Swedish Christmas Cookies - A Recipe To Make Pepparkakor

Swedish Christmas Cookies - A Recipe To Make Pepparkakor-Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Christmas is a special time in Scandinavia and Sweden in particular. Tradition and Heritage are extremely important to Swedish culture and there are many traditions which are widely upheld. In most traditional Swedish homes, the smell of home baked foods and desserts fill the air at Christmas time. The Swedes really love to cook and for many, the holiday season and the Christmas Eve celebration is the highlight of their year.

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

One recipe, which is very popular in Sweden, is for a cookie called the Pepparkakor.

Pepparkakor, literally translated, means "pepper cookies" but I've yet to see a recipe that included any pepper. They are similar to the American gingersnap cookie but they are generally thinner, crisper and smoother in texture.

Many refer to this cookie as a "ginger thin" and they are commonly called "gingernuts" in the United Kingdom. Besides their great taste, pepparkakor cookies are used as Christmas decorations as well. They are frequently shaped like little men or women, pigs, hearts or goats. If left round, they are decorated with frosting to give them more character.

Using a drinking straw, you can create a small hole in the pepparkakor cookie prior to baking. After the cookie has cooled, tie the cookie to the Christmas tree with a beautiful white or red colored ribbon.

Swedish Christmas Cookies or Pepparkakor

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies (depending on shape/size)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup molasses

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

8 ounces butter

2/3 cup water

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 egg

1 tablespoon light (or dark) corn syrup

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

Preparation:

The dough should be well-chilled before baking. You can either start a day early and chill overnight, or start preparing 1-2 hours before the cookies will be needed.

In a heavy pot, combine the molasses, sugars, spices and water. Turn the heat up and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring frequently.

Add the butter to the mixture (in pads or chunks) and remove the pot from the heat. Continue stirring the mixture until the butter has melted and the mixture is uniform in consistency. Pour the hot mixture into a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, combine the flour, corn syrup, egg and baking soda and whisk until well-blended. Combine with the hot mixture and stir until the dough has formed. Place the dough on a lightly floured board and knead for 1-2 minutes. Wrap the dough in waxed paper and chill until the dough is firm (1-2 hours or overnight).

On a lightly floured board, roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch in thickness (the thinner, the crisper) and either cut into shapes or make round cookies about 2 inches in diameter. Put the cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake for 8-10 minutes until they are golden brown. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool.

About the only thing left to do is to enjoy these fabulous Swedish Christmas cookies with the ones you love... Enjoy!

Related articles:Spring Valley Vitamins ,ทำ seo

Chocolate Kisses Cookies

Chocolate Kisses Cookies This has been in our family for a long time. The recipe is easy and the cookies are delicious! Kids love to help bake these cookies, and is a good way to enjoy holiday baking. What could be better than a warm cookie and a cold glass of milk?

Ingredients 1 16 ½ ounce package of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough 1/3 cut unsweetened cocoa powder 2/3 cup chocolate flavored sprinkles 2 tablespoons milk Dark chocolate kisses, unwrapped (about 40) Directions 1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and set aside. Combine cookie dough and cocoa powder in a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag, and knead with your hands until the dough and cocoa are mixed together. Remove the dough from the bag. 2.Place chocolate sprinkles in a shallow dish or small bowl. Put the milk in another small bowl. 3.Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Dip balls in the milk to moisten the dough, then roll in chocolate sprinkles. Place the cookie balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet. 4.Bake the cookies in a preheated oven for 8 minutes, or until the edges are firm. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. Move cookies to a wire rack to cool. Makes about 40 cookies. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container and cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days, or can be frozen for up to 3 months. Chocolate Kisses Cookies

Cake Flour Makes Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies Crispy and Delicious

Cake Flour Makes Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies Crispy and Delicious Changing a recipe can alter results significantly. A few small changes can turn a good recipe into a fantastic one. The opposite is also true. I've added cold coffee to cookie dough, changed baking temperatures and times. Fortunately, the changes I made to a basic oatmeal cookie recipe improved it big time.

