Winter is here. The cold temperatures and white fluffy stuff on the ground make it hard to ignore. While winter is often seen as the worst of the four seasons, one thing makes it tolerable, Christmas. Its hard to find someone who doesn't enjoy the holiday season. Even if they act like a grinch, there's a good chance they enjoy the family get togethers and holiday meals. To prepare for those huge holiday meals, Christmas baking season kicks off pretty earlier. One of the most popular items is cookies. From sugar cookies to ginger cookies to the classic chocolate chips. Below are two of my favourite Christmas cookie recipes.
Classic Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of white sugar
1 cup of butter
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups of white flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar
Directions
Sugar cookies! The name itself screams with utter perfection. Unfortunately, they aren't the healthiest of snacks out there however with it being the holiday season many people make an exception. To start making a batch of delicious sugar cookies preheat the oven to 350 F. Then proceed to grease 2 cookie sheets with butter. In a large bowl cream together the white sugar and butter. Beat in egg yolk. Once this mixture is smooth add in the vanilla extract. In the same bowl proceed to add in the white flour and baking soda. Once well mixed stir in the cream of tartar. Proceed to form the dough into walnut sized round balls. Place the balls 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Cool and enjoy!
Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups of white flour
2 teaspoons of ginger
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of cloves
1/4 teaspoon of salt
3/4 cup of margarine, softened
1 cup of white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon of water
1/4 cup of molasses
2 tablespoons of white sugar
Directions
There's nothing like biting into a gingersnap over the holidays! Somehow ginger cookies make the holidays that much better. Get a head start of whip up some ginger cookies before those holiday gatherings. To begin preheat the oven to 350 F. Sift together the white flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt into a large bowl. In a separate bowl cream together the margarine and 1 cup of sugar. Once smooth proceed to beat in the egg. Then add in the water and molasses. Combine the sifted ingredients into the margarine mixture and stir well. Shape the dough into small sized balls. Roll the balls in the remaining 2 tablespoons of white sugar. Place the balls on the cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool and enjoy!
With Christmas on the horizon everybody will be warming up their ovens to get started on their holiday baking. Why not join the crowd and whip up some fresh Christmas cookies? There relatively easy to make and are prefect for those large holiday gatherings. Give in to your sweet tooth and bake some cookies!