Welcome to the 15th Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies!
DAY 1: Apricot Shortbread Streusel Bars
An easy to make bar cookie. A shortbread crust is topped with sweet and tangy apricot jam and then topped with shortbread streusel.
You can easily substitute other jams in place of the apricot: seedless raspberry, blackberry, or peach would all be delicious.
RECIPE:
![Apricot Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies_thumb[1]](https://noemptychairs.me/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/apricot-dark-chocolate-chip-cookies_thumb1.jpg "Apricot Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies_thumb[1]")
DAY 5: Apricot Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
The sweetness of dried apricots paired with bittersweet dark chocolate makes an irresistible (and easy) drop cookie.
RECIPE:
Filed under Cookies
A nod to our Scottish heritage with this traditional Scottish tea loaf. I used an orange cinnamon herbal tea and added chopped dried apricots and pecans.
The recipe includes an optional glaze. I don’t like my breads too sweet, so I usually leave it off, or serve it on the side for those who want the extra sweetness.
This bread is delicious served warm or cold and spread with cream cheese.
RECIPE: Continue reading
Filed under Breads, Breakfast/Brunch
DAY 4: Apricot Thumbprints
Thumbprint cookies of all varieties are always favorites around here. These apricot thumbprints are a light almond flavored shortbread cookie filled with sweet apricot jam and drizzled with an almond glaze.
To avoid cracks in your baked cookies, be sure to not pack the flour when measuring, and keep the dough covered while shaping cookies to keep the dough from drying out. (And don’t overbake. Cookies should be just barely starting to brown on the bottoms.)
For a fuller jam center, I like to add a little extra jam to the centers after baking.
RECIPE: Continue reading
You know those days when you run from one activity to another, and before you know it everyone is starving and you haven’t thought about dinner yet? Apricot Glazed Chicken is made for those days. This recipe is one of my favorite go-to last minute dinners. And it helps that it is always a hit with the kids.
The glaze is a simple mix of apricot jam, soy sauce and a few spices. Brown some chicken breasts or tenderloins in a skillet, pour on the glaze and cook for 5 minutes. Add a little rice and dinner is served!
A perfect meal for the dinner procrastinator!
I have also made this chicken with this homemade Peach Vanilla Jam or Mango Jalapeno Jam.
RECIPE:
2 Tbs olive oil
4 chicken breasts, or 1 lb chicken tenderloins
Salt, pepper, garlic powder
Hot cooked rice
Glaze:
½ cup apricot jam
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs rice vinegar
1 tsp fresh grated ginger (or ¼ tsp ground ginger)
½ tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp crushed red peppers
Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken to skillet and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook until well browned.
Combine glaze ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and glaze thickens slightly.
Serve over hot steamed rice.
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Filed under Main Dishes
Ninja-bread Men
Snow Capped Christmas Trees
Russian Teacakes
Cranberry Orange Pinwheels
Baklava Thumbprints
Chocolate Orange Shortbread Sticks
Raspberry Almond Thumbprints
Boston Cream Cookie Cups
Coconut Macaroons
White Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Cookies
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