When snow is forecast, as it was several days ago, I have the urge to make soup or cookies. Cookies won out this week. I checked the pantry and found a box of cake flour that should be used soon, a large bottle of vanilla, a large bag of chocolate chips, and three cartons of oatmeal. (Why I had three is a mystery.) Of course, oatmeal cookies came to mind. I found several recipes in my cookbook collection. One was a basic cookie with nuts. I made several key changes to the recipe, starting with substituting chocolate chips for walnuts. Since I adore vanilla, I added twice the amount. I added a hint of almond as well. Instead of all-purpose flour I used cake flour. This was a risky decision. Annette Wolter, author of "Cakes and Pastries Cookbook," describes baking as an exercise in creativity. She thinks the type of flour you use "is an important variable" in baking success. Cake flour is best for pastries, tarts, and cakes," she explains. But Wolter doesn't say anything about using cake flour for cookies. Would my cookies be yummy and crispy or would they be as hard as hockey pucks? The only way to find out was to start baking. Cake flour is finer than regular flour, but I thought the oatmeal would hold the batter together. I measured the cookies carefully and put the first batch in the oven. The instant the edges started to brown, I whisked the cookies out of the oven. The smell of the cookies made my mouth water. It was time to taste the first cookie. What is the ending of this story? These are some of the best cookies I ever made. I think you will love them too. Ingredients 2 sticks I Can't Believe It's Not Butter 1 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 1/2 cups cake flour (I didn't even sift it.) 2 large eggs, room temperature 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon low sodium salt 1 large package (11.5 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips Method Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. If you are using non-stick baking pans, lower the temperature to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugars together until fluffy. Add eggs, extracts, baking soda, and salt. Work in chocolate chips with a wooden spoon. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto baking pans. Make sure you leave two inches between the cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool for about 20 seconds. Remove from baking pan with a metal spatula. Store cookies in tightly covered container. Makes about 5 dozen. Copyright 2011 by Harriet Hodgson Cake Flour Makes Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies Crispy and Delicious

The Creepiest, Crawliest Halloween Cookies

Creepy Crawly Cookies are a fabulous way to make use of an old recipe my Mom made for us every Christmas - but you can use it for Halloween! Make these cookies the next time you have a Halloween party. They are fun to make, fun to look at, and positively fun to eat.

And if you love butterscotch, then you'll fall in love with these "creepy cookies". And it's a fun action to do with your children too. They'll feel so proud to be a part of the process of positively production the cookies. My son loves to make these cookies. He's only 8 and can practically do it all himself.

Christmas Cookies

To top it off, one of the best things about this recipe is that you don't have to bake these cookies!

What you'll need:

- 18 ounces of butterscotch chips

- 1 1/2 cups of peanut butter (smooth)

- 24 ounces of chow mein noodles (not kidding!)

All you need to do is line a few cookie sheets with waxed paper or use parchment paper for baking. Then, melt the butterscotch chips over a very low heat and stir until the consistency is flat and creamy.

Next, mix the melted butterscotch, chow mein noodles and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl.

Use a teaspoon to drop the gooey mix onto your cookie sheets. Let the dropped cookie mix sit there until it's firm. Store the Creepy Crawlers in plastic containers, or wrap them individually, or place the cookies in cookie packaging or display them in your popular candy dish. They will disappear faster than you can make them!

Enjoy!

The Creepiest, Crawliest Halloween Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies - Anise Cookies

Whether a part of the assortment of Italian Christmas cookies or at a baby shower or wedding, these anise cookies are constantly development an appearances at my family celebrations (With a uncomplicated drop of food coloring they're perfect for any occasion!) If the licorice taste of anise doesn't suit you, try using almond, vanilla or even lemon extract...they are all delicious!

