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Christmas Cookies: Simple Recipes to Make Your Season Bright

Written by Chelsea Triola  |  20. December 2013

Christmas cookies are one of the most popular traditions that complete the holiday season! Cookies are not only delicious but they come in handy during the holidays for a few different reasons - they make great gifts, they are perfect to bring to the party, and they top off dinner as a tasty dessert! If you’re interested in baking some fun and festive cookies for the holiday coming up, take a look at some of the recipes we found that will certainly be enjoyed by everyone!
 
Even if baking isn’t your thing, not to worry - we have put together simple, step by step instructions for making and baking, so you can rest assured that your cookies will turn out just the way you like them! These quick and easy recipes are great for both novice and advanced bakers. You can even make it a family activity night by letting the kids help bake too!
 
Before we get started on the recipes, don’t forget to prepare your kitchen with some of the basics so it’s bake-ready. 
  1. Remember to preheat your oven ahead of time so it’s ready to go right when you need it
  2. Be sure to thaw out butter if it hasn’t been already.
  3. Get all your supplies in order, such as the baking sheets and pans, this way you have them at your fingertips when it comes time to use them. 
Christmas Pinwheel Sugar Cookies 
Bake some merry red and white pinwheel sugar cookies for your holiday feast or give to a loved one in a homemade gift basket.
 
Ingredients:
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 tablespoon red food coloring 
  • Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough
  • 3 tablespoons milk
Directions:
  1. Stir together the salt, flour and baking powder and set it aside
  2. Add sugar and cream butter to a large bowl with egg, milk, vanilla and peppermint extract.
  3. Beat the mixture until well-combined
  4. Remove half the mixture from the bowl and add red food coloring by beating until completely combined
  5. Roll out dough on a sheet of waxed paper so it forms a large rectangle, about ¼-inch thick. Repeat this step with the other  half of the mixture, this time with no food coloring
  6. Slide the red dough on top of the white dough and slide the paper out. Trim the edges if necessary and fill in any patches
  7. Roll the cookie dough in a dish full of sprinkles until it is covered
  8. Wrap tightly with saran wrap and put the dough back in the refrigerator for 2 hours to let it chill
  9. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F
  10. Once dough is finished cooling, slide into ½-inch slices and place on a parchment lined sheet tray about 1-inch apart
  11. Bake for about 10-15 minutes depending on how thick you sliced the cookies
Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies
Get creative while baking this year by adding some festive sprinkles to your cookie batter for the perfect touch to your holiday dessert.
 
Ingredients:
  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup butter or margarine
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp water
  • 1 ¾ cups chocolate chips
  •  sprinkles (color of your choice)
Directions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F
  2. Mix the baking soda, salt and flour together then set aside
  3. Beat the butter and both sugars at a medium speed until they’re fluffy. Then beat in the vanilla, egg and water.
  4. Beat in the flour mixture at a low speed, one cup at a time until the soft dough forms. Stir in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.
  5. Place dough 2” apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 7-8 minutes until they’re a golden color. 
  6. Let cool for a couple of minutes before removing from the rack to cool off completely.
Delicious Disaronno Brownies 
We just had to add this mouthwatering brownie recipe to the list! It’s a yummy treat for the adults to enjoy while winding down after dinner.
 
Ingredients:
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus a little more for dusting
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 10 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 cup diced, unsalted butter
  • 2 ⅓ cups packed, light brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
  1. Grease and dust a 9”x13” baking pan. In a medium size bowl, mix together 1 cup of flour and    cocoa. Stir in salt and baking powder.
  2. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl fitted over the pan of simmering Disaronno.  (This is used instead of water) Stir until chocolate and butter is smooth. Then remove from heat.
  3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F then beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer if you have one. Do this for a few minutes until the mix is thick and pale colored. Reduce the speed to low and add the vanilla and chocolate mixture. Combine dry ingredients and mix together. 
  4. Place the prepared pan on a baking sheet and pour the batter in. Make sure the batter is evened out across the pan. 
  5. Bake for about 40 minutes, using a toothpick to check the center. 
  6. Let cool and cut into squares
These delectable recipes can be used for after the holidays as well! Any color food coloring can be added to the cookie recipes so they match the colors to the big event you’re having! If you’re going to give them as a homemade gift, dress them up a bit in festive wrapping paper to add the perfect finishing touch. 
 
Have a holiday cookie recipe you would like to share?
Comment below, or email us at info@longisland.com to share your recipe! 

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