Cookie Monsters

When I was younger and had kids I used to spend weeks baking for Christmas.  Then the kids grew up -- I was on my own -- and truthfully I never much enjoyed my own baking -- so the baking went from batches and batches of different cookies to one or two family favourites (like the damn sandwich cookies that are in HUGE demand and take FOREVER to make)  And usually my youngest bakes for weeks before Christmas and bringing my homemade cookies to her is a bit like taking 'coals to Newcastle' ..... 

BUT since I moved in with Sir Steve I have returned to the kitchen and baking because I live with 2 cookie monsters!!  Honestly I can't keep up with the demand for cookies around here.  A couple of weeks ago I thought about Christmas baking... and decided to make a mess of Christmas cookies.  My girls put in their order for 'mom's sandwich cookies' (though I am not making 12 dozen of them like I did last year when I got a little carried away)

AND truthfully I didn't much feel like making all the old family recipes this year.  It's a new year...  a new start/life -- so it seemed appropriate to find new Christmas cookies.  I have been searching the internet for cookies that could possibly be yummy and meet all the diet restrictions of a family who suffers from every food allergy imaginable!  

Then the other thing that always seems to overwhelm me is the baking of huge numbers of different cookies just before Christmas -- there's always so much else to do last minute.  This year I decided to make all the batters and freeze them till the week before Christmas and then have a massive couple of days of baking and decorating.  And produce fresh cookies without killing myself in the kitchen.  (well that's my hope)

Yesterday was the 'make the batter' day.  Took most of the morning .... made the sugar cookie (sandwich cookie) batter, thumb print cookie batter, chocolate crinkle cookie batter and an almost forgotten recipe for gingerbread boys.

Now this morning I am roaming blogland and discover that there is a "Great Cookie Exchange" going on.  You can find the information/directions here on 'A Reluctant Bitch' blog.   I am going to share the one cookie I am most looking forward to making and tasting

Raspberry Almond Thumb Print Cookie

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon milk

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.     In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.

3.     Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.

4.     In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.

Baking for Christmas when you have cookie monsters to feed is a very good thing!!