Christmas Cookie Bake-Out

On Friday I got together with a few girlfriends at my mom's house and we baked Christmas cookies all day. I was pretty exhausted from our Thanksgiving feast the day earlier at her house but I sucked it up and drove back to Columbus. My friend, Maggie, is moving to Vegas in less than a week, so that explains the christmas cookie bake out in November! After two hours of perusing the baking and alcohol isles of several grocery stores, we finally settled on some cookie cutters/decorations and Kahlua, White Chocolate Godiva liqueur, rum and egg nog. Now we were ready to bake some cookies...

Mint Chocolate Martinis
First and second drink (maybe third for some ;)


2 oz. Vodka (can omit if you are trying not to get smashed, I liked it better without)

2 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liquior


2 oz. Kaluha (or coffee liquior)


1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps


Coat rim with Chocolate (we used mint chocolate ice cream topping) and dip in crushed peppermint. We were very generous with the chocolate!




Maggie's choice: Gingerbread Cut-outs dipped in White Chocolate


These cookies were easy to make and oh so yummy! We used a gingerbread mix from the baking isle (eek, I know, but we were baking quite a few different cookies and for the sake of time ;). The recipe actually called for a gingerbread roll found in the refrigerated section but we never did find that until after the fact! Anyways, we just floured the dough, rolled it out and cut out shapes with cutters. We made sure not to over-bake them because everyone agreed that soft cookies are better than crunchy ones!! While the cut-outs were baking, we melted butter (the recipe called for shortening, but we improvised) and white chocolate chips in a double-broiler (we added about 1 tsp. milk to thin out chocolate mixture) and dipped a portion of each baked cookie in it. To make them even prettier, we decorated the white chocolate with different sprinkles and decorations right after they were dipped. We placed each sheet in the freezer for a few minutes so the chocolate would harden and then we couldn't resist a taste-test. Seriously easy and actually very good, they are an easy addition to your holiday cookie list.



Marcie's choice: Snickerdoodles

These are a favorite dating back to my early college years. We took for granted just how easy this cookie is to bake and it ended up burning some in the batch. It might have had something to do with the martinis...just a thought!


1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar


1 egg


1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. flour


2 tbsp. sugar (separated for end)


1 tsp. cinnamon (separated for end)


Cream butter, sugar and egg. Combine the remainder of the ingredients and then add as much flour as you can, beating with a mixer. (Keep sugar and cinnamon separated to roll the cookie mixture in before you place on cookie sheets). Cover and refrigerate for 1 hr. (this step makes quite a difference). Preheat oven at 375 degrees and roll cookie dough into small balls, coating with sugar/cinnamon mixture and placing on baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Everyone's oven bakes a little different, but I wouldn't leave them in longer than 10-11 minutes. Remove when tops and edges are slightly golden brown. This cookie has a tendency to get really crunchy if over-baked!!




Spiked Egg Nog
Third, fourth (and maybe fifth) drink of the night!


equal parts spiced rum and egg nog...cookie decorating just got a lot more fun!



My choice: Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Cookies
I searched far and wide on the internet for this type of recipe and then doctored it accordingly. This cookie is already scarce in my cookie tins...It's mint-chocolately goodness is simply irresistable!


1 c. flour


1/2 c. unsalted butter (at room temp)

1/2 c. light brown sugar


1/2 c. sugar


1/3 c. cocoa


1 egg (at room temp)


1 tsp. vanilla


1/2 tsp. salt


1 tsp. baking powder


8 oz. York Peppermint Patty Hershy's Premier Baking Pieces (we substituted Andes mint baking pieces because we couldn't find the york pieces ANYWHERE)



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and combine thoroughly. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the sweetened butter and mix until a very thick dough forms. Use a spoon to fold in peppermint pieces and stir evenly. Form cookies by dropping 1 tsp. of dough on the sheet, 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly then bake until light brown, about 12 minutes. Remove to wire rack and cool. (Appx. 2 dozen)



Everyone's choice: Pressed Sugar Cookies


I have had a metal cookie press that was given to me by my mom years ago and I schlepped it to each house when I moved, never once using it but holding on to it "just in case" the time would arise. Maggie brought up making cookies with a cookie shooter and a little light came on in my head...I think I have one of those!!! We had no idea how to use it but it ended up being really easy and the shapes were so fun! We made little dogs, wreaths, trees, sunbursts...and then decorated them with sprinkles before we popped them in the oven. I'm afraid that pressed cookies might be my new "thing" for a while...everyone I know be prepared! You could make it even easier by buying refrigerated cookie dough or a mix in order to save time.


1/4 lb. buter (softened to room temp)


1/2 c. sugar

1 egg yolk


1/2 tsp. vanilla


1 1/2 c. flour


1/2 tsp. baking powder


1/8 tsp. salt

3 tsp. evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream buter & sugar. Stir in egg and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to other ingredients and mix well. Place in cookie press. Press onto ungreased cookie sheets & decorate before baking for 8-10 minutes. The smaller the cookie, the shorter the time in the oven. This is another cookie that will become super crunchy if over-baked. For the really small ones, we baked them for 5 minutes at the most! They are so pretty and are sure to dress up any plate of holiday cookies!


I had a great time baking (and eating) cookies all day...Thanks girls for making this a "bake-out" to remember! Now, if I could only exert a little self control and not eat them all in the next few days!