Holiday cheer and a fun cookie recipe
With the holidays in full swing, I thought I’d push this out a day early and share a few time-tested (and totally unofficial) tips to help keep things merry and bright:
Untangle the lights before the eggnog.
Say yes to that second helping of dessert.
Label the gift immediately after you wrap it. (Trust me on this one.)
However you celebrate, I hope your season is full of laughter, warmth, and at least one solid nap on the couch.
Cookie Recipe:
I recently came across a spiced cookie recipe on Taste of Home, and it reminded me of a special cookie recipe that has been passed down in my family for a few generations. I’ve taken an oath not to share that one 😊, but this one (below) was great and thought it was worth a share.
Grandma’s Spiced Cutout Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups molasses
2 cups dark corn syrup
½ cup shortening, melted
2 tbsps white vinegar
1 tbsp cold water
10 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp powdered star anise
¼ tsp ground cloves
⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
Dash of salt
Instructions
Make the Dough. In a large bowl, combine molasses, corn syrup, melted shortening, vinegar, and cold water. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing well.
Chill. Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least three hours or overnight to allow the flavors to blend and the dough to firm up.
Preheat Oven. Set oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease your baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.
Roll and Cut. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ⅛-inch thickness. Cut into your favorite holiday shapes using floured two-inch cookie cutters. Place cookies one inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until set and just slightly golden. Remove from oven and transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Decorate. Once cooled, decorate as desired! These are fun with classic royal icing, sprinkles, or a dusting of powdered sugar.