Makes about 8 dozen

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Cookie Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons anise passage (almond, vanilla or lemon can also be used!)
2 1/2 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2-3 tablespoons milk
Icing Ingredients

2 cups confectioners' sugar
3-4 tablespoons milk
1/8 teaspoon anise passage (optional)
food coloring (optional)
sprinkles of your choice(optional)
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Put in order your cookie sheets or pans by face them with parchment paper.

To Put in order these Italian Christmas cookies, get a large bowl and combine the butter and sugar together until the composition is light and fluffy, which should take everywhere between 3 and 5 minutes. Crack in each egg, development sure to mix well after each one. Add your option of extract.

Now combine the flour and baking powder, sifting it together so that there are no chunks of baking powder together. Take about a third of these dry ingredients and add them to the wet ones, using a hand or stand mixer to combine them. Then add about a tablespoon of milk. Repeat this process by adding other third of the flour composition to your batter, and then other spoon of milk. The last batch of flour should be added very slowly, mixing in between so that you can determine how much flour is enough. You want the batter to be very easy to mold, but not sticking to your hands. The dough should not be stiff! If you add too much flour, try adding a few more drops of milk until the batter is easy to manage.

Using a tablespoon, drop balls of the batter onto the baking sheets, leaving space for them to bake and puff up in the oven.

Stick your pan in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until they puff up and the bottoms begin to turn a light golden brown.

While the cookies are baking, mix together the confectioners sugar, milk and passage of your option (if you are using it). At this point you can also add food coloring if you want your icing to be a extra color. White is also just as nice though!

After the cookies have mostly cooled, hold each one upside down and dip into your frosting glaze. Flip it over and let it rest on a flat face covered with wax paper. If you intend to use sprinkles, only dip a few at time and then sprinkle them, or else the frosting will dehydrate and sprinkles will no longer stick. (If your frosting begins to dehydrate before you are done dipping just microwave it for about 10 seconds to let melt again!)

Let the frosting dehydrate to the touch, arrange on a plate and get ready to serve these Italian Christmas cookies to your family and friends!

Italian Christmas Cookies - Anise Cookies

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

Clueless about what gift to give that special person? Stop on by and browse our great gift ideas selection for some suggestions. [http://www.1MinuteSolutions.com]

Great New Ideas For Cookies

Do you love cookies, but find yourself tired of the standard oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies that you've been baking for years? Do you find yourself thinking that you'd like to try some more creative cookie recipes? Actually, I believe that I'll always be able to appreciate a nice batch of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies.

I don't turn down chances to try new foods, however, and I like to sample new foods any time that I get the chance. You never know when you might find a new favorite food just by trying something new.

Christmas Cookies

I've found a few delicious cookie recipes recently, and in this case, I'm happy that I decided to try something different. Since I think these recipes would appeal to a great many people, I'm going to share them here.

One easy way to try something new and creative with your cookies is to use cake mix instead of cookie dough. You'll see that they crack as they flatten, and the resulting cookies are delicious. You also have a wide variety of flavors to choose from.

Another creative cookie recipe uses peanut butter cookie dough. You can buy some or make your own, then form it into cookies and place them in the oven. Once they're baked, make small holes in the middle of each cookie and put a Reese's peanut butter cup in the holes. These make for a delicious combination.

If you enjoy white chocolate, you'll probably fall in love with oatmeal white chocolate cranberry cookies. The ingredients mix very well so they make for delicious cookies, and I've had friends asking me to bake them again and again.

My last suggestion would be adding cherry and butter toffee as well as chocolate chips to your cookie mix. This makes for a batch of very sweet cookies that everyone will love.

If you have your own cookie recipes, you can feel free to experiment by combining them with some of these recipes to create something totally new. Enjoy your cookies, and have fun mixing it up!

Great New Ideas For Cookies

Read my other articles on shelf bracket and the rolling stool reviews I have written.

