Cookie exchanges are a terrific way to start to your holiday festivities. It’s a time where, with just a little sprinkle of planning, and a dash of effort, it can be a great idea for getting ahead on your holiday baking and ending up with a Santa-sized platter of delicious cookies in all sorts of varieties! JETPUBS hosted their first annual Holiday Cookie Exchange recently, and in keeping with the season of giving, I’m happy to share some of our favorite recipes. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
– Diane Kaiser, JETPUBS Inc.
CASHEW COOKIES
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour
3/4 tsp soda
1/3 cup sour cream
2 cups cashews
Mix and drop by spoonfuls on parchment paper on cookie sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes until the bottoms are slightly brown.
Frosting:
1/4 cup butter melted
3 tablespoons milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Spoon frosting on top of cookie and place cashew on top for decoration.
PEANUT BUTTER BALLS
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tablespoons softened butter
1 lb chocolate candy coating, chopped Combine sugar, peanut butter, and butter. Shape into balls and cool 30 minutes.
Melt candy and dip peanut butter balls. Let cool.
HAYSTACKS
1 part milk chocolate chips
1 part butterscotch chips
1 part chow mein noodles
(almonds, peanuts or cashews optional)
Melt chips in pot over low heat until melted.
Stir in chow mein noodles until thoroughly coated.
Drop spoonfuls on wax paper lined cookie sheet and place in refrigerator until hardened.
CARAMELS
1/2 lb. butter
2 cups light corn syrup
2 cups sugar
2 15oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup sifted flour
1 tsp vanilla
In heavy sauce pan melt butter, add syrup and sugar, bring to boil over medium heat stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes on medium heat. All 1-1/2 cans sweetened condensed milk. Mix flour with 1/2 can remaining milk thoroughly. Add to mixture. Boil mixture until dark caramel color appears stirring constantly. Boil to medium hard ball 235°F. Add vanilla. Pour into butter 9×13 pan. Allow to cool overnight. Cut and wrap in waxed paper.
CHRISTMAS BARK
14 whole Oreos, broken up
1-1/2 cups pretzels, broken
1 cup red and green M&Ms
1 pound almond bark
Sprinkles
Melt almond bark, stir in Oreos and pretzels. Spread on wax paper lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with M&Ms and sprinkles.
Cool and break into pieces.