12.21.2012

Holiday Baking

It's Christmastime and in kitchens everywhere people are baking, baking, baking.

This year I have three types of cookies on my holiday baking list.  They are...

1. Holly Cookies
These are basically glorified Rice Krispie Treats.  I have been making them for years and people love them, especially kids.   I make them by memory at this point but here's a recipe if you're interested.

2.  Fruitcake Cookies
This is my first year making them.  I got the recipe from Jessica at Stay-at-Homeista.  Don't let the name fool you.  These are fabulous.  I love that you can make the dough ahead and refrigerate it like store bought cookie dough to use later.  (That's what you're looking at above.)

3.  Snail Cookies
This is a basic Italian cookie (named for its shape, not the ingredients ;)  Snail cookies will forever remind me of my grandmother, aunt and mother.  Some recipes use anise but my family recipe does not.  I am including it below if you'd like to put them on your Christmas baking list:

Ingredients:
3 C flour
1/2 C sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5 large eggs
1/2 C butter
2 tablespoons vanilla
sprinkles

Mix all together (I use the dough hook attachment on my Kitchenaid mixer.)  Then roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick.  

Cut into strips the size of your forefinger.  Roll strips into a snail shape.  Bake on a well greased cookie sheet (or Silpat) in a 350 degree oven until golden brown.  (9-10 minutes)  Makes 56 cookies.

Make an icing with the juice of one orange and enough powdered sugar to absorb the juice.  Ice the cookies with a pastry brush.  Immediately sprinkle with pastel confettis.

So now that I've given you my list, I'd love to hear yours.  What are you baking this year?

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I'm so pleased that my grandmother's Snail Cookies have been featured over on A Southern Mother.  If you're looking for more great holiday cookie recipes,
check out her post HERE for some great ideas!

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14 comments

  1. I skipped the homemade cookies this year. Instead I bought some white chunk Macadamia nut and chocolate peppermint cookie dough mix from my son's band fundraiser ... too bad he forgot to bring it home yesterday and now he and my husband have to drive to the south side to pick it up from one of the mom volunteers who took it home for us!

    Oh, and I plan to make chocolate covered pretzel rods with my daughter either tomorrow or Monday ...

    Have a fabulous holiday my friend!

    :) Linda

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  2. I like holly cookies very much. They are so cute and very original :) I´m going to try to bake them,so I´ll visit the recipe. Merry Christmas for you and your family from Spain :)

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    1. Thanks, Vero! And Merry, merry Christmas to you as well :)

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  3. Those holly cookies are just too cute! Everything looks delicious. Thanks for sharing all these recipes. :)

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  4. Those are the cutest snails I have every seen :). You certainly make the holidays special, don't you? Your girls must have a lot of happy memories, already, of you in the kitchen baking.

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  5. They all look wonderful, especially the fruit cake cookies. I am now following via GFC, Facebook, & Pinterest. Hope to see you at the Pin Me party each week!

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  6. Love those rice krispy treat cookies! My kids would definitely enjoy making them.

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  7. HOLA ELENA HE LLEGADO A TU BLOG POR EL BLOG DE VERO QUE LE VI LAS GALLETAS ACEBO Y SON PRECIOSAS A SI HE VENIDO A VISITARTE ME PARECEN MARAVILLOSAS TODAS TUS GALLETAS ME QUEDO DE SEGUIDORA TUYA ME ENCANTA TU BLOG
    UN SALUDO FELIZ AÑO NUEVO !!!!
    http://eltoquedebelen.blogspot.com.es/

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  8. You know I love LOVE the holly cookies. Miss you! -L

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  9. I'll be making these this year. They continue to be repinned from my board and each time, I am reminded that I want to make them. Gonna make it happen and soon!

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  10. I know you say the Holly Cookies are made like Crispie treats but I would still like to see your recipe and I don't see it here. Where is it?>

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    Replies
    1. Ann, Click on the green words that say "here's the recipe" and you will see it! --Elena

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