cookie exchanges can be done with friends and neighbors at home parties, or with co-workers at the office. Since the focus of this article is saving time and energy, we'll discuss the office version. Hey, you won't have to spend time cleaning up the house before and after the exchange! Here's how to have a cookie exchange at work: 1. Pick a date. Plan ahead so you can give people plenty of advance notice... at least two weeks. 2. Reserve a conference room or other area for the exchange. Book it for an hour. You're probably safest to plan it for the lunch hour, when your fellow employees will be free to have some non-work-related fun. 3. Invite people to participate. Be careful how you do this at work. Some companies frown on sending personal emails or using the copier for unofficial fliers. Do what's acceptable where you work. You'll want a minimum of six people to make the exchange worthwhile, but less than ten so the amount of baking everyone will have to do is manageable. Explain in your invitation that everyone will need to bake a dozen cookies per participant. So if eight people sign up for the exchange, everyone will need to bring at least eight dozen cookies (extras for sample tasting are encouraged!). Emphasize that family favorites or traditional cookie recipes are preferred, so there will be less chance of two or more people bringing the same type of cookies. Also ask them to bring copies of their cookie recipe for sharing. This is not only a great way for everyone to obtain new cookie recipes, it's a safety mechanism for people with food allergies. They can review the recipe before trying the cookies. 4. Ask everyone you invite to RSVP at least a week prior to the exchange and specify the type of cookie they'll bring. 5. Share the RSVP information with all participants, so everyone will know how many cookies to bake and bring (and how many copies of their cookie recipe). Ask everyone to bring their cookies already counted out, one dozen cookies per participant, packaged in sealable plastic bags (or other containers they don't mind giving away). If eight participants, they'll bring eight bags containing one dozen cookies each. 6. At the exchange (in a decorated room if you're ambitious), it'll be nice to provide coffee or water, and encourage people to sample the cookies. That way you can all rave about each others' culinary skills and have fun swapping stories about baking adventures, cookie recipe development, or the biggest nuts in the company. Relax for a while, have a good time, and take home some new and delicious goodies for the family! For some great cookie recipes for cookie exchanges, visit www.Cookie-Crazy.com. Have an Office Cookie Exchange for Holiday Fun!

Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - How to Make Snickerdoodles Without Cream of Tartar

Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - How to Make Snickerdoodles Without Cream of Tartar Cream of tartar is an age old ingredient, found in just about any Snickerdoodle recipe. The common household baker rarely knows what cream of tartar is, let alone has this acidic based salt in their spice cupboard. Suffice it to say you can still enjoy delicious Snickerdoodles even though you may not have any on hand. You may even find you like the end results better with a simple common substitution.

Cream of tartar is commonly used in conjunction with baking soda when making Snickerdoodle cookies. Baking soda is the leavening agent while cream of tartar has no leavening qualities at all. It is the acidic counterpart that allows the baking soda to react and not leave a bitter taste in the cookie after it is baked. Baking soda must always be used with an acid based food such as buttermilk, yogurt, fruits, and cream of tartar. A Snickerdoodle recipe usually calls for two parts cream of tartar to one part baking soda. However, in the absence of cream of tartar you can replace this two to one formula with baking powder. Baking powder is also a leavening agent. It produces a gas during the baking process that raises the baked good in the oven. Baking powder makes a good substitution in this recipe because it is conveniently made of baking soda, cornstarch, and cream of tartar. If you have baking powder in your cupboard, then you have the cream of tartar necessary to make Snickerdoodles. However, although you can substitute baking powder in your Snickerdoodle recipe, you may arrive at a different finished result. It will taste every bit as good as you want it too, you will find that it is a thicker cookie that has spread less in the oven during the baking period. Since most people find this favorable in a cookie then it should not be a problem. If you have always enjoyed thinner, crispier Snickerdoodles, then stick with the original formula that uses cream of tartar. Whether you are using the baking soda cream of tartar combination or the baking powder alone, you will make a crackled, spicy, sweet treat enjoyed by all. Try these Snickerdoodle cookie recipes: one with cream of tartar and one without to see which one you prefer the most. Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe - How to Make Snickerdoodles Without Cream of Tartar

Cookie Monster Costume for Kids

Cookie Monster Costume for Kids Sesame Street is one show that you can definitely relate to with your kids since you grew up with it, too. It won't come as a surprise if you can still name the characters of this popular children's educational show by heart. From Jim Henson's Ernie and Bert, Count Dracula, Big Bird, Elmo, and Oscar the Grouch, to name a few, you can't really wrong. Choosing a character from the show will be fun especially for your toddlers who still hopefully enjoy watching it regularly. And probably one of the most lovable characters among them is the Cookie Monster. So, a Cookie Monster costume for kids is surely a popular choice to dress your child up with this Halloween season.

