Orange Spice Cookies

 These cookies remind me of some German spice Christmas cookies I have had before.  This recipe calls for a glaze to put on the cookies while they are warm.  I didn't do that with my sample cookies but I may try it on the next ones.

I think Santa will approve of these cookies.

Yes there is cocoa in this recipe.  I don't think you can really taste the cocoa because there is so little in the recipe.  I think it might be more for the color.

Start with 1 cup sugar

2 eggs and 6 Tablespoons softened butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves.  This smells so good

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 teaspoons baking powder

The zest of one orange.

Now you are going to juice the orange

You will need just a little less than 1/3 cup

Add 3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup milk.  I almost forgot to add the milk. The recipe says to mix everything at one time.  I did mix a little along but not much. 

Preheat oven to 350 Bake for about 15 minutes. I made smaller cookies so I cooked mine for 12 minutes.

These are a nice different spice cookie.

Orange Spice Cookie Recipe

3 cups all purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

the juice of one orange just shy of 1/3 cup

zest of one orange

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs 

6 Tablespoons softened butter

1/2 cup milk

glaze if you want to use it

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon milk

Preheat oven to 350 Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Christmas Butter Cookies

 These cookies could be made for any holiday but changing up the roll ins.  Pick your favorite Christmas ones and start baking. 

I only baked a couple of the green ones but there are other varieties too. 

This is a very basic butter cookie recipe. 

Start with 3 sticks softened butter.

Add 1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs 

Plus 2 egg yolks

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1 teaspoon salt

Add 4 cups all purpose flour. Add a little at a time.  

Scoop your dough and roll into small balls.  Then roll in whatever decorations you would like. 

Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 9-11 minutes.

Christmas Butter Cookie Recipe

1 1/2 cups softened butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups all purpose flour

sanding sugars and sprinkles for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 9-11 minutes.

Lemon Snowball Cookies

This is a refreshing cookie.  The bright lemon flavor is a happy surprise.  This cookie is similar to the Mexican wedding cookie or a sand tart. 

Don't forget to roll in powdered sugar after they cool for a few minutes. 
                                          

This recipe doesn't take very many ingredients so you want to make sure you have good ingredients.

Start with 2 sticks softened butter.  I use Land of Lakes butter.  I really like how it makes my cookies taste.

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon lemon extract.  

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon lemon zest.

This is the zest of one lemon and I didn't measure but it has to be close to 2 teaspoons

Now juice the lemon. If you don't have one of the handy dandy juicers you can do it by hand.  Just make sure there are no seeds.

1 teaspoon needed.

Add the zest to the dough

Add 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour.  Add a little at a time. 

This is two recipes of the cookies.  

Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 8-12 minutes.  After they come out of the oven roll them in powdered sugar.  If you like add some lemon zest to the powdered sugar.  

If you don't tell anyone they will get a nice surprise with the lemon flavor.

Lemon Snowball Cookie Recipe

1 cup softened butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon lemon extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons lemon zest

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

powdered sugar to rolling.

Preheat oven to 350 bake for 8-12 minutes.

Chocolate Monster Cookies

You won't believe all the good things that are in these cookies.  Santa really approved of these cookies

These might not last until Christmas.

Don't get nervous, I know there are a lot of ingredients but they go together really fast. 

Start with 1 1/2 cups brown sugar

and 1 cup sugar to 1 stick softened butter.

3 eggs

1 Tablespoon honey.  Mix well.

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 cup peanut butter 

1 1/2 cups instant oats

2 1/2 cups rolled oats.  Mix well

Now the good stuff. 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup M&M's, 1 cup Reeces Pieces.  Very very thick batter.

These are rolled and ready for the freezer.

Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 12 minutes.  You don't want to over bake them.  Now here's the good news.  They taste like those no bake chocolate cookies that you boil but these you bake.

Chocolate monster Cookie Recipe

3 eggs

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon honey

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

1 1/2 cups instant oats

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 cup Reeses Pieces

1 cup M&M's

Preheat oven to 350.  Bake for 12 minutes