cookie fest 2016

We've been doing the Christmas Cookie Fest since we moved up here in 2010. The sister a-go-go makes up family recipe that uses nutmeg and buttermilk and while they are super tasty, the mister and I wanted to make some gingerbread cookies...we were not disappointed and I wish we made a double batch! Sooo good!

bake: cookie butter blossoms

I usually bake up a storm for the holidays but that was back when I lived in L.A. and had people to share it all with. up here it is mostly just the a-go-go family and if I bake like I used to, much of it would got to waste so I really limited myself to two types of cookies, a pound cake, and these awesome chocolates. The nephew-a-go-go can't do nuts so I went with a childhood fave... snickerdoodles for sure and then I thought of the jar of cookie butter I have been hording forever, why not bake with it? One of my standbys is peanut butter blossoms, I thought why not try them with cookie butter instead? And so I did, kisses and all...

There are many recipes for peanut butter blossoms, I went for this one and cut the brown sugar in half, used real unsalted butter, rolled them in cinnamon and sugar, and popped the dough in the fridge overnight. Unlike the peanut butter blossoms, these did not puff up but spread out. They also did not remain chewy but crisped up like a gingersnap. They were a hit all the same (the bath the mister took to work disappeared pretty quickly) and next time I make them I may just add chopped chocolate to the dough instead of topping them with kisses...oh and the first batch was baked at 10 minutes and were a bit too gooey so go for 12 minutes and enjoy the crunchy goodness that is a cookie butter blossom.

last minute cookie gifts

So, you made three dozen of your famous holiday cookies and want to gift them to friends and family but want to shy away from the classic tin or gift box. Jar them up! If you are a canner, crater, hoarder or hipster, you are sure to have a jar or two flaoting around. Bell jars are awesome but I prefer to reuse the mister's almond butter jars as they are slightly wider in diameter and have a larger opening for cookie cramming. I find that cookies made with a small cookie scoop are a perfect fit for the jars.

Pile your cookies int oyour jar, add the lid then top with a gold foil doily tied with a legth of vintage trim and you are good to go! 

Happy Holidays!