Christmas Cookies Scrapbooking Layout

One of my favorite family holiday traditions has always been making Christmas cookies. It is a tradition that has been passed down through our family, and I am continuing it on today with my daughter. This year my daughter decided she wanted to try to make them herself, and they turned out great! I was the official documenter, taking pictures and recording the decorative results for our family scrapbook.

To make the scrapbook layout more personal, I decided to use our favorite Christmas cookie recipe as part of the layout. I also used cookie cutters to make my own die-cuts to embellish the page. I was very happy with the results!

Christmas Cookies

Directions:

Take several photos of your family making Christmas cookies. If you didn't make any this year, you may have some old photos laying around from Christmases past. I chose to use only three photos in this layout because the recipe took up a lot of room on the page. I took a picture of the unfrosted cookies as they came out of the oven, a picture of my daughter frosting the cookies, and then a picture of the finished cookies.

For the background paper, I chose a holiday-themed piece of 12x12 paper. It is green with holly berries. To mat the pictures and the caption, I used green cardstock.

For the caption, I typed "Making Cookies, Christmas 2004" vertically on a page in a large font that I liked and printed it off the computer. I matted this narrow piece with green cardstock and glued it to the left-hand side of the background page.

For the pictures and the recipe, I used a full 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of green card stock for the matting. I printed out the recipe and placed it at the bottom of the card stock (with a picture of the finished cookies at the right-hand bottom corner of the recipe), and I arranged the other photos at the top of the card stock with two die-cuts I created from our cookie cutters. The cookie cutter shapes were a bell and star cut from yellow card stock. I glued all these pieces to the green card stock and then glued the card stock to the background page. That's it!

Here is the Christmas cookie recipe:

Christmas Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 egg

2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract, and egg. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough into halves. Roll each half 1/2-inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet until the edges are brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Makes 5 dozen cookies. Frost when cookies are completely cooled.

Frosting

3 c. powdered sugar

1/3 c. butter, softened

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 tbsp. milk

Mix powdered sugar and butter. Stir in vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth and easy to spread. Divide into bowls and add food coloring until desired colors.

Photo of finished project:
http://www.crafty-moms.com/articles/121904a.shtml

Christmas Cookies Scrapbooking Layout

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com

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

Clueless about what gift to give that special person? Stop on by and browse our great gift ideas selection for some suggestions. [http://www.1MinuteSolutions.com]

Easy Brownie Recipes - 3 Most Wanted Cookies Of All Times

Here are 3 of my favorite brownie recipes:

>> Brownie Oatmeal Cookies

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

2/3 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup quick cooking rolled oats

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt, (optional)

1 each powdered egg substitute, (11/2 tsp. mixed with 3 tbs water)

1/3 cup corn syrup, ,light or dark (or substitute honey)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix egg replacer, vanilla and syrup. In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients, make a well, add liquid and stir till moistened. On a spritzed baking sheet, form approx. 2 dozen cookies. Bake at 350F for about 10 minutes Cool on sheet/wire rack for 5/5 minutes. Serves 24.

>> Brownie Fruit Pizza

1/2 cup reduced fat tablespread (1 stick) -- softened

1-3/4 cups sugar -- divided

4 eggs -- divided

2 teaspoons vanilla -- divided

1 cup flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 package Philadelphia Fat Free Cream Cheese -- softened (8 oz)

2 cups fresh fruit, assorted -- cut-up

Mix tablespread and 1 1/2 cups of the sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add 3 of the eggs and 1 tsp. of the vanilla, mixing until blended. Stir in flour and cocoa. Spray 12-inch round pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread brownie batter in pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Adding remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg and 1 tsp. vanilla, mixing until blended. Spread over brownie. Bake 15 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate. Top with fruit.

Serves 12.