A Cookie Monster costume for kids is a great idea, not only because it's cute, but also because it can also be the best way to dress up your child warmly in areas where the weather is really cold. If you find the right materials and if you have loads of time, you can do the costume yourself. Its simple design can really be easy to make for yourself. But, not all moms have the luxury of doing everything by hand. Buying one would be the best option. But, if you feel like this would be cheating the fun out of Halloween, here are some costume ideas that you can add to the basic costume to make the look more special for your little one. Since the Cookie Monster costume for kids is really simple, you won't have much to work on. What you can do instead, is work on the props to go along with the costume. You can get a lightweight plastic cookie jar that he or she could carry around to put the treats in. Or you can fashion an old cookie jar that you can carry for your little cookie monster yourself. All you have to do is personalize the cookie jar by sticking on it a "Cookie Monster's Cookie Jar" label that you can print out on a blue poster paper. Or better yet, you can write one out yourself in how you imagine Cookie Monster would be writing it. You can also fashion a small blue tote bag or carry all with the label as an option to the jar. Another cool idea that you can do if you have another toddler, is to dress the other kid as a cookie jar or as a cookie to go hand in hand with your Cookie Monster. There are other ways that you can do to spice up your ready-made Cookie Monster costume for kids and make it extra special. There really is no limit to how you can make your Cookie Monster costume for kids unique and impressive. As with any other costume ideas, the most important thing is that your kid will have as much fun wearing it as you did in putting the costume together. So go ahead and be adventurous this Halloween. Cookie Monster Costume for Kids

Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe The sour cream chocolate chip cookie recipe turns out a light and fluffy, moist chocolate chip cookie! Don't blink your eyes-these delicious morsels will be gone that fast!

Ingredients 2/3 cup salted butter, softened 1/2 granulated sugar 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sour cream 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) Hardware Whisk Large bowl Medium bowl Cookie Sheets Mixer Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Step 2: Lightly grease cookie sheets; set aside. Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Step 4: In a large bowl, with an electric mixer set on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Step 5: Add sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract; beat until well blended. Step 6: Stir in flour mixture; blend well. Step 7: Stir in chocolate chips, and chopped nuts (optional). Step 8: Drop tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Step 9: Bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer cookies immediately to a cooling surface. Makes about 40 cookies. For more information on baking procedures and hardware used in this recipe see our Baking Tips section. Important: Feel free to republish this article on your website. However, you are not allowed to modify any part of its content and all links should be kept active. Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Essential Cookie Recipes For Your Christmas Cookie Exchange Party

Essential Cookie Recipes For Your Christmas Cookie Exchange Party This Christmas, instead of making or buying cookies for Christmas, why not try having or attending a cookie exchange party? With this event, you and your friends each plan to make several batches of one type of cookie. Then each person brings several dozen to the party, enough for everyone to have a certain amount of each cookie that is made. This way, everyone goes home with a huge variety of homemade cookies! This is a great, fun way to save time and money around the holidays. Here's some of the essential types of cookies that are really must haves for your next cookie exchange party:

