Cutout Cookie Glaze/Icing

Combine:
* 4-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
* 4 Tbspn light corn syrup
* 3-4 Tbspn + 1-2 tsp milk
* Food coloring, optional

Carla's Grandma's Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1/2 cup shortening
* 1-1/2 cup sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1-1/2 tsp cream of tartar
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 2-3/4 cups flour
* 3 Tbspn sugar
* 1 Tbspn cinnamon

Directions:
1. Cream together butter, shortening, sugar, and eggs

2. Add combined cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt

3. Add flour.

4. Chill dough for two hours.

5. Combine sugar and cinnamon for rolling. Roll dough into balls and roll in sugar/cinnamon mix.

6. Place balls on ungreased baking sheet and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (Occasionally Butterscotch Chip) Cookies

Ingredients:
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 1/2 cup packed, light brown sugar
* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1 Tbspn vanilla extract
* 1-1/2 cups old fashioned whole rolled oats
* 3/4 cup all purpose flour
* 1/2 - 1 tsp cinnamon to taste
* 1/2 tsp baking soda
* pinch salt (optional)
* one heaping cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
* Optional: 1/2 cup raisins, nuts, or butterscotch chips -- if you don't add any of these, add an extra cup of chocolate chips.

Directions:
1. Add the first five ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium-high speed until creamed and well combined, about four minutes.

2. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add all the rest, except the last two ingredients. Beat on low speed until just combined, about one minute.

3. Stop, scrape down the sides, and add the chips/nuts/raisins, etc. Beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.

4. Using a large scoop, roll into balls and flatten slightly. You can place a few chips on top at this time.

5. Place on a plate or tray, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

6. Preheat the oven to 350, line or spray a cookie sheet. Bake for about 11 minutes. Don't overbake. Allow to cool on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving.

Soft Cut-Out Cookies

A classic for various holidays!

Ingredients:

* 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup margarine, softened
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients until fully absorbed. Cover dough, and chill for 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a clean floured surface, roll out small portions of chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are barely brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Mom's Molasses Cookies

I could pretty much live on these during the holidays. When I was pregnant last year, and my mom made them I ate SOOOO many!

Ingredients are for a double batch, because trust me, you'll want more than one batch. I always make them in a double batch, and since this blog is also for me to have easy access to the recipes, I'm going to leave the amounts doubled.

Ingredients:
* 1-1/2 cups shortening, (melted)
* 2 cups sugar
* 1/2 cup molasses (robust flavor)
* 2 eggs
* 4 tsp baking soda
* 4 cups flour
* 1 tsp cloves
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 tsp ginger
* 2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:
1. Melt shortening and let cool.
2. Add sugar, molasses, and egg. Beat Well.
3. Combine baking soda, flour, cloves, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Add it to the rest, mixing well. Chill the dough.
4. Roll into small balls and then roll the balls in sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

A.MA.ZING. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I got this from Allrecipes.com and will probably never make a different oatmeal raisin cookie. I think it's the cloves. Also, I added slightly more cinnamon than called for, and just used butter instead of the butter flavored shortening.

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
* 1 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups rolled oats
* 1 cup raisins

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not over bake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are very yummy and extremely soft! I find they're a good alternative to banana bread when you've got some ripe bananas to use up.

Ingredients:
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 2/3 cup butter, softened
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about three ripe bananas)
* 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips -- but I used a little more than that... :-)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together, and set aside.

2. Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the mashed bananas. Add the flour mixture, and stir until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

Cherry Winks

I used to make these with my Babi for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

Ingredients:

* 2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

* 2 tsp baking powder

* 1/2 tsp salt

* 3/4 cup margarine or butter, softened

* 1 cup sugar

* 2 eggs

* 2 Tblsp fat-free milk

* 1 tsp vanilla

* 1 cup chopped nuts

* 1 cup finely chopped, pitted dates

* 1/3 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries

* 2-2/3 cups corn flakes (crushed to 1-1/3 cups)

* 15 maraschino cherries, cut into quarters

Directions:

* In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

* In a large electric mixer bowl, beat margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Beat well. Stir in milk and vanilla. Add flour mixture, combining thoroughly. Stir in nuts, dates and the 1/3 cup cherries.

* Portion dough using level tablespoon. Shape into balls. Roll in corn flakes cereal. Place about 2-inches apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Top each cookie with cherry quarter.

* Bake at 350 degrees about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove immediately from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.

Trina's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
* 2-1/4 cup unsifted flour
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 1 pkg (4 serving size) vanilla flavor instant jell-o pudding
* 2 eggs
* 12 oz chocolate chips (1 regular size package)
* 1 cup nuts (chopped) -- optional

Directions:
* Mix flour with baking soda.
* combine butter, sugars, vanilla, and pudding mix in large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture.
* Stir in chips and nuts. (Batter will be very stiff)
* Drop about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
* Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Take out of the oven and let sit on cookie sheet for a few minutes before removing to cooling racks.

Options:
* You can use vanilla pudding for regular-style (but still yummier) chocolate chip cookies, or you can use chocolate pudding for chocolate-chocolate chip cookies. You can also change out the flavors of chips!

Judy's Melting Moments

These tiny little cookies are so good it's not even funny...with my Christmas cookie plates, these always go first. Thank you Judy Vonnahme!

Ingredients:
* 1 cup unsifted flour
* 1/2 cup cornstarch
* 1/2 cup powdered sugar
* 3/4 cup margarine
* 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
* Mix flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar in a bowl.

* In a large bowl, beat margarine until smooth. Add flour mixture and vanilla. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

* Shape into balls and bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

* Dip them in frosting and add sprinkles to make them extra delicious and pretty!

Mama Leo's Rolled Sugar Cookies

This recipe is from my mother-in-law, Maggie, and she even drew pictures of what the cookies might look like on the back of the card!

Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup butter
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 egg
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 2-3 Tablespoons milk

Directions:
* Beat together the first four ingredients, then mix the rest in.

* Roll to 1/8 of an inch thick and cut into shapes

* Bake for 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.

Drizzle Icing:
* Mix together 2 cups powdered sugar, 2-3 Tablespoons of milk, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. Add food coloring for decorating purposes.

Devil's Food Cookies

I found this recipe in a copy of Light and Tasty, and these cookies are delicious and easy to make!

Ingredients:
* 1 package (18-1/4 oz) devil's food cake mix
* 2 eggs
* 2 Tablespoons butter, softened
* 3 Tablespoons water
* 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips (though, I actually prefer regular sized chips)

Directions:
* In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, eggs, butter, and water (the batter will get VERY thick). Fold in the chocolate chips.

* Drop by tablespoonful 2 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to finish cooling.

** We also used this recipe to make ice cream sandwiches with. Get some soft serve ice cream, put a scoop in between two cookies and put in the freezer to set.

Northcott Cookies

Grandma made these for me while I was in college, and they're a great combination of salty and sweet...chewy and crunchy. Yum!

Ingredients:
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 cup shortening
* 1-1/2 cups flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups quick oats
* 2 cups rice krispies
* 1 cup coconut OR nuts OR 1/2 cup of each (optional)

Directions:
* Beat sugar, shortening, and eggs. Add the dry ingredients; mix well. Drop by teaspoon on greased sheet.

* Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. WATCH CAREFULLY - Don't let them get too brown.