>> Chocolate Ming Brownies

1 cup Flour

1/2 cup Butter or margarine; soften

1/2 tsp Salt

4 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla extract

16 oz Can chocolate-flavored syrup

1 cup Sugar

Filling:

2 cup Confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup Butter or margarine; soften

1 tbsp Water

1/2 tsp Mint extract

3 dr Green food coloring

Toppping:

10 oz Mint chocolate chipes

9 tbsp Butter or margarine

Combine the first seven ingredients in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed for 3 minutes. Pour batter into a greased 13-inch x 9-inch x 2-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (top of brownies will appear wet). Cool completely.

Combine filling ingredients in a medium mixing bowl; beat until creamy. Spread over cooled brownies. Refrigerate until set. For topping, melt chocolate chips and butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Let cool for 30 minutes or until lukewarm, stirring occasionally. Spread over filling. Chill before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.

Yields 60.

Easy Brownie Recipes - 3 Most Wanted Cookies Of All Times

Fond of Easy Cake Recipes? Just check Great Cake Recipes Blog for the most wanted cakes in the whole world. >> Quick Cake Recipes.

Christmas Cookies - Christmas Pinwheel Cookies and More

The history of cookies goes back to the time of Alexander the Great, and perhaps even earlier. It is no wonder there are so many varieties of these easy to carry treats. Pinwheel cookies are no exception. Whether you are combining two different colors or flavors of dough, or rolling dough with a filling, these cookies are pretty to look at and tasty treats to eat.

For a filled Christmas Pinwheel Cookie try this. You will need:

Christmas Cookies

1 1/2 cup craisins (dried cranberry raisins) 1 cup pistachios 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup sugar 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Put the craisins and nuts in a food processor and chop coarsely. Just use the pulse a few times. Place this mixture in a small saucepan with the water and 1/4 cup of sugar. Cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until the mixture just comes to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool.

Cream the butter, sugars, egg and vanilla. Sift the flour, soda and, salt, together and add to the creamed mixture. You should get a medium soft dough. Chill 30 minutes.

Roll the dough out between sheets of wax paper. You want a large rectangle. Spread the nut and craisin mixture evenly across the dough, almost to the edge. You will roll from the long side so the filling can extend to the edges of the short sides and about 1/8 inch from the edges of the long sides. Starting at one long side, use the wax paper to help you roll the dough. Press the seam slightly. I use a fork to add a little decorative edge. Just gently press the fork across the length of the seam to create little indentations, much like you might do on a pie crust.

Wrap the cookie-roll in wax paper and chill until firm. When ready to bake, Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut into 1/4 inch slices. Bake on a greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.

Here is a tip. If you use a new, clean, piece of dental floss as your knife you won't end up with cookies that are flat on one side. Simply slide a length of the floss beneath the roll. pull the ends up and over the dough and cross them, like you were about to tie a shoelace. Pull and the floss will evenly cut through the dough. Move down and repeat. Toss the floss when done.

Bake the cookies about 8-10 minutes or until just starting to brown. Wait one minute before removing to a wire rack to cool. You may wish to lightly sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture, or confectioners sugar before serving. Santa loves these and the sugar-coating my reveal his true identity.

You can also make Pinwheel cookies by mixing up two batches of your favorite refrigerator cookie dough. You can even use the packaged cookie mixes if you like. My family loves old-fashioned sugar cookies. Tint one batch with food coloring. Roll each into a rectangle and layer one atop the other. Roll, chill, cut, bake and serve. Be adventuresome. Spread some raspberry jam between layers of plain and green tinted dough for a festive cookie.

If you are in a hurry or are pressed for time, you may decide to make drop cookies your choice. There are many to choose from. Try these delicate cookies. They have a big pecan flavor and are a great addition to a cookie tray as well as a unique and welcome hostess gift.

For these Pecan Lace Cookies You will need.:

1 cup finely chopped pecans 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup butter,melted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, use pure extract if you can. It is a difference in taste. 1/2 cup pecan halves for garnish

Using a food processor, process the pecans and sugar until finely ground. Use the pulse. You don't want pecan butter. Place in a bowl and stir in the sifted flour,powder, and salt.

