cookies for Christmas

[roxanna]

totally divine and addictive:

*Brownie Drops*
2 packages Baker's German Sweet Chocolate
1 TBSP real butter
2 eggs
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. sifted flour
1/4 teasp. baking powder
1/4 teasp. cinnamon
1/8 teasp. salt
1/2 teasp. vanilla
3/4 c. very finely chopped pecans
*************************
Melt chocolate & butter over hot water, stir. Cool.
Beat eggs until just mixed then add sugar 2 TBSP at a time. Beat until thickened (5 minutes electric mixer).
Blend in chocolate.
Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon & salt.
Stir in vanilla & nuts.
Drop by small teaspoonful onto greased baking sheet.
Bake @ 350 until cookies feel "set" when lightly touched (8-10 min.).

IMPORTANT: immediately freeze these after cooling, as they dry out fast and lose their chewiness. They can be eaten right out of the freezer (which is bad as it usually means i often grab a handful since i don't have to wait for them to thaw...).

my family would dispose of me in a most unpleasant manner if ever i failed to make these for the holidays.

[debio]

Uh, YUM! Sounds divine. And sometimes you can even forget about a cookie if it is in the freezer- sometimes

[marybwf17]

This recipe sounds great...thanks for posting...
Mary

[roxanna]

no, deb, you cannot forget these are in the freezer. hee! i only forget whether there are any more left after i've eaten them all. =(

you're welcome, mary -- hope you try them. if there were only one cookie i could take on the proverbial desert island, this would be it. of course, having a handy freezer would likely be problematic... lol.

[wonka]

This is my favourite Christmas Cookie. I have to make them gluten free, but you don't. Just use regular flour instead of gluten free flour and leave out the xanthan gum. These are really good. It does call for shortening. I use the a non-hydrogenated brand when I make these.

COFFEE CRISP

2 cups gluten free flour mix
½ tsp xanthan gum
¼ tsp each salt, baking soda, and baking powder
1 Tbsp powdered or granulated instant coffee
½ cup butter, softened
¼ cup shortening
½ cup each granulated sugar and firmly packed brown sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
3 Tbsp (approx) granulated sugar
¼ cup (approx) coffee bean-shaped chocolate candies **

1. In a bowl stir together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and instant coffee to blend thoroughly; set aside. Preheat oven to 375 F
2. In a mixing bowl, combine butter and shortening: beat until fluffy. Add sugars and beat until well blended. Beat in vanilla, then egg yolk. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until just well combined.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheets. Dip a flat bottomed glass in granulated sugar (grease the glass so the sugar sticks but only for the first one) and use it to flatten each cookie to a thickness of about ¼ inch. In the centre of each cookie, place a coffee bean candy.
4. Bake until cookies are golden brown and feel firm when touched lightly (10 to 12 minutes). Let stand on baking sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 3 dozen 3-inch cookies

** I can find these at my local greek store (and I found them in the Netherlands) but if you can’t find them just drizzle with a nice bittersweet chocolate

[debio]

Gardening and baking on the same website. Nirvana! I printed off the brownie cookies and I have a friend who needs to bake gluten free. Homerun #2! This is wonderful. I hope y'all discuss top chef on Thursday! Go Kevin!