Sugar From fancy, decorated cutout cookies to simple sugar cookie drop cookies to slice and bake sugar cookies. You won't want to forget to make sure there's enough of these classic cookies at your party. They are probably the #1 essential! Other Classics There's a few recipes that are modern American Christmas classics, and are traditional for so many families. Cookies like Peanut Butter Blossoms, which are simple peanut butter cookies with a Hershey's kiss pressed into the middle and also Snickerdoodles, so classic yet simple to make and tasty too. Bar These cookies are great for cookie exchange parties, since they are easy to make very quickly. There's less mess since they are usually made in one bowl and you can make a full batch all at once, in one pan. This makes bar cookies a very handy choice. There's many choices in this category that are sure to please the other cookie exchangers. Try brownies with different additions like candies or different types of chocolate chips and chunks. Also try blondies and shortbread bar cookies. Gingerbread Gingerbread men are one of the most traditional Christmas cookies you can make. They are like sugar cookies except sweetened with some molasses and flavored with spices like ginger, allspice, cloves and cinnamon. They have a very distinct flavor and, along with the sugar variety, are a popular cookie to set out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Shortbread Shortbread is quite underrated, they are quite easy to make, since often they use only a few ingredients and they have a rich, buttery taste that are a nice contrast to the super sweet treats you find around Christmas. So don't forget the shortbread! Ethnic Choices Christmas is celebrated in many countries and each country seems to have their own traditional Christmas recipes as well. In Mexico, they have a butter cookie that is flavored with anise and cinnamon called Biscochitos. Biscochitos are also sometimes dusted with a cinnamon sugar. In Italy, they have many varieties of Christmas cookies, but a popular choice is amaretti, which is a cookie made with almonds and egg whites. Ethnic cookies are a great choice to bring some variety to your party. Whatever the recipe choices for your party, don't forget to bring along enough containers to hold all the cookies you'll be going home with! Essential Cookie Recipes For Your Christmas Cookie Exchange Party

Cookie exchange Party

If you plan on hosting a holiday cookie exchange, why not throw the best bash in town? consequent these easy steps to creating the exquisite holiday extravaganza:

Invitations: If you know the email addresses for all your guests, you may pick to take benefit of the free e-cards ready at Evite.com. These come in numerous styles together with a gorgeous one designed for a cookie transfer - just look in the "Winter Holidays" category. You can even contain an online map to your home. Also, Evite will keep you updated as to who Rsvp's. If you'd prefer a more traditional method, you may think purchasing your invitations from Zazzle.com. They have fun or elegant designs, and many of their cards come with matching envelopes, which adds to their festivity. Go to their "Christmas Party Invitations" or "Holiday Invitations" categories.

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Decorations: Remember there are a whole of holidays while this time of year, and you want all your guests to feel welcome. Silver and gold decorations are elegant and can make a room sparkle. OrientalTrading.com has snowflake hanging decals and confetti available, as well as cute snowman decorations. You can also order silver and gold table wear, together with plates, cups, silverware, and tablecloths from PartyCity.com. Lighting a holiday scented candle will additional add to the mood of your party.

Favors: In increasing to sending guests home with cookies, give each one a memorable holiday party favor. Snowflake bottle stoppers and corkscrews make exquisite and beneficial holiday gifts, and winter themed playing cards will be used throughout the season. Snow globe favors can also be fun, and they're ready with slots in them for guests to insert their beloved picture and then display them for all to see. And if you'd like to keep with a cookie theme - chocolate covered Oreos with sugared Christmas decorations will be a big hit.

Thank you notes: After your party, send thank you notes to each of your guests for the gift they made to your party's success. As these will likely go out around the New Year, silver and gold notes are exquisite again. They'll also serve to remind guests of the breathtaking time they had in your home. TinyPrints.com has a whole of cute, fun, or fancy notes that guests are sure to enjoy.

DivaEntertains.com, Copyright 2010

Cookie exchange Party

Christmas Cookie Decorating 101

Many bakers ask for tips and instructions on decorating cookies. Well that’s a tall order because there are as many ways to decorate cookies as there are cookies! Here are a few guidelines for novices and experienced bakers alike to help you generate your own ideas for cooking decorating.

Decorating Cookies Before Baking

Christmas Cookies

Cookies can be decorated before baking with materials that withstand the heat of baking. Some things that you can place on your cookies before baking are:

-colored sugars or natural sugars such as pearl sugar

-jimmies, non-pareils, silver and gold dragées, and other sprinkles

-raisins and dried fruits such as cranberries

-nuts

These items can be placed on top of approximately any cookie to dress it up a bit and give it a more festive appearance.

Paint a masterpiece

You can also paint your cookies before baking them. Make an edible food paint out of an egg yolk mixed with a few drops of food coloring and paint the cookies with a clean paintbrush. The paint will dry while baking and give the cookie a colorful, glazed appearance. This is a fun activity for kids!