Prepare your cookie sheets by lining with foil and greasing or use parchment paper sprayed with a cooking spray. You could also use a silicon pad.

In another bowl beat the egg. Add the melted butter and vanilla. Stir into flour mixture. Drop by teaspoonfuls about 3 inches apart onto the prepared pans. Press 1/2 of a pecan into the center of each cookie.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and 'lacy' in appearance. Cookies should be allowed to cool on the pans before removing.

Optional: You can carefully remove the warm cookies while they are still soft and pliable by rolling them lightly around the handle of a wooden spoon. Slide them off gently and allow to finish cooling. When they are cooled they can be served with a filling of whipped topping mixed with fruit, or any other filling of your choice. IF you choose this option, keep in mind that you will need to fill and serve immediately. Cookies will get soggy if left to sit with fillings. Store flat between sheets of wax paper in an air tight container.

One of the reasons we bake all those cookies is because we want to share our love with our family, and lets face it, home-baked cookies are one of the favorite ways to show them you care. But, today it is sometimes hard to find the time to bake. Here is a way to share the love of a home-baked cookie, without having to do the baking.

Christmas Cookies in a Jar.

When you can't bake, or if you want to send cookies easily and not have your recipient end up with a box of crumbs, try this recipe. You can adapt it to your favorite recipe as well. Just omit the wet ingredients, layer the dry ingredients, and include a recipe card with instructions.

In a pretty Jar layer

1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup packed brown sugar (pack to measure then break up in the jar) 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt sifted together 1 cup quick cooking oats 1 cup dried cranberries 1 cup vanilla chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped nuts

From your computer you can print out a pretty recipe card, or you can write out the directions by hand. I prefer the hand-written version. It is a little more personal, but the choice is yours. Here is what you should include on the recipe card for these cookies.

To prepare these cookies please add 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla which to the contents of the jar in a large bowl. Stir well and chill for 30 minutes. When you are ready, bake the cookies at 375 degrees F. You should drop them by tablespoons onto an ungreased baking sheets and bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

This gift will keep for up to 6 months if sealed air tight, so when you have a little time earlier in the year you can make up a few of these and store in your pantry until gift giving time comes around. You can also mix up these 'cookie mixes' and keep on hand for those emergencies when you just gotta have a cookie but you didn't get a chance to shop for that missing ingredient.

These cookies in a jar are also great additions to a goodies basket. You might want to consider creating several different versions and make a cookie basket to give as a gift. Tuck into a large mixing bowl with some wooden spoons, a pot holder and stack on a cookie sheet. Wrap with a pretty ribbon and any cook would be thrilled. You might even want to tuck in some home-bakes samples.

These recipes are basics. With a little imagination you can turn them into different variations and create a platter full of 'different' cookie with minimal effort. And don't forget to get the kids and other family members involved. Making cookies is truly one of the joys we share during the winter holiday season. Christmas cookies aren't just for Christmas, they are good year-round, for all holidays, and especially good for a smile. Oh, don't forget to leave a few for Santa. (He likes the Pinwheel kind).

Christmas Cookies - Christmas Pinwheel Cookies and More

I am Barbara Cagle and I have been working and playing online since 1989. I am a certified teacher and as such I find that people are constantly asking me how to do ____. I started http://www.cagleonline.com in 2001 and it is now my internet portal where you can access information on a variety of subjects, find free products and resources, and get help for your business or just to make your life just a little bit easier.

At [http://www.caglecooksonline.com] you can download free cookbooks and find great lots of recipes. Check it out and don't miss the Master Site Index with links to all my online content. My Holiday cookbook is still available if you missed it and my newest cookbook, for Diabetics, is almost ready and will be available in time for Thanksgiving. So, head on over and see how I can help YOU today?