Swedish Christmas Cookies

These cookies are delicious for anyone who loves coconut. Though they pressed together a bit dryly (might add more shortening next time...) they managed to make it out of the oven just fine. I got this recipe from Serious Eats though I have eaten many different variations of this cookie in the past. 

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar (plus sugar for rolling)

1 cup shortening or butter

1 egg

2 cups flour

½ tsp cream of tartar

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

½ tsp salt

1 1/3 cups coconut

Candied cherries

Directions:

1.       Mix everything together but the cherries

2.       Roll into small balls, dip into sugar, press candied cherry into top

3.       Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes

Peanut Blossoms

Hershey Kiss Peanut Butter Cookies (Peanut Blossoms)--I got this recipe from my mom's old recipe card collection. I am sure that originally, it was invented by Hershey, right?

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup flour

½ tsp salt

¾ cup peanut butter

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp milk

1 tsp baking soda

½ cup shortening

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Granulated sugar for coating

Kisses for topping

Directions:

1.       Heat oven to 375 degrees F

2.       Combine flour, soda, and salt in dry bowl

3.       Cream shortening and peanut butter; gradually add sugars and beat with electric mixer until fluffy; add egg, milk, and vanilla—blend well.

4.       Gradually add dry mix to creamed mix and blend thoroughly

5.       Shape dough into balls and roll in sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

6.       Bake at 375 for 10-12 min until cooked and lightly brown

7.       Remove from oven and immediately press kisses in center of each cookie; cool until kisses set

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza!

We made a veritable melange of cookies for the holidays as you can see--I will do separate posts with photos of each cookie individually and the recipe & source for each. Enjoy!