Holiday Favorites- Classic Shortbread

Holiday Shortbread


Preheat oven 325*
Bake time 45 mins
Start-finish/total time: 1 hr.

Difficulty - Extremely Easy







Ingredients

-1 lb. butter
-3/4 c. sugar
-3 1/2 c. flour

Directions

1. Combine butter and sugar, to a cream
2. Slowly add the 3/4 c. flour
3. Spread into 1-in. thick pan
4. Bake (45 mins.)
5. Cut while hot, cool
6. Share and enjoy this delicious recipe!

Holiday Favorites- Butter and Jam Prints

Butter and Jam Thumbprints

Preheat oven 350*
Bake time 15 mins
Start-finish/total time: 1 1/2 hrs.

Difficulty - Easy

Ingredients

-1 3/4 c. flour
-1/2 t. baking powder
-1/2 t. salt
-3/4 c. unsalted butter, (1 1/2 stick, softened)
-2/3 c. sugar
-1 egg
-1/2 vanilla bean (1 t. pure vanilla extract)
-1/3 c. raspberry, cherry, or strawberry jam

Directions

1. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together
3. In another bowl, whip the butter and sugar with an electric mixer, until fluffy (3-5 mins)
4. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined
5. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients, in 2 additions, until just incorporated
6. Scoop dough into inch sized balls
7. Roll in sugar, then press a thumbprint into the center of each ball (about a 1/2-in. deep)
8. Fill each with 3/4 t. jam
9. Bake until golden, share and enjoy!

Recipe from The Food Network Kitchens

Holiday Favorites- Ginger-Molasses Cookies

Ginger-Molasses Cookies

Preheat oven 350*

Bake time 8 mins

Start-finish/total time: 1 1/2 hrs.

Difficulty - Med. Easy

Ingredients

-3/4 c. shortening

-1 c. granulated sugar

-1 egg

-1/4 c. molasses

-2 c. flour

-2 t. baking soda

-1/4 t. salt

-2 t. ground ginger

-1 t. cinnamon (if possible, freshly grated)

-1 t. cloves

-1/4 c. granulated sugar (for rolling on as topping)

Directions

1. Cream together shortening and sugar

2. Beat eggs into molasses

3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices

4. Blend until well creamed

5. Shape into small balls, and roll in sugar

6. Place onto a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper

7. Bake (350*, for about 8), share and enjoy this Holiday cookie!

Holiday Classic- Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie

Preheat oven 350*
Bake time 25-30 mins
Start-finish/total time: 2 hrs.

Difficulty - Medium-Hard

Ingredients
for the Crust

-1 1/2 c. chocolate chip cookie crumbs (crushed chocolate wafers)
-4 T. melted butter


for Filling

-6 egg yolks
-1 1/2 c. sweetened condensed milk
-1/4 c. heavy cream
-1/3-1/2 c. fresh lime juice (use key limes if available, that's the real thing)
-1/4 c. ground walnuts

Directions
for the Crust

1. Combine crumbs and melted butter, mix well
2. Press mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-in. pan
3. Pre-bake this shell for about 15 mins
4. Let cool

Directions
for the Filling

1. Beat egg yolks until light, add condensed milk and cream, blend well
2. Beat in lime juice
3. Pour this mixture into the prepared pie shell
4. Bake until custard is just set (25-30 mins)
5. Sprinkle with ground walnuts
6. Cool, and enjoy!

Special Equipment
-Electric mixer
-9-in. pie tin

Holiday Favorites- Pecan-Chessecake Pie

Pecan-Chessecake Pie

Preheat oven 350*

Bake time 55 mins

Start-finish/total time (including cooling): 2 hrs.

Difficulty - Medium

Ingredients

-1/2 (15-oz.) package refrigerated piecrust

-1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese

-4 large eggs, divided

-3/4 c. sugar, divided

-2 t. vanilla extract, divided

-1/4 t. salt

-1 1/4 c. chopped pecans

-1 c. light corn syrup

Directions

1. Fit piecrust into a 9-in. pie plate

2. Fold edges under, and crimp

3. Beat cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 c. sugar, and salt at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth

4. Pour cream cheese mixture into piecrust

5. Sprinkle evenly with chopped pecans

6. Whisk together corn syrup and remaining 3 eggs, 1/4 c. sugar, and 1 t. vanilla

7. Pour mixture over pecans

8. Place pie on a baking sheet

9. Bake at 350* on the lowest rack

10. Cool on a wire rack, for about 45 mins.

11. Serve, or cover and chill

12. Enjoy this Holiday Favorite!

Holiday Favorites- Snicker-doodle

        The Holiday Favorites continue!  Now back with the traditional Snicker-doodle cookie. This easy cookie recipe will spice up the holidays, try this today, for a tasty treat you will truly appreciate!

Snicker-doodles

Preheat oven 375*
Bake time 8 mins (not greased)
Start-finish/total time: 30 mins

Difficulty - Easy

Ingredients

-1 c. butter
-1 1/2 c. sugar
-2 eggs
-2 3/4 c. flour
-2 t. cream of tartar
-1 t. baking soda
-1/4 t. salt
-4 T. sugar
-4 t. cinnamon

Directions

1. Combine 1 c. butter and 1 1/2 c. sugar until cream
2. Add the 2 eggs to the mixture
3. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing bowl
4. Then add flour mixture to the butter mixture, until well combined
5. Roll into one inch balls
6. Space apart evenly on a ungreased cookie sheet
7. Mix together 4 T. sugar and 4 t. cinnamon
8. Sprinkle with sugar mixture
9. Bake, share, and enjoy this Holiday Classic!

Source: Home recipes

Holiday Favorites- Snowflake Cookies

Snowflake Cookies
The Countdown to Christmas!


Preheat oven 350*
Bake time 10 mins
Start-finish/total time: 45 mins


Difficulty - Easy






Ingredients 

-3 c. all-purpose flour
-1 T. sugar
-1/2 t. salt
-1 c. butter, cut into pieces
-1 (1/4-oz.) envelope active dry yeast
-1/2 c. warm milk (about 100*)
-1 large egg
-1/2 t. vanilla extract
-Powdered sugar


Directions

1. Line baking 2 baking sheets with parchment paper
2. Combine 3 c. flour, 1 T. sugar, and 1/2 t. salt
3. Cut butter into flour mixture w/ 2 forks until crumbly
4. Whisk together yeast and 1/2 c. warm milk
5. Stir in egg and 1/2 t. vanilla
6. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring until dry ingredients and moist
7. Divide dough into fourths, wrap each in a little plastic wrap
8. Chill for 30 minutes

Part 2

1. Roll each dough portion to 1/8-in. thickness
2. Lightly dust with powdered sugar
3. Cut dough with 3 3/4-in. snowflake shaped cutter
4. Place apart evenly on the parchment paper lined baking sheets
5. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar
6. Bake for 10 mins. or until it's lightly golden
7. Cool cookies for a few mins.
8. Enjoy, this Holiday Favorite!

Source: Home recipes