When you get to be my age, you have a lot of Christmases to reflect on; lots and lots of memories and traditions from Christmases past. One of my favorite traditions was started by my sister Pat and her husband Moe (short for Maurice) – the annual Christmas Cookie swap. It happened on the Sunday afternoon before Christmas at Pat and Moe’s home in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Both Pat’s family (small in comparison) and Moe’s family (gargantuan with Moe being one of 9 siblings), including grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins all gathered together for a potluck meal, carol singing and a cookie swap. With kids ranging from high school to newborn running through the house and adults catching up on the latest family gossip, it could get a little overwhelming but always warm, cozy, and fun. As the fire crackled in the fireplace, the younger kids would gather on the stairs to serenade everyone with Christmas carols lead by Aunts Doris and Tess. The potluck buffet dinner was amazing with treats like Doris and Tess’s Toutiere Pie (Moe’s family was French Canadian and Doris and Tess had a little competition going as to who’s Toutiere recipe was the best), Moe’s File Gumbo, Gram’s Kahlua soaked Bundt Cake, Boston Baked Beans, Sweet and Sour Pork, Jeff’s Beer Chili, Pat’s Brioche, Nana’s Fudge and more delicious casseroles than a Church Supper. After the meal was done and cleared away, each family arranged their cookies on Pat’s enormous dining room trestle table. The kids would take their brightly colored holiday paper plates and pile them high with cookies of their choosing, and then Pat and Moe would wrap the plates with tissue anchored with bright holiday ribbons. At the close of the day, we would all head home stuffed to the brim with food and Christmas Spirit and wonderful Christmas memories to ponder for years to come.
In honor of Pat and Moe's wonderful Christmas memories, I'll be sharing Christmas Cookie recipes gathered from these events throughout this Christmas Season. Here's the first installment.
Soft and Chewy Christmas Cookies
Soft Sugar Cookies
Soft and moist, these aren't your typical sugar cookies...they're so much better!
- Cook Time: 9 mins
- Total Time: 9 mins
- Category: Cookie
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 c. softened butter
- 1 ½ c. confectioners’ sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 2 ½ c. all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar together in mixing bowl (using electric mixer) until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
- In separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to creamed ingredients.
- Divide dough in half and form each half into a round.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge for 2 hours until chilled and easy to handle.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until ¼ inch thick.
- Cut with floured cookie cutters.
- Place 2 in. apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 7-9 minutes or until set.
- Cool on wire racks.
- Decorate with frosting and sprinkles.
Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above says
Thank you so much for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party. We love having your join the fun.
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Debi @ Adorned From Above says
Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop. This weeks party will be live at midnight. I hope to see you there.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Joye and Myrna @ The Busy Bee's
Linda @ With A Blast
Katherines Corner says
wow so many yummy recipes. I posted about a cookie swap a while back. I think they are a great way to share. Thank you or sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things hop xo
Christine says
Yum! What a great collection of yummies!!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer... From Dream To Reality!
Yona says
I wish I was part of a cookie swap. Thanks for sharing.
I'm stopping by from Katherine's Corner blog hop.
Happy Favorite Things Thursday!
http://artpark78.com/blog1/i-made-my-2012-holiday-wreath/
Debi @ Adorned From Above says
I love your recipes. Thanks so much for sharing with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Joye and Myrna @ The Busy Bee's
Linda @ With A Blast
Jody says
Thanks so much for sharing your Annual Christmas Cookie Swap at Simple & Sweet Fridays. All the cookies look so pretty and delicious!
Jody
Lisa Isabella Russo says
Your recipes look delicious! Holiday family memories can be so powerful, thank you for sharing some of yours :).
Sarah C. says
I love soft cookies! Thanks so much for linking to the 12 Days of Christmas! Sarah
Tuula @ The Thrifty Rebel says
I love cookie swaps! I've been in one for the last couple of years and it's such fun. Your recipes look delicious! Thanks so much for sharing at our Winter Wonders and Holiday Happenings link party! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Sheryl T says
They are fun, and a great way to join together during the holidays. Now that my parents have passed and the family is spread all over the US and world...niece and sister in Idaho,nephews in Florida, The Netherlands, and Thailand and my boys in Georgia and Virginia....it just doesn't happen but the memories of those days are as vivid as ever. Its fun to reflect on Christmases past.
Debi @ Adorned From Above says
Great cookie recipes. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this with everyone. It runs from Wednesday through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/12/fabric-covered-can-pen-and-pencil.html
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Alana says
These look delicious! I am pinning 🙂
Deborah says
Now I'm wishing I had a cookie swap to go to right now - they all sound so good!!