A bit of trompe l’oeil

The folks at better Homes and Gardens have a creative method for Colored Cream Dough ( [http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?page=2&storyid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Fbhg%2Fstory%2Fdata%2F11429.xml&catref=Sc1407] ) which is a dough of frosting consistency that can be piped onto cookies with a pastry bag fitted with a writing or star tip, and then baked. The succeed is a cookie that looks like it has been frosted but the frosting is baked on and hard.

Decorating Cookies After Baking

Decorating cookies after baking them requires that you apply some kind of liquid-based substance that will adhere to the baked cookie, or that will act as a glue to attach other items. Usually, this takes the form of frosting, icing, or melted chocolate.

Frosting vs. Icing

There is a big divergence between frosting and icing. Frosting is thick and holds shapes like rosettes and shells like those you see piped colse to the edges of a birthday cake. It remains soft to the touch and has a creamy texture, and most people think it tastes better because of the creamy buttery flavor. Icing, on the other hand, is a thinner, more liquid substance, and as it dries it thins out, becomes very plane over the covering of your cookie, and hardens. This is the icing to use for the most beautiful, professional results.

Working with frosting

You can use frosting in two ways. One way is to simply use a knife or rubber spatula to spread the frosting over the whole covering of your cookie. The other way is to place the frosting in a pastry or decorating bag fitted with a small tip and piping out thin lines or rosettes of icing onto the cookie. Either way, once the frosting has been applied to the cookie you can then additional embellish it by using colored sugars, non-pareils, or any of the decorating items mentioned in the Decorating Before Baking section above. Christmas-Cookies.com has a appetizing method for Buttercream Frosting at http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe.php?recid=306. See detailed instructions on piping frosting from better Homes and Gardens at [http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?page=3&storyid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Fbhg%2Fstory%2Fdata%2F11430.xml&catref=Sc1407]

Working with icing

Icing is a dinky more difficult to work with but its plane covering produces the most beautiful results! Icing should always be piped onto a cookie because it will run off the edges if spread with a knife. Once iced you can apply silver dragées, or other sprinkles just as mentioned with the frosting above, before it hardens. Christmas-Cookies.com has an excellent method for Royal Icing at http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe.php?recid=42. There is also a method for Powdered Sugar Icing ( http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe.php?recid=288 ) that dries less hard than Royal Icing and has a shiny surface. Martha Stewart's website features an excellent article on how to pipe icing onto cookies for professional-looking results ( http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel172011&catid=cat258 ).

Melted chocolate

Just about any cookie can be embellished simply by dipping it in chocolate or drizzling chocolate over it. You can even dress up the daily chocolate chip cookie for gift-giving or serving at parties. Melting chocolate is a easy process, but a few rules must be followed in order to make it a success. For Easter, try using white chocolate tinted in pastel shades with food coloring. Use the gel, paste or powdered kind of food color, because the liquid drops may make the chocolate seize up.

What you need

You can Either use chocolate chips or baking chocolate (the kind that comes in 1-ounce squares) and the same process applies Either you use dark chocolate or white chocolate. A small number of shortening should be added at the ratio of 2 tablespoons shortening for 1 cup of chocolate chips or chopped up baking chocolate.

Double boiler

Place chocolate and shortening in the top half of a duplicate boiler or in a metal bowl that has been placed on top of a saucepan filled with hot water. The water must be very hot, but not boiling, because the steam generated by boiling water could get moisture into the melting chocolate which makes it curdle. Allow the chocolate to melt over the hot water and stir it occasionally until it has achieved a liquid consistency.

Microwave

Place your chocolate and shortening in a microwave safe bowl and microwave it on medium power for 1 minute. Stir. Continue microwaving 20 seconds, stir again. Keep doing this until the chocolate is approximately melted. Remove it from the microwave and stir it until fully melted.

Dipping

Dip one end of your cookie, or half the cookie, or even the whole cookie into the melted chocolate. Set the cookie on a wire rack to let the chocolate harden. If you wish, you can sprinkle chopped nuts, coconut, or non-pareils over the melted chocolate before it hardens.

Drizzling

Scrape melted chocolate into a ziplock baggie. With a sharp scissors, snip off a very small angle of the baggie. Drizzle top of cookies with zig-zags of melted chocolate. Cool until chocolate is set.

