DAY 2: Lemon Bars
There are some classic desserts that completely live up to their reputation. Lemon bars definitely fall into that category. They are a sweet, tart confection that will make you think fondly of trips to grandma’s house.
RECIPE:
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Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies (Bars & Brownies): Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
Welcome to the 12th Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies! This year, I am focusing on brownies, blondies, and other bar cookies.
A note about cooking bar cookies: If you have trouble with burned edges and raw centers, try using a metal pan instead of a glass or ceramic pan. This is especially true of bigger pans, 9×13” or larger. You can also bake the batter in 2 smaller square pans instead of one larger one to get more evenly baked bars and brownies.
DAY 1: Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
This is an easy to make dressed-up brownie dessert that starts with a boxed brownie mix. Raspberry jam is swirled into both the brownie layer and the cheesecake layer.
RECIPE:
Eleventh Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Loaded Chocolate Chip Sandies
DAY 12: Loaded Chocolate Chip Sandies
A crispy cookie loaded with chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, oats, and crushed Chex cereal. All of your favorite things packed into a hand-held treat!
RECIPE:
Loaded Chocolate Chip Sandies
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup crushed Chex cereal (corn or rice)
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
½ cup shredded coconut
½ cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, oil, and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually beat into butter/sugar mixture, until just mixed. Beat in oats, crushed cereal, chocolate chips, coconut, and walnuts.
Let dough sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before scooping.
Using a cookie scoop, place level scoops of dough on baking sheets, about 2” apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool 2-3 minutes on the baking sheets and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies
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Eleventh Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Mint Chocolate M&M’s Cookies
DAY 11: Mint Chocolate M&M’s Cookies
Chocolate and mint are the perfect Christmas flavor combination. You can top these chocolate cookies with your choice of holiday M&M’s. These are my favorites:
My very favorite are the all-green “Dark Chocolate Mint” flavor, but they can be hard to find. The “Holiday Mint” flavor is a good substitute, and come with a brighter Christmas color variety.
RECIPE:
Mint Chocolate M&M’s Cookies
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
¼ cup butter
2 ½ cups flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
¼ cup butter
1 cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbs milk or cream
1 Tbs vanilla extract
1 bag (10 oz) M&M’s (Holiday Mint or Dark Chocolate Mint flavor)
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Combine chocolate chips and ¼ cup butter in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until just barely melted. Or melt in microwave in a Pyrex bowl.
Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk until well mixed. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat ¼ cup butter with the white and brown sugars. Mix in eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat in melted chocolate. Add dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and beat until just barely combined.
Drop by tablespoonsful onto baking sheets. Bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. While cookies are still warm, press 3-4 M&M’s onto the top of each cookie. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
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Eleventh Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Maple Oatmeal Toffee Cookies
DAY 10: Maple Oatmeal Toffee Cookies
These are my new favorite cookie. They are chewy, just like an oatmeal cookie should be, with a maple caramel flavor from the maple extract, brown sugar, and toffee bits, which melt into the cookie as they bake.
RECIPE:
Maple Oatmeal Toffee Cookies
½ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp maple extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
1 Tbs cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
¾ cup toffee bits (½ of an 8 oz pkg of Heath Toffee Bits)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until very light and fluffy. Beat at least 3 full minutes. Beat in eggs, maple and vanilla extracts. Beat in flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat in oats, walnuts, and toffee bits.
Drop by level tablespoonfuls (2-inches apart) onto baking sheets. Bake for 9-10 minutes. Cool on pans for 2-3 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.
Makes 3 dozen
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Eleventh Annual Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
DAY 9: Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Nothing says Christmas cheer like Sprinkles! These are sure to please both kids and adults.
RECIPE:
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ¼ cups sugar
3 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cream of tartar
¼ tsp salt
About ½ cup Christmas sprinkle candies
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
Using a cookie scoop, place level scoops on baking sheets, about 2” apart. Roll scoops of dough into 1” balls, then roll dough balls in sprinkles and return to baking sheet.
Bake for 11-12 minutes, or until baked through, but still pale. Don’t overbake. Remove baking sheet from oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes on baking sheet before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
Makes 2-3 dozen small cookies
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