Our favourite Christmas recipes:
Who doesn't
enjoy baking at Christmas time? Maybe I should put it this way; who
doesn't love the delicious aroma of shortbread cookies, or sugar cookies,
freshly pulled out of the oven?
Here are a few of our family favourites, the ones that disappear quickly
from the trays at the Christmas parties and gatherings.
SCOTCH SHORTBREAD
(one of my favourites)
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix 3/4 cups butter, and 1/4 cup sugar. Mix in 1 and 1/2 cups flour.
Roll about 1/2" thick on lightly floured surface. Place about 1/2" apart on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake until set, about 15 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet.
SUGAR
COOKIES
(Matthew's favourite)
3/4 cup
shortening
2 1/2 cup flour
1 cup
sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Mix first 4
ingredients thoroughly. Blend flour and baking powder, add to other
ingredients. Cover and chill in fridge for 1 hour. Roll
1/8" thick. Bake for 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees F.
RUSSIAN
TEACAKES
(my Mom's favourite)
1 cup butter,
softened
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered
sugar
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts
1 tsp vanilla
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Mix in flour and nuts until dough holds together. Shape dough into 1" balls. Place about 1" apart on un-greased cookie sheet. Bake until set, but not brown; 10 minutes. Sprinkle powdered sugar over tops while warm.
Other variations:
Ambrosia Balls: Omit nuts. Mix in 1 cup flaked coconut and 1 tbsp grated orange peel.
Surprise
Cherry Teacakes: Mold dough around 1 maraschino cherry, which has been
patted dry.
CHERRY
CHOCOLATE COOKIES
(Robert's favourite)
| 1 cup
shortening 1 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp almond extract 2 cups flour |
1 tsp baking powder 1 cup chocolate chips 1 1/2 cup coconut 1 1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and coarsely chopped |
Cream shortening and sugar until well blended. Add eggs and almond extract
(substitute vanilla if allergic to almonds). Beat until light and creamy.
Combine flour and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture gradually, beating
with spoon. Stir in chips, coconut and cherries. Drop dough by small
spoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F; 10 minutes.
I think that's all the
family baking secrets that I'll share with you! Email
me if you have any questions!
I hope you all have an enjoyable Christmas season!
Updated
November, 2001
Copyright L. H. Houben
