Let the baking begin!!

A big box of Christmas cookies was one of the gifts we gave to my parents for Christmas since they don't bake anymore. Baking is so easy now that Dancer is able to do all the mixing on her own. All I do is bake them and be her assistant.



These are from the top KrumKake, below them to the left are Cran-Crazy cookies, to the right is Peanut Butter star cookies and the bottom is Honey Basil cookies.


We also whipped up a batch of Maple Date cookies. All these were new recipes to us this year and every one of them were keepers we will make again.



Maple Date Cookies


1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter softened
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. maple extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup finely chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped walnuts


Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, and maple extract. Blend well. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in dates and walnuts. Drop by teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees for 9 to 12 minutes.


Honey Basil Cookies


1 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour


Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg, honey, basil, orange peel and vanilla. Mix in flour.

Shape into 1 inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Flatten with glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Cran-Crazy Cookies

3/4 C butter, softened
1 1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/3 C whole wheat flour - if you don't have it just use white
1 1/2 C walnuts
1 1/2 C dried cranberries

Cream butter and sugar. Add brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat well. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Mix in flour.

Drop by rounded teaspoon on two inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake 350 for 8 to 10 minutes.

Peanut Butter Star Cookies

Cream:
1 C butter
1 C peanut butter
1 C white sugar
1 C brown sugar

Add:
2 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3 C flour

Mix well. Roll into balls and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 to 13 minutes. Remove from oven and top with a chocolate star, chocolate kisses work as well. Don't stack these until the chocolate is hardened which takes a while or the chocolate will stick to the cookie on top of it.

KrumKake

5 Tbsp. melted butter
2/3 C milk
2/3 C sugar
2 eggs
1 C flour

Melt the butter but do not over heat. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs and with mixer blend until the mixture is light yellow in color. Add milk and flour and mix until smooth. The batter should be thin and slowly flow off of a spoon. These have to be made on a KrumKake iron, either electric or one that goes on the stove top. We fill these with whipped cream for a super scrumptious treat.