Mickey Swirl Cookies

Mickey Swirl Cookies

What would Christmas be without a bit of Magic on top?? 

A good friend (thanks Diane!) pointed out this awesome cookie idea on DisneyFamily.com last year. I used the sugar cookie recipe they suggested (here), but left out the peppermint.

No lies - these are tedious to make, but really - can they be any cuter? And if you're a Disney nut like me, they are a must have!!

Andes Mint Cookies

Andes Mint Cookies

Minty Chocolatey Goodness - what else do you really need??

Preheat oven 350.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• dash salt
• 1.25 cups Andes baking bits

Melt butter and 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Cool slightly. Place in bowl.

Mix in egg, sugar, vanilla & peppermint extract. Stir in flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Fold in 3/4 cup Andes candies pieces. 

Form into small balls. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. 

Cool. 

Melt remaining Andes and dip each cookie into melted candy. Cool. 

Jello Spritz Cookies

Jello Spritz Cookies

Passed on to our family years ago by a good friend, these have become a holiday tradition. 

(Ok, I admit it. This year I was lazy and rolled these into balls instead of making cute little trees. Call me lazy... )

Preheat oven to 350.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 pk jello (I like lime for green, cherry for red)
• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder

Cream butter & sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg. Mix in jello, baking powder and flour.

Use spritz maker to shape cookies - or if being lazy - roll into balls, then roll in extra sugar. 

Bake for 8 min. You don't want these to really brown - if they do, they've gone too far. 

Easy Oreo Truffles

Easy Oreo Truffles

Recommended by many friends - a new staple in the Christmas cookie routine!

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz package OREOs
• 1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
• chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, melted for topping

Crush 6 Oreo cookies in food processor and set aside.

Crush remaining Oreo cookies in food processor and place in bowl. Blend in cream cheese.

Roll into 1 inch balls. 

Dip balls into melted chocolate and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is set. Drizzle with white chocolate and immediately sprinkle with some of the reserved cookie crumbs. 

THE BEST Soft Gingersnaps

THE BEST Soft Gingersnaps

No lie. A batch of these (which is HUGE) may only last a day in this house!

Preheat oven 350.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups flour
• 2.5 TBSP ginger
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 TBSP baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1.5 cups butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup molasses
• Extra sugar for rolling

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add in eggs, then molasses and salt. Add ginger, cinnamon and baking soda. Then stir in flour. 

Roll small cookie balls in extra sugar and place on cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until tops are round and crackled. 

Mexican Reese's Surprise Cookies

Mexican Reese's Surprise Cookies

Spice up the traditional Reese's Peanut Butter cup cookies with just a dash of cinnamon. A traditional Mexican twist on one of our traditional Christmas favorites.

Dough chills for an hour, then preheat oven to 350.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 sticks butter
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla 
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1.5 cups flour
• 1 square (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 24 miniature Reese's peanut butter cups
• Chocolate chips, melted for frosting

Beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and cinnamon. Stir flour and melted unsweetened chocolate into batter. Chill for 1 hour.

Shape dough around (unwrapped!) peanut butter cup. Bake about 20 min. 

Cool, then top each cookie with melted chocolate.

Gingerbread Popcorn

Gingerbread Popcorn

If you make only one thing this Christmas holiday season, it HAS to be this popcorn. Oh wait, no, scratch that. Once you try this popcorn you'll be spoiled for life. NOTHING else compares. Really. 

The full recipe and directions can be found at Culinary in the Desert (yes, its my favorite place to check out when I need something REALLY good)! 

Watch the transformation of plain ole' popcorn to the crack of popcorn in just a few photos: