Christmas Treat Ideas and Gingerbread Cookie Dough Recipe - Help Needed!

[BethCooks4U]

Wow! Thanks a ton Beth...You must be in the kitchen all day baking around the holidays!

I usually do a marathon two day bake-a-thon. DH brings home dinner because he knows I won't be stopping for anything like that. The rule has always been no one touches anything except the rejects until everything is done so I get lots of cooperation on those days.

This year I am behind and don't have the full two days at once but we're coping.

 

[jenniferknapp]

Once again, I will be making Chex Muddy Buddies (some call it Puppy Chow) ....mmmmm! I might try throwing some red and green candy sprinkles into the powdered sugar so that it looks festive!Ingredients:9 cups Chex cereals (Corn, Rice and/or Wheat)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup margarine
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
Directions:
1. Pour cereals into large bowl; set aside.2. In 1-quart microwave-safe bowl combine semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter, and margarine. Microwave on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 minutes or until smooth, stirring after 1 minute. Stir in vanilla.3. Pour chocolate mixture over cereals, stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Pour cereal mixture into a large resealable plastic bag with powdered sugar. Seal securely and shake until all pieces are well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

 

[jdavis]

MMMMMMMMMMM Puppy Chow!!! I hadn't had that in so long that the last time we had a pot luck at work someone brought some I had to get a plate of it, lol, of course I wasn't the only one eating it, but it was so good.

 

[mom2leelee]

I found a great magazine at Walmart a few days ago. It's called Better Homes and Gardens Cookies. I think it's in it's 3rd reprint, but worth the $5 if you don't have it! It has 100 cookie recipies and lots of tips. The only thing I didn't like was they said they don't recommend using stoneware to bake cookies because they don't brown on the bottom and it takes longer, but all the great recipes more than make up for that downfall!

 

[BethCooks4U]

I found a great magazine at Walmart a few days ago. It's called Better Homes and Gardens Cookies. I think it's in it's 3rd reprint, but worth the $5 if you don't have it! It has 100 cookie recipies and lots of tips. The only thing I didn't like was they said they don't recommend using stoneware to bake cookies because they don't brown on the bottom and it takes longer, but all the great recipes more than make up for that downfall!

They haven't used our stones then! I make ALL my cookies on them and they brown just fine - just no burnt bottoms! As far as taking longer... maybe the first batch is a minute or two longer because the stone's not warm but after that it actually takes LESS time.

I would use your stones for those recipes and not worry!

 

[chefann]

They haven't used our stones then! I make ALL my cookies on them and they brown just fine - just no burnt bottoms! As far as taking longer... maybe the first batch is a minute or two longer because the stone's not warm but after that it actually takes LESS time.

I would use your stones for those recipes and not worry!

I agree 100%! I never use anything but stoneware for cookies and mine turn out fine! In fact, my oven is so futzy (off by as much as 75 degrees) that I wouldn't even attempt to bake anything except in stoneware. When I use the mini muffin pan, I keep a real close eye on the temp and check everything a couple of minutes early.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

GREAT! ...and it doesn't affect the taste? ....or how long you bake them? Do you thaw them in the fridge? This will make my life MUCH easier!!

It doesn't affect the taste - just make sure they are tightly sealed....I freeze them on cookie sheets(those old metal sheets are good for some things )and once they are frozen, I put them in freezer containers. When I want to bake, I take them out, and put them on parchment paper....let them thaw for about 15 minutes, and then start baking......do the lower oven temp cookies first. I just slide them with the parchment right onto the stone and pop 'em in the oven! Bake them for the regular amount of time!

I do this thru out the year too.....make a big batch of chocolate chip cookies, scoop them out, freeze them, and then just bake 1-2 dozen at a time....so we can always have freh baked cookies! (My hubbie and I both think that cookies lose something after a couple of days!)

 

[ChefBeckyD]

So all of you veteran pbsandwich cookie makers how do you keep the friggin things from sliding apart, that is the problem we had when making these years ago and I haven't actually made them since.

Jennifer,
I haven't made these, but I would think that if you pop them in the freezer for 15 or so minutes before baking them, that would help them stay together??

 

[SusanBP0129]

Thank you Becky!!

It doesn't affect the taste - just make sure they are tightly sealed....I freeze them on cookie sheets(those old metal sheets are good for some things )and once they are frozen, I put them in freezer containers. When I want to bake, I take them out, and put them on parchment paper....let them thaw for about 15 minutes, and then start baking......do the lower oven temp cookies first. I just slide them with the parchment right onto the stone and pop 'em in the oven! Bake them for the regular amount of time!

I do this thru out the year too.....make a big batch of chocolate chip cookies, scoop them out, freeze them, and then just bake 1-2 dozen at a time....so we can always have freh baked cookies! (My hubbie and I both think that cookies lose something after a couple of days!)

Thank you! This will be a real time saver! Are there any doughs that DO NOT freeze well? And I must scoop them as opposed to freezing the whole ball of dough, yes?

 

[mom2leelee]

They haven't used our stones then! I make ALL my cookies on them and they brown just fine - just no burnt bottoms! As far as taking longer... maybe the first batch is a minute or two longer because the stone's not warm but after that it actually takes LESS time.

I would use your stones for those recipes and not worry!

Oh, I always use my stones to bake my cookies, I was just saying I didn't like the fact that they discouraged people to do it. I ALWAYS get compliments on my cookies since I started using our stones!!

 

[chefann]

Freezing dough: yes, scoop/shape it before freezing. Then you don't have to wait for it to thaw before cooking. It may take a couple extra minutes to bake, but it's still better than waiting 3 hours for that big lump of dough to thaw before you can scoop out individual cookies.
Most doughs will freeze well, but very delicate or meringue-based ones may not. Generally, today's cookbooks indicate which recipes freeze well (although that's usually once they're baked).

Freezing cookies: Check the recipe book. Most will tell you if a cookie will freeze well. Don't frost them until you thaw them out. I always over-protect mine in the freezer: large plastic storage container with a layer of waxed paper between the cookies, full to the top (less air space), topped with another piece of waxed paper. Sometimes I wrap the container in foil if it's going to be in the freezer more than a month.

Other timesaver: A former coworker of mine does this... One of the most time-consuming parts of baking is getting out all the ingredients and measuring everything accurately. So she plans one afternoon when all she does is measure dry ingredients. She labels gallon-size plastic bags with the recipe names and measures the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, spices, etc.) into them. Then all she has to do is the "wet works" (to borrow a phrase from "Good Eats"), and mix it all together.

 

[jenniferknapp]

Another easy and very yummy recipeSnowballsEstimated Times:
Preparation - 10 min | Cooking - 10 min | Cooling Time - 10 min cooling | Yields - 60 cookies (5 dozen) Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels
1 sprinkle of powdered sugarDirections:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.BEAT butter, sugar, vanilla extract and salt in large mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour; stir in morsels. Shape level tablespoons of dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets.BAKE for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are set and lightly browned. Remove from oven. Sift powdered sugar over hot cookies on baking sheets. Cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar if desired. Store in airtight containers.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

A Great EASY recipe!Oh! Here is one I forgot about - my 2 yr old and I made it yesterday - it is addictive - and very festive looking!

White Chocolate Crunch

4 Cups Crispix (or some kind of chex)
3 Cups Cherrios
2 Cups Plain M&M's (use the Christmas ones)
2 Cups peanuts
1 bag white chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients together. Melt chips, and stir into dry mixture to coat. Spread on waxed paper(used parchment) and let harden. Break apart and store in airtight container.

 

[dianevill]

White Chocolate Crunch

I just made this last weekend. I threw in some Craisins and tiny twist pretzels, too. It is addictive!!

Diane

 

[ChefBeckyD]

White Chocolate Crunch

I just made this last weekend. I threw in some Craisins and tiny twist pretzels, too. It is addictive!!

Diane

I had actually thought about some dried cherries - We will be making at least 2 more batches before Christmas......I'll have to try that and some pretzels too!

 

[BethCooks4U]

OOPS! I just got a call from a fellow cheffer! There is apparently a mistake on one one the recipes that I posted. - The Cranberry Bread. I will check what I posted with the original recipe and let you know the correction as soon as I can. Then I'll repost the doc with the corrected information so any one who would want it in the future has the correct information.

Sorry!

 

[jetcitysandy]

Beth
Thanks so much for all those recipes. I plan to try some of those especially the breads in the small stoneware loaf pan for some holiday gifts. I have not used that pan yet so do you recommend just spraying oil with the spritzer for the first use?
Thanks, Sandy

 

[BethCooks4U]

Beth
Thanks so much for all those recipes. I plan to try some of those especially the breads in the small stoneware loaf pan for some holiday gifts. I have not used that pan yet so do you recommend just spraying oil with the spritzer for the first use?
Thanks, Sandy

Absolutely! You do need to spray them with oil until they get seasoned.

Don't forget to change the baking times when making breads in the smaller pans - it takes less time because volume is less.

 

[PamperChefCarol]

Jennifer,
I haven't made these, but I would think that if you pop them in the freezer for 15 or so minutes before baking them, that would help them stay together??

Regarding my "family secret" recipe of the Ritz peanut butter sandwich dipped in chocolate: I don't seem to have a problem with them sliding apart when I am dipping them. I just make sure the chocolate is ready and then dip away. Don't leave the cracker sandwiches in the chocolate too long, just long enough to get them covered then out to waxed or parchment paper.

HTH.

 

[lisaterwilliger]

Candy cane cookies (I do some with green instead of red and make wreathes as well as the candy canes) http://www.bettycrocker.com/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?recipeId=34180 are one of my families favorite cookies for me to bring when I visit in December.

