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Sophie's Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipe
I specialize in stress baking. The holidays bring on so much of both -- stress and baking -- that I don't come up for air until the last cookie platter is delivered. Thirteen years ago, we moved away from our family, and we started a tradition of bringing a plate of cookies to our neighbors and friends. Last year, I baked 22 varieties of cookies. Yeah, it's gotten out of hand. I'm going to streamline it all somehow this year. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.
A cookie that has to make the platter every year is one that has many names -- Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Snowballs. In my house, we call them Baka's cookies. "Baka" means granny in Serbian, and these were always included my Mama's many Christmas Eve parties.
A cookie that has to make the platter every year is one that has many names -- Russian Tea Cakes, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Snowballs. In my house, we call them Baka's cookies. "Baka" means granny in Serbian, and these were always included my Mama's many Christmas Eve parties.
The recipe is super simple. But, remember to roll the cookies in sugar twice, so they're picture perfect.
BAKA'S CHRISTMAS COOKIES
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla (no artificial vanilla, get the good stuff)
2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts (powder fine!)
1/4 tsp salt
powdered sugar for coating
1. Heat oven to 400F.
2. Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in a large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
3. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 10-12 minutes until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
5. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar, cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.
Katie's Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipe
Roll-Out Cookies:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1. Preheat over to 400 degrees
2. In a mixing bowl; cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy
3. Beat egg and extracts into mixture.
4. Mix flower, baking powers and salt in a separate bowl, add to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition
5. Do not chill; divide dough into 2 balls.
6. On a flour surface roll each ball into a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick.
7. Dip cookie cutters into flour, and press into dough.
8. Make cookies on uncreased cookie sheet for 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.
9. Cool before decorating
Makes about 2 dozen cookies
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We're wishing all who celebrate a very Merry Christmas & a Happy Holiday season! We hope you have a wonderful holiday time.