As the holiday season approaches, people who wouldn't normally be found in the kitchen baking often get the urge to spend some time making Christmas cookies and treats to share with their families. Put your time in the kitchen to good use by creating party favors and even Christmas gifts out of your baking masterpieces. Cookies, breads, candies and even festive drink mixes make for great gifts. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Candy Cane Cookies
Using an electric mixer, beat together 1/3 cup shortening and 1/3 cup softened butter in a large bowl. Slowly add 3/4 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon baking powder, and beat for about 30 seconds. Then add 1 egg, 2 tablespoons milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Add 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 3/4 cups flour, mixing until all the ingredients have combined. Divide the dough in half, then cover with plastic wrap and chill for one hour. Once the mixture has chilled, roll out half of the dough on a floured surface, flattening it until it is about 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into candy cane shapes using a cookie cutter, and place the canes an inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for seven to nine minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, then allow the cookies to cool on a wire rack. Repeat with the second half of the dough. As the cookies are cooking, melt 4 ounces of white chocolate and 2 teaspoons of shortening in a saucepan over low heat. Drizzle each cookie with the mixture, and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy canes. The same effect can be achieved by making cutout sugar cookies.
Cinnamon Breakfast Biscuits
Combine 1 3/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup unprocessed wheat bran, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut 1/2 cup butter or shortening into the mixture, until the dry mixture forms into coarse crumbles. In the center of the mixture, make a well and stir in 2/3 cup milk. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, folding and pressing the dough until it is nearly smooth, and about 1/2 inch thick. Using a circular biscuit or cookie cutter, cut biscuits out of the dough and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 450 degrees. As the biscuits cool on a wire rack, mix 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar and 2 to 3 teaspoons milk. Drizzle the mixture over the biscuits and serve warm.
Candied Nuts
Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and butter the foil. In a heavy skillet, combine 1 1/2 cups raw or roasted cashews, peanuts, whole almonds or pecan halves (or any combination of the above), 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar melts. Do not stir the mixture; instead, lightly shake the pot. Continue cooking the mixture on low heat until the sugar turns golden brown, now stirring occasionally. Pour the mixture onto the cookie sheet and allow to cool completely before breaking into clusters.
Hot Cocoa
This treat is one that you put together into two equal size decorative glass jars and allow the recipient to prepare at home. Divide the ingredients equally between the two jars, layering them with a 10-ounce package of mint-flavored chocolate pieces, a handful of white chocolate morsels, 1 1/3 cups nonfat dry milk powder, 2/3 cups of granulated sugar, and 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder. Attach four peppermint sticks to each jar, along with the following instructions: Mix the contents of one jar with 1 2/3 cups water or milk and heat in a saucepan until warm. Makes four servings.
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