Using these easy techniques will help you produce a range of beautiful-looking cookies at Christmastime and throughout the year.

Copyright 2004 Mimi Cummins. All proprietary Reserved.

Christmas Cookie Decorating 101

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes - Eggnog Cookies

These delicious holiday cookies are sure to become a favorite in your home.

1 cup butter, softened

Christmas Cookies

2 cups sugar

1 cup store bought eggnog

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

5 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 egg white, lightly beaten

Colored sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggnog, baking soda and nutmeg. Gradually add flour and mix well. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.

Brush cookies with egg white; sprinkle with colored sugar.

Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Let cool.

Makes 192 cookies.

=> Best Christmas Cookie Recipes: Christmas Sugar Cookies

Make these traditional holiday cookies for parties and potlucks.

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon ground mace

1/8 teaspoon salt

White candy coating

Green paste food coloring

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, sour cream, honey and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Cover and chill for 2 hours or until the dough is easy to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with 3-inch cookie cutters dipped in flour. Place cookies 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool. Melt candy coating; stir in the food coloring. Drizzle over cookies.

Makes 96 cookies.

=> Best Christmas Cookie Recipes: Santa Claus Cookies

These cute-as-a-button cookies are really easy to make.

2 packages white baking chocolate, chopped

1 package peanut butter sandwich cookies

Red colored sugar

32 vanilla or white chips

64 miniature semisweet chocolate chips

32 red hot candies

Directions

In a heavy saucepan melt white chocolate over low heat, stirring occasionally. Dip one end of each cookie into the melted chocolate. Place cookies on wire racks.

To make the Santa hat, sprinkle red sugar on the top part of the white chocolate. Press one vanilla chip off-center on hat for pompom; let stand until set.

Dip the other end of each cookie into the melted chocolate to make Santa's beard. Leave the center of cookies uncovered. Place on wire racks.

Use a dab of melted chocolate to attach chocolate chips for the eyes and red hot candies for the noses. Place cookies on wax paper and let set.

Makes 32 cookies.

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes - Eggnog Cookies

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White Chocolate Raspberry Cookie Recipe

The white chocolate raspberry cookie recipe combines the magical duo of white chocolate and raspberries. Truly out of this world! A great one for that special Valentine!

Ingredients

Chocolate Christmas

4 ounces white baking bars or white chocolate baking squares, chopped.

4 ounces white baking bars or white chocolate baking squares, melted

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Topping:

1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam

3 ounces white baking bars or white chocolate baking squares

1/2 teaspoon shortening

Hardware

Large bowl

2 x 1-quart saucepan

Cookie sheets

Mixer

Step 1: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2: Lightly grease a large cookie sheet.

Step 3: Coarsely chop 4 ounces of white baking bars; set aside.

Step 4: In a 1-quart saucepan, melt 4 ounces of white baking chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly; set aside to cool.

Step 5: In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer set on medium-high speed for 30 seconds.

Step 6: Add sugar, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined.

Step 7: Beat in eggs and melted baking bars until combined.

Step 8: Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Stir in remaining flour with spoon.

Step 9: Stir in chopped white chocolate baking bars.

Step 10: Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets.

Step 11: Bake 7-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cookie set for 1 minute before transferring to a cooling surface.

Topping:

Step 1 Just before serving, in a 1-quart saucepan melt jam over low heat. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of jam over each cookie.

Step 2: In another 1-quart saucepan, melt 3 ounces white baking chocolate squares and 1/2 teaspoon of shortening over low heat until smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Using the tines of a fork, drizzle white chocolate over cookies. Let stand until set.

Makes 48 cookies.

Important: Feel free to republish this article on your website. However, you are not allowed to modify any part of its content and all links should be kept active.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cookie Recipe

For more great cutout and fancy cookie recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/cutout-and-fancy-cookie-recipes.html

For some great tasting chocolate chip cookie recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-recipes.html

For cookie baking tips and a wide selection of recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/

Chocolate Drums Cookie Recipe

The chocolate drums cookie recipe is a perfect one to make with the children. These little gems will look so great sitting on a serving plate at your next holiday party!

