New Favorite Cookies
January 1, 2008 by Andrea 
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Filed under Dessert, Holidays
Christmas is not a surprise. It’s on the calendar and we know months ahead of time when it’s coming, but somehow I always find myself scrambling at the last minute to finish baking, grocery shopping, buying and wrapping gifts, or sending out Christmas cards. This time I really was not on the ball and mailed cards on Christmas Eve! Every year I promise myself that I will be better organized next year, and I will try, of course knowing that there will still be some last minute dashing about to pull it all together. I’m not even going to bother making a New Year’s resolution for that!
I would have really enjoyed making a new cookie every day of December, or even doing a 12 Days of Christmas Cookies event like some of my blogging friends have done, but perhaps next year. We did try several new cookies for Christmas 2007, and these are two of our favorites:
Pizzelles from Maryann at Finding La Dolce Vita (photo above). One of my Christmas presents was a pizzelle maker, and we put it to good use immediately! Michael and I both love pizzelles, and we now have three boys who like them, too. Maryann’s recipe is very good. We used zest of orange and almond flavoring, and they were a hit. I will make these regularly.
Sugar cutout cookies from Elise at Simply Recipes. We made pumpkins for Halloween and many festive shapes for Christmas. We dipped our cookies in the white sugar icing then sprinkled colored sugars and multicolored nonpareils on top, something I find much easier than piping decorations. Easy is important when you have two preschool-age assistants and a toddler pulling on your pant legs! The boys were able to help throughout the process, which made it even more fun for them. We did not color the icing this time, though I would certainly do that the next time we make them, probably at Easter. They will make some very pretty Easter egg cookies!
Hi There,
I think you will really enjoy your Pizzelle maker. My parents have one. Every year we go home there are Pizzelle Cookies sprinkled with just a little powdered sugar on top – and mmm they are good.
Have fun.
Sharona May
http://birdfood-sharona.blogspot.com/
I received a pizelle maker for Christmas, so I’m so excited! Your cookies all look wonderful.
Thanks Sharona! We’re having fun with it already.
Congrats on your new pizzelle maker, Deborah! You’ll have to post pics of the cookies you make!
Hi Andrea, I came across pizzelles just now, over the holidays with the blogs, and I cannot find here the pizzelle maker, too bad, they look so yummy and their shape is so cute.
I’m so glad my pizzelle recipe worked for you! It wouldn’t be Christmas without pizzelles in my house. Yours look very pretty
That’s the best xmas present I’ve come across, hands down. I adore pizzelles. In fact, my dad submitted them to my cookie event, and sent us some from RI. Even after the nearly 3000 miles journey, they were scrumptious. Have fun!
Hi there you have such a lovely blog. Great recipes they really do look so delicious. I have a blog also here is my link Food Recipes
Let me know if you would like to exchange links. Thanks Jeena x
Cris, Maryann, and Susan: I LOVE the pizzelle maker! The cookies tasted wonderful. Thanks for the recipe, Maryann!
Hi Andrea,
I came to you from a search for a benne wafer recipe…got it, thanks! I am now a new fan of your site…I stayed and looked around trying to find the recipe for the cookies in the picture in your header…they look like they may be shortbread with red fruit ( cherries or cranberries?) in them, and appear to be half dipped in white chocolate or white fudge. I searched for quite a while, would you be willing to send me the recipe?