CHRISTMAS COOKIES
SPRITZ COOKIES
INGREDIENTS
1 cup softened unsalted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup applesauce or 1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Green food coloring
Sprinkles or sanding sugar (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the applesauce, followed by the vanilla extract . Slowly blend in the flour and salt.
4. Stir until the dough is smooth. It should have a glossy sheen to it.
5. Add in drops of food coloring to your desired hue.
6. Using a cookie cutter or cookie press, shape the dough onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
7. Add sprinkles or sanding sugar on top if you wish!
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
9. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
CHOCOLATE THUMBPRINTS
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup applesauce or 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup finely chopped walnuts
Chocolate frosting
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350F.
2. Mix brown sugar, butter and vanilla.
3. Mix in flour and salt until dough holds together. Shape dough into balls (roughly an inch wide).
4. Roll each ball into the chopped walnuts.
5. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet; press thumb deeply in center of each.
6. Bake until light brown, about 8-9 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; cool.
7. Fill each cookie with dollop of chocolate frosting.
CHOCOLATE FUDGE
INGREDIENTS
4 3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup softened butter
1/3 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1. Mix powdered sugar and cocoa.
2. Add butter, boiling water and vanilla extract.
3. Using an electric mixer, beat on low speed until combine.
4. Bump up the speed to medium for another minute.
5. Cool for about 25 minutes.
Merry baking and happy holidays!