Ingredients

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup salted butter, softened

1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Decorations:

Vanilla flavored candy coating, melted, slightly cooled

Decorator sugars and candies

Drumsticks:

Red licorice laces

Vanilla flavored candy coating, melted, slightly cooled

Hardware

Large bowl

Small microwave safe bowl

Cookie sheets

Plastic wrap

Mixer

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, egg yolk and vanilla extract. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy (2-3 minutes).

Step 2: Reduce speed to low and add the flour and cocoa; beat until well mixed.

Step 3: Divide dough into fourths. Shape each fourth into a 7-inch roll about 1-inch in diameter. Wrap each roll with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Step 4: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 5: Cut rolls into 3/4-inch slices with a sharp knife. Place rolls 1 inch apart, cut side down, on ungreased cookie sheets.

Step 6: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Let cookies set for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling surface. Cool completely.

Decorating:

Step 1: In a small microwave safe bowl, melt candy coating in microwave according to directions on package.

Step 2: Roll sides of drums in the melted candy coating. Immediately dip or roll in desired decorator sugars or candies. Let stand to harden.

Drumsticks:

Step 1: Cut licorice laces into 1 1/4-inch pieces.

Step 2: Dip one end of each piece into melted candy coating. Crisscross two drumsticks on top of each drum. Let stand to harden

The chocolate drums cookie recipe makes 24 drums.

For more information on baking procedures and hardware used in this recipe see our Baking Tips section.

Important: Feel free to republish this article on your website. However, you are not allowed to modify any part of its content and all links should be kept active.

Chocolate Drums Cookie Recipe

For more great Christmas cookie recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/christmas-cookie-recipes.html

For some great tasting oatmeal cookie recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/oatmeal-cookie-recipes.html

For cookie baking tips and a wide selection of recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/

Smore Bar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened

Christmas Cookies

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 milk chocolate bars (1.55 oz. each)

7 oz. jar marshmallow creme

Hardware

Whisk

Large bowl

Medium bowl

8x8 inch baking pan

Cooking Spray

Wax paper

Mixer

Step 1: Heat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).

Step 2: With cooking spray, coat 8x8 inch baking pan; set aside.

Step 3: In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 4: Add egg and vanilla, beat well.

Step 5: Whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt.

Step 6: Add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until blended.

Step 7: Press half of dough into prepared 8x8 inch baking pan.

Step 8: Arrange chocolate bars over first layer of dough.

Step 9: Spread marshmallow creme over chocolate bars.

Step 10: On wax paper, spread remaining dough into 8x8 inch square, carefully slide dough off wax paper over marshmallow layer. Carefully press to form layer.

Step 11: Bake 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned.

step 12: Cool completely in pan, cut into bars.

Important: Feel free to republish this article on your website. However, you are not allowed to modify any part of its content and all links should be kept active.

Smore Bar Cookie Recipe

For more great bar cookie recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/bar-cookie-recipes.html

For some great tasting brownie recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/brownie-recipes.html

For cookie baking tips and a wide selection of recipes visit http://kicked-up-cookie-recipes.com/

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever

Many people like to treat their families to home-baked goodies. As just about everyone knows, America's favorite cookie is the good old Chocolate Chip. Recipes and variations abound, and often families have their own versions of this most-loved sweet. What some people may not be aware of, though, is the origin of this cookie. The story goes that a Massachusetts innkeeper by the name of Ruth Wakefield accidentally invented the scrumptious diet-breaker. It seems Mrs. Wakefield was baking a batch of chocolate cookies in the kitchen of the Toll House Inn and substituted grated chocolate bits for melted chocolate. Apparently, Ruth was hoping that the chocolate bits would melt and mix into the batter as they baked. It seems she was wrong. Her mistake, however, became one of this country's all-time favorite treats.

There are many variations of the Chocolate Chip cookie. Some popular ones include:

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

* Replacing the typical walnuts in the recipe with macadamias; * Mixing different types of chips with the chocolate, such as butterscotch or peanut butter; * Adding dried fruits, like raisins or cranberries.

