Christmas Cookies are basically the point of the holiday. So whether you’re making these for a party, Santa, or jus a cozy night in by the fireplace, there’s always a reason to whip up a batch or two.
Mom-Mom Bessie’s Sour Cream Cookies
Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/3 cup cinnamon sugar (to sprinkle on top) OR
• 1/3 cup green and/or red sugar for Christmas (instead of cinnamon sugar)
Instructions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment cooking paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugar. Mix well. Add the eggs and beat by hand until well combined.
Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix well. (Mixture will be very runny.) Add the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well by hand. (If cookie dough is too wet, add a bit more flour until stiff enough to scoop onto cookie sheet.) Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Sprinkle GENEROUSLY with cinnamon sugar or colored sugar for holiday preparation. (These cookies rise a great deal and should be very well coated with decorative sugar before baking.)
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cookies are browned around the edges.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Susan Bickta (Kutztown, PA)
Grandma Lamb’s Crisco Cookie Mix
Ingredients for “Mix”:
• 6 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 lb. Crisco (2 1/3 C)
Instructions:
Mix flour & salt.
Cut in Crisco with 2 knives or pastry blender until pieces are about the size of peas.
Can be stored for weeks without refrigeration.
With this basic mix, you can make two different cookie recipes, like these delicious holiday treats:
To Make Sugar Cookies:
• Stir together 2 cups of “mix”
• 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup of flour
• Add: 1 egg
• 1 t. vanilla
Blend well. Dough is soft. Roll about 1/8″ thick on floured board or pastry cloth. Cut with holiday cookie cutters. Decorate with colored sugared decors like sprinkles, candy sugar balls, and more before baking or frost after baking. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375. 8-10 minutes.
To Make Noel Nut Balls:
• Stir together 2 cup “mix”
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar – sifted
• Add: 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts
Blend well and mold into 1 inch balls. Can be shaped around a Hershey Kiss. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while hot.
Dorothy Lamb (Harrisburg, PA)