So, if you thought there would be 6 amazing stories of miraculous happenings at Christmas time here, I apologize. I tricked you into coming to read my blog. Post 6 of the Twelve Posts of Christmas is about cookies. In my opinion, the cookie is a miracle. So I would like to share my 6 favorite Christmas miracle recipes with you.

You’re welcome.

#6) Peanut Butter Kisses: (anyone can get this recipe off a bag of Hershey’s Kisses)

1/2 c. shortening

3/4 c. peanut butter

1/3 c. sugar

1/3 c. light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

1-1/2 c. flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

sugar

48 Hershey’s kisses

Directions: Heat oven to 375. Take the wrappers off the chocolate. You do not want to be doing that at the last minute! Beat shortening and peanut butter until well blended. Add 1/3 c. sugar and brown sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla and beat some more. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt separately and then gradually beat into the other stuff. Shape dough into balls – about 1 inch in size. Roll them in a plate with some extra sugar. Place on a cookie sheet, but don’t grease it first. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. IMMEDIATELY press a kiss into the center of each cookie. Don’t worry if the cookie cracks around the edges-that’s normal. Remove cookies to cool. Don’t forget to eat them! Yummo! (Makes 4 dozen)

#5) Chocolate Snowballs a.k.a. Rita’s Pitas (this recipe I got from my sister-in-law, Rita. They are a Pain-In-The-Ass to make, but so worth it!)

1 c. sugar

1 c. shortening

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

3 tbsp cocoa

2 c. flour

1 tsp salt

Powdered sugar

Directions: Mix all that shit together and roll into balls. I’d save the flour for last and add gradually. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. When cool enough to touch, but still really warm, roll in a plate of powdered sugar. (makes 30 – double that recipe cuz 30 is not enough for all that hard work!) (If yours do not look like this picture below, that is probably OK. This is just a picture I found on the world wide web.)

#4) Lisbeth’s Molasses Cookies (this recipe is from my mother-in-law)

1 c. shortening

1 c. sugar

1 c. buttermilk

4 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp salt

4-6 c. flour

1 c. molasses

Directions: Preheat oven to 375. Mix the sugar and shortening and add molasses. Mix all the spices, baking soda and salt with 2 c. of the flour. Add the buttermilk and keep adding flour to make a soft dough. Pat out to thickness desired on floured wax paper. Cut in circles and bake for about 8 minutes. Do not over bake.

History: These cookies originated over 100 years ago in a cook’s shanty and were called Lumberman’s cookies. Hubby’s great grandmother cooked them in a lumber camp.

#3) Buttery Lemon Bars (not cookies, I know, but still a Christmas favorite and to die for!)

Crust:

1 1/4 c. flour

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/4 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Filling:

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

1/3 c. fresh lemon juice (that’s right, get some lemons, none of that bottled stuff)

2 tbsp flour

grated peel of 1 lemon

powdered sugar

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Combine all crust ingredients in a small bowl and beat for 2-3 minutes until crumbly. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 8-inch square baking pan. Bake 15-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Combine all filling ingredients except powdered sugar in another bowl and beat until well mixed. Pour the filling over the hot crust and continue baking for 15-18 minutes or until filling is set. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and cool completely. Cut into bars and sprinkle the powdered sugar again. Tasty, tasty!

#2) Toffee (Again, not a cookie, but a favorite! Makes great gifts. I got this recipe from a friend named Janna. I haven’t seen her in years and wonder where she is now?)

1 c. butter

1 c. dark brown sugar

36 saltine crackers

11 1/2 oz. milk chocolate chips

1/2 c. chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions: Preheat oven to 375. Cover a cookie sheet (10×15) with aluminum foil and butter lightly. Place a single layer of saltines (bumpy side up) on the foil close together. In a saucepan, medium-high heat, blend butter and brown sugar. Heat to boiling for 4 minutes. Pour over the saltines, spreading evenly. Bake for 5 minutes. IMMEDIATELY cover with chocolate chips. Allow to soften and spread evenly over crackers. Sprinkle with nuts. Let harden and break into pieces. This part is messy. Once it is all broken up, you can serve or place into baggies with cute ties as gifts! Also DELICIOUS!

#1) Sugar Cookies (everyone has their own recipe, I am sure! Go with what you know!!)

1/2 c. butter

1 3/4 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1 tbsp milk

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 375. If using a dark cookie sheet, reduce heat 25. Cream butter and sugar and then add egg and mix. Add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours! (You could get in a really good blog during this time.) Roll out dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Dip cutters into flour before each use. Place dough on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and decorate! You could use prepared frosting or make your own and add food coloring.

Buttercream Frosting:

1/4 c. butter, softened

1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1-2 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

any food coloring

Directions: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and milk, beating to desired consistency. Stir in vanilla and food coloring. Makes 1 cup.

Have fun! By the way, calories from these cookies don’t count if you bake with a friend, if you give to friends or play Christmas music while you bake.

Which one of these will you try?

Tags: chocolate, Christmas cookies, miracles, recipes, Twelve Days of Christmas