My clan prefers the solidly unpretentious, classic chocolate chip cookie. Following is the recipe for my family's favorite after-school snack, which is the classic Toll House version.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks butter, softened 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 3/4 cup white sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 2 cups semi-sweet morsels, 1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy. Add the vanilla, and the eggs one at a time. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts by hand.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

This recipe makes approximately 60 delicious cookies.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever

Christmas Cookie Recipes - Santa Face Cookies

Santa Claus pays a visit to your table in these delightfully cute cookies.

1 cup butter

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour plus additional for rolling

Royal Packaged Icing Mix

Red food coloring

Pastel candy dots

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place butter in a bowl and cream until nice and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the milk and vanilla. Add in flour; mix thoroughly. Chill dough for 1 to 2 hours or until it is easy to handle.

Work with 1/3 of the dough at a time and leave rest in the refrigerator until ready to use.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Take a Santa shaped cookie cutter and dip it into flour, then cut out Santa faces. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until just golden brown. Let cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely.

Prepare the royal icing according to package directions. Color half the icing red and leave the other half the original color. Using a icing bag or plastic bag with a hole cut in it, pipe a red Santa hat on each cookie. Follow up with white icing for Santa's beard, eyes and hat pompom.

Place a candy decoration in the center of each white eye. Allow icing to set before serving.

Makes 18 to 24 cookies.

=> Christmas Cookie Recipes: Easy Snowmen Cookies

These snowmen are easy to make and they make nice centerpiece decorations.

1 (16 oz.) package Nutter Butter Cookies

1 1/4 pounds white candy coating, melted

Miniature chocolate chips

M&M miniature baking bits

Pretzel sticks, halved

Orange and red decorating gel or frosting

Directions

Using tongs, dip cookies in candy coating; shake off excess. Place cookie on waxed paper.

To decorate: Place two chocolate chips on one end of cookies for eyes. Place baking bits down middle for buttons. For arms, dip ends of two pretzel stick halves into coating; attach one to each side.

Let stand until hardened. Pipe nose and scarf with gel or frosting.

Makes 32 cookies.

=> Christmas Cookie Recipes: Peppermint Twist Kiss Cookies

The peppermint twist isn't just a song, but a delicioius holiday cookie that is colorful and festive.

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 to 8 drops red food coloring

36 chocolate kisses

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and the sugar. Add in the egg yolk, peppermint extract and vanilla extract; mix well.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Divide the dough into two sections. Tint one section red. Divide the dough into four sections. You should have two red sections and two regular sections. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Shape each section into a 9-inch log. Place one plain log next to one red log. Gently twist the plain and red logs together and create one swirled log. Repeat with the other two logs.

Cut each log into nine slices; roll each slice into a ball. Place each slice 1-inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with a glass.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. Press a chocolate kiss candy piece into each cookie center, while cookies are still warm. Let cool.

Makes 36 cookies.

Christmas Cookie Recipes - Santa Face Cookies

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Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes - Chocolate Drizzled Cherry Bars

These impressive looking cookies will make a splash at any gathering.

2 cups all purpose flour

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups butter, softened

1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 teaspoon shortening

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar and butter until crumbly. Set aside 1 1/2 cups for topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges begin to brown.

In another bowl, combine the pie filling and extract; carefully spread over the crust. Sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the edges of the topping are lightly browned.

In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over warm bars. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Makes 36 bar cookies.

=> Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes: Heavenly Caramel Cookies

A delicious cookie featuring spices, nuts, coconut and marshmallows.

12 graham crackers

2 cups miniature marshmallows

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup flaked coconut

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil.

Place graham crackers inside the pan; cover with marshmallows.

In a saucepan, cook and stir butter, brown sugar and cinnamon over medium heat until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla. Spoon over the marshmallows.

Sprinkle with almonds and coconut. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until browned. Cool completely. Cut into 2-inch squares, then cut each square in half to form triangles.

Makes 72 cookies.

=> Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes: Minty Meringue Drop Cookies

These light as air cookies are perfect for the holidays.

2 egg whites

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

3/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 to 6 drops green food coloring, optional

1 pkg. mint chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat 250 degrees.

Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar, beating until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla and food coloring. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until dry to the touch. Cool.

Makes 30 cookies.

Note: If you cannot find mint chocolate chips, place 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips and 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract inside a plastic bag. Seal the bag and toss chips until coated. Let chips sit for 24 to 48 hours before using.

Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes - Chocolate Drizzled Cherry Bars

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