This is my FAVORITE cookie! I don't care what else my mom makes as long as she makes these!

 

[chefkristin]

Jennifer,
I haven't made these, but I would think that if you pop them in the freezer for 15 or so minutes before baking them, that would help them stay together??

You don't have to bake them. Just let them dry on wax paper and then put them in the fridge or just eat them

 

[BethCooks4U]

Correction on Cranberry Bread Recipe:

I had posted a lot of holiday recipes on this thread but was told there was an error on the Cranberry Bread Recipe. I have checked my original recipe and here is the correct information:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten slightly
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup cranberries, cut in half
2 Tbsp. hot water
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 Tbsp. orange zest

Combine dry ingredients, then add the rest of the ingredients. Bake 1 hour 10 minutes at 325 degrees until cake tester comes out clean. Adjust time according to your oven (I would check it at 45 minutes). This recipe makes one regular size loaf (does not fill the pan as full as some other recipes). The dough is dry.

I will delete the original attachement and attach a corrected one. Sorry about the error!

 

[Jennie4PC]

Beth you are one busy lady I remeber growing up and my mom would make pumpkin bread and then have us delier them to everyone in our church luckily they were all so close together my mom and dad would sit in the nice warm truck while all the kids piled in the back and off we went to deliver pumpkin bread

 

[thechefofnorthbend]

Okay Darby - are these chewy or crunchy Molasses Cookies??? I had a friend in Elementary School who used to bring the most wonderful chewy molasses cookies to school for lunch....I would trade her ANYTHING to get those cookies, and even had her give me the recipe..(I was obsessed with cooking even in the 3rd grade!) but somewhere along the way I lost the recipe...I think they were called "Molasses Crinkles" and they were so chewy and good....I'd love to recreate them!

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. These are the most wonderful chewy cookies I have ever tasted. My Grandmama says she got the recipe from her mother and her moms were always chewy too. If my Grandmama wanted to make them extra special, shed frost them with brown butter and cream cheese frosting.....mmmm!

 

[janel kelly]

Ok, I just made a recipe I got from a friend. It might be the same as the oreo truffles but they are oh so good. You just chop up very finely a package of oreo cookies and mix it with a block of cream cheese. Then you scoop them out in little balls and stick them in the fridge for a little bit. Then when they are nice and hard dip them in melted dipping chocolate. Put them back in the fridge for 15 minutes and they are ready to eat. They are so delicious!

 

[mbh06]

I have a really good one, its very easy. It is called Boterkoek, a dutch almond butter cake:
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 sticks butter or margarine (1 cup)
1 cup (1/2 lb.) almond paste
2 cups flour

Mix eggs, sugar, and butter- blend well. Slowly add almond paste, add flour. (I just broke up the almond paste slowly since it is hard) Bake in 9x13 stone. Brush top with evaporated milk or sprinkle with sliced almonds and sugar. Bake at 325F for 35-40 mins.

I did the sugar and almonds. It is soooo... good and very easy. It comes out very moist, but hardens quickly so put in an airtight container w/ a piece of bread!
Hope you enjoy!!
Melissa

 

[jaye]

A tradiion in my fmaily is that we all get together the first or second Saturday of the month and bake ALL DAY LONG. (Even the guys!) We have Christmas music playing the background and we make different batches. This year:
Buckeyes
Cinnamon Cookies
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Italian Nut Balls
Classic Spritz Cookies (I use the PC recipe, I love it and of course the Cookie Press)
Oatmeal Scotchies
ThumbprintsAnd since I ran out of time and energy when baking last Saturday, I still have sugar cookies to make and decorate, chocolate chip cookies (we all know that they are Santa's favorite), and then my son loves to do the Slice & Bake with the reindeer and trees on them from the store, so I will let him do those while I supervise.As far as baking them, I always bake on stones. I only have the old cookie sheets becuase they were brand new when my DH and I got married and I figured with as many cookies as we have going into and out of the oven on Cookie Bake Day, having a couple of extra sheets on hand would help. So, for the rest of the year that we don't use them, I pack them away with the Christmas decorations!

 

[jaye]

BETH,

Thanks for the recipes.

 

[tlennhoff]

Finally I found my family's other favorite recipe that I make both for xmas & used to make for easter, it is cream wafers http://www.bettycrocker.com/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?recipeId=4873 . These are very delicate and so a bit of work but yummm (and of course you get to eat all the broken ones). I usually just use a small glass for cutting them into rounds and I make them a bit thicker then recommended to make them easier to work with. For xmas I make the filling really deep red/green and for easter I went more with a pastel for the filling.

 

[Jennie4PC]

Thasha those look yummy thanks everyone for sharing these recipes. My DH wants me to make cinnamon rolls with chocolate chips in them for christmas morning they are really yummy