Top 5 Christmas Cookie Recipes…Just Like Grandma Used to Make

Though I haven’t fully digested the 5,000 calories from my Thanksgiving feast last Thursday, I’m having no problems planning ahead to some of my favorite cookie recipes for Christmas…early bird catches the cookie, right?  Or something like that…

So my inspiration for this post, my Babcia, or grandma in Polish, used to make the “BEST” Christmas cookies that would put any bakery to shame. She made (all from scratch) Kolachki, clothes pins, jelly diagonals, sour crème twists, nut cups, sugar press cookies, raspberry coconut squares, thumb prints, Italian cookies and so many more. It’s no lie, she would be baking Christmas cookies from Halloween all the way to Christmas Eve.

This Christmas, first one without my grandma, I want to share with you a few Christmas cookie recipes (like hers) that were some of my favorites growing up.

1. Clothespin Cookies – Clothespin cookies are little crème filled pastry rolls you’ve probably seen in the bakery case at the grocery store. Though they aren’t colored, frosted, or sprinkled in red and green, I can promise you this recipe will become a favorite Christmas cookie for the family at Christmastime or any time.

 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound butter, softened
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 1/4 cups ice water
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups shortening
• 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix 1/4 pound of the butter with 3 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons white sugar, egg yolks, and water. (Done like making pie dough with a pastry blender.)
2. Chill for 1 hour then roll out like pie dough on a floured pastry sheet. Spread another 1/4 pound of the butter over dough. Fold dough together and refrigerate 1 hour. Repeat this procedure until all of the butter is used.
3. Cut dough into fourths. Wrap each quarter in plastic wrap. Chill.
4. Take out one quarter at a time and allow to stand at room temperature long enough that it softens enough that the dough can be rolled.
5. Roll dough out on floured pastry sheet/ board. Cut dough into 1/2 inch wide X 4-5 inch long strips. Wrap around clothes pins or dowel pins pinching ends.
6. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. Slide off sticks while still very warm and then cool completely.
7. To Make Filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, cook 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup flour until thick stirring constantly. Let cool.
8. Cream together shortening, confectioners’ sugar, marshmallow cream, and vanilla. Add cooked mixture to creamed mixture and beat till fluffy. Fill cooled pastry curls with filling.

2. Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies – These raspberry thumbprints remind me of another one of my grandmas Christmas cookies, Jelly Diagonals. Very similar to this Christmas cookie recipe, only the drizzle is made from 1 part lemon juice to 2 parts powdered sugar…delicious! Also, if you don’t like raspberry, try using strawberry or another favorite jam.

• 1 (1 pound 1.5 ounce) pouch Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
• 1 cup white vanilla baking chips
• Red or green sugar, if desired

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg and flour until soft dough forms.
2. Roll dough into 3/4-inch balls; place 2-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Using thumb or handle of wooden spoon, make indentation in center of each cookie. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon jam into each indentation.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.
4. In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips on High 1 to 2 minutes or until chips are melted; stir until smooth. Spoon melted chips into small resealable plastic bag; cut small hole in corner of bag. Squeeze bag gently to drizzle melted chips over cookies. Sprinkle with colored sugar.

3. Kolachky Cookies – Christmas cookies just like Grandma used to make!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 sticks margarine, softened
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups flour
• 1 (12-ounce can) pureed fruit filling
• Powdered sugar, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl blend margarine and cream cheese together, by hand with a metal spoon. Slowly add flour until it is all incorporated and a dough is formed. The dough will be soft and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put in refrigerator overnight, or for several hours (until hard to the touch).

Flour the countertop. Take a handful of dough out of bowl returning the unused portion to the refrigerator (continue this process until all mixture is used). Roll handful of dough out into an approximately 1/4-inch thickness. Take a 2 by 3-inch diamond shaped cookie cutter, and cut as many diamonds as possible (size of kolachky should be two bites, so the cutter cannot be large). Take leftover dough and roll out again, cutting more diamonds. Repeat until all the dough is used.

Place the diamond cut out onto the palm of hand. Put a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of fruit filling (apricot or strawberry or raspberry or prune flavors) into the center of the diamond shape.

Dip your finger in a little bit of water, put on one side of diamond. Fold lengthwise and seal the tops of the kolachky together to create a 3-dimensional diamond shape. Place on cookie sheets and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 to12 minutes.

4. Holly Christmas Cookies – Though my grandma never made these Christmas cookies, they are a cute and delicious holiday treat.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (16 ounce) package large marshmallows
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons green food coloring
• 4 1/2 cups cornflakes cereal
• 1 (2.25 ounce) package cinnamon red hot candies

DIRECTIONS

1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt together the marshmallows, butter, vanilla, and food coloring. Mix in the cornflakes cereal.
2. Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper, and decorate with red hots. Set aside, and allow to cool.

5. Cowboy Cookie Mix Jar – This Christmas crecipe is for those of you who give your Christmas cookies as gifts. Cookie mix jars (filled with your favorite Christmas cookie recipe) are the perfect treat. Instead of overstuffing your friends and family at Christmas, offer this substitute that allows them to have your Christmas cookies anytime of year.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/3 cups rolled oats

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Layer the ingredients in a 1 quart jar in the order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next layer.
2. Include a card with the following instructions: Cowboy Cookie Mix in a Jar 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. 2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in the entire contents of the jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. 3. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven. Transfer from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

I hope you enjoy these delectable Christmas cookie recipes. Don’t forget to ask the little ones for some help in the kitchen; some of the best family memories remain in the love of cooking. And while you’re at it, check out these cute photo gifts you can send in a care package along with your Christmas cookies. Sending a photo gift or Christmas card with a photo of you and your little ones, spending hours in the kitchen, making Christmas cookies, will surely warm your recipient’s soul as they fill their bellies with your tasty treats.

One last thing, If you’re the type who loves to send your Christmas cookies as gifts, try dressing a cookie jar or fun Christmas container up with printable Christmas gift tags. They add a personal touch to your delicious homemade creations.

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