When thinking about the holidays a few things come to mind. One of those things is probably food, specifically, cookies.
Cookies seem to have a rather large presence among many families around this time of year, so here are three delicious cookie recipes that are sure to make you merry this season.
Gingerbread Men
Recipe by Chef Alex Hoefer of The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center
Ingredients
For Cookies:
½ cup butter at room temperature
½ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup light molasses
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ginger powder
1 ½ tsp garlic clove
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons water
For Royal Icing:
3 cups confectioners sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 large egg whites
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream butter, sugar, molasses and spices together.
3. Add flour and water to mixture.
4. Chill for 30 minutes.
5. Bake for 15 minutes.
6. For icing: using a mixer, mix the egg whites, lemon juice and confectioners sugar.
Classic Sugar Cookies with Glaze Icing
Recipe by Betty Crocker
Ingredients
For Cookies:
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Granulated sugar or colored sugar
For Icing:
3 cups confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
¼ tablespoon almond extract
¼ cup water
Directions
For Cookies:
1. Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract and egg in a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
2. Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
3. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2- to 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters. Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheet.
4. Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.
For Icing:
1. Blend water, corn syrup and extract until completely dissolved into water.
2. Using a mixer, blend sugar and water together, add food coloring if desired.
Nutella Cookies
Recipe from Cuisine Magazine
Ingredients
2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
8 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
hazelnuts, finely chopped
Directions
1. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium, 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time beating to fully incorporate before adding the next. Add Nutella and vanilla, beat until combined. Add flour mixture and mix until combined. Chill dough 4 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Scoop dough and roll in hazelnuts. Bake cookies, six at a time, until edges are set, approximately 15 minutes. Let cookies cool on baking sheets.
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