Tuesday, December 14, 2010

COOOOOOOKIES!!!!

by Tawny

It's Cookie Month. Maybe that's not what the calendar says. Maybe that's not even any official designation for this month. But in my house... It's Cookie Month.

Cookies for making, cookies for decorating. Cookies for giving, cookies for eating. Cookies for Santa, cookies for Dad (lots and lots of cookies for Dad!).

So here's my top 5 fave cookies for this time of year - and my absolute least fave:

  1. Holiday shaped, decorated sugar cookies
  2. Gingerbread
  3. Peanut butter blossoms
  4. Florentines
  5. Rugelach
And my least favorite (but somehow we end up with them all the time anyway - it's a tradition, after all):
  1. Mexican Wedding cookies

How about you? what are your favorite holiday cookies? And your least favorite?

It's FINALLY here! The Romance Bandits 12 Days of Christmas Booty! Every day between now and Christmas, one lucky commenter per day will win a daily prize and on some days, additional goodies from that day's blogging Bandita or guest. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we'll give away bigger prizes, including autographed books, GR mugs and much more! Come join us! Tell your friends! Let's make the Season BRIGHT!

174 comments:

Fedora said...

COOOOKIES!!! Tawny, I pretty much love all cookies--favorites?? I can't decide! Least favorite? Anything involving licorice flavoring (anise?)--just not a fan of that! Otherwise, if you bake it, I will most assuredly eat it!

Fedora said...

OK, a top 5? At this very moment, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin, sugar cookie cutouts (baked very thin and crisp), gingersnaps... But that could change in a heartbeat ;)

Jane said...

Hi Tawny,
I love shortbread cookies, but I usually buy them instead of baking them. My favorite brand is Walkers. They're so buttery. Sugar cookies are the best for decorating. I don't like raisins, but I do like plain oatmeal cookies. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are also a favorite of mine.

Congrats, Fedora.

Helen said...

Well done Fedora have fun with him although I might keep him away from the cookies or there might not be any left

Tawny
I do love the pictures of the cookies and they all sound really nice. We don't bake cookies here for Christmas but I have been picking up some really nice reciepes that I will try when I get a chnace.

I tend to like all types of cookies (biscuits here in Oz) and when the kids were young we often had days where we would make them but they ate them so fast I hardly got any to eat myself LOL. It really is very hot here and to have the oven on for a while isn't good so I will be saving the reciepes probably for when it cools down here and the grandkids and I will have some fun making them.

Have Fun
Helen

Deanna said...

Wow Fedora, you're quick off the mark today. Congrats on the GR.

Tawny, I totally love cookies. My favorite would be shortbread (plain or with lemon filling) and gingerbread. We also have something called Melting Moments which are just to die for and just as deadly - delicious though. Then when I want to pretend I'm being healthy I have a chocolate chip, raisin and oat bran cookie. With Christmas round the corner, it's time to dust off the recipes and do some serious baking. Not much baking happens around here the rest of the year.

SiNn said...

well honestly

chocolate chip

fluffy sugar cookies

prezzels aka the waffle cookie

macaroons

and shortbread I love them all

ivebeen trying new things with the cookies like mint chocolate chip

Pissenlit said...

Favourite holiday cookies?
Cookies.

Least favourite?
Cookies with nuts I'm allergic to.

Some of my favourites are gingerbread cookies, shortbread cookies and sugar cookies. Wow, I don't think I've even heard of florentines, rugelach and Mexican wedding cookies! I should do some cookie research...which would, of course, have to include taste testing. :)

Book Chatter Cath said...

OOhh, I love melting moments or yo yo's as they're sometimes called. My kids love Jammie Dodgers and we make a trip into an English specialty store to get them. Tim Tams and Toffee Pops are hi on the list too, and then my 12 yr old makes gorgeous chocy chip shortbread.....mmm mmmmm.

Tawny said...

YAY Fedora on the rooster nabbing AND on the cookie love :-D I'm with you on the anise - ick. Pure ick *g*

Aren't cookies wonderful? I'm not a major year-round cookie fan, actually. We only have homebaked in the house a few times a year (and never storebought. Mostly cuz my cookie jar says Homemade Cookies on it LOL) but come December, I'm all about the cookies. YUM!!!

Tawny said...

Mmmm, Fedora, I forgot about the deliciousness of gingersnaps.

I like your list :-) I'd eat all of them!

Tawny said...

Hi Jane :-)

Shortbread is my mom's favorite, too. My gramma makes shortbread to die for!

Yum on the oatmeal chocolate chip! I haven't had those in years! I think they might have to be added to our cookie frenzy list!

Tawny said...

Helen, do you think that's why the rooster is looking so plump? He's been sneaking cookies? I wouldn't put it past him!!

Yikes on the heat! We're pretty anti-oven usage in the hot weather, too :-) I wish I could find a barbeque cookie recipe LOL - outdoor cooking all the way!

Isn't that a sign of good cookies, though -that there aren't many left to store in the cookie jar? :-) I hope you get some goodies this season, though!

PinkPeony said...

Hola Tawny!

Rugelach Rules! I hope I have time to make at least one variety this year. Love to make the Mexican Wedding cakes too. Are your peanut butter blossoms the kind with the big chocolate kiss in the middle?

Congrats, Fedora!

Tawny said...

Okay, Daz :-) Tell me more about this melting moment (it sounds like it belongs in a book LOL)

And yes!! It's baking time. What will you bake first?

Tawny said...

Oooh, SiNn, mint chocolate chip, huh? Yum.

And the prezzels sound intriguing. Waffle-like, huh? How do you make those?

Tawny said...

ROFLMAO Pissenlit :-D I like your favorite list!!

Florentines are caramel-like tasting, but really flat cookies that are almost like candy.

Rugelach is like a crescent roll but with cookie batter, filled with a nutty filling.

And Mexican wedding cookies are balls of nutty dough rolled in powdered sugar *g*

I think they are all worth trying!! I mean, yum-city.

Tawny said...

Oh man, Cath, I love the names of your cookies! They are so cool sounding :-)

Now tell me what they are, please :-)

Jammie Dodgers? Toffee Pops? Tell me more!

Tawny said...

Hi Pink!!

Hi five on the mutual Rugelach love ;-) I hope you can get some made, too!

I love the Peanut Butter Blossoms with the kisses, yes! I realized after I got home from the grocery store tonight that I'd got all the ingredients EXCEPT my kisses, darnit *g*

Carol L. said...

My favorites are all Italian cookies. I love them. My least favorite are Chocolate Chip.I ate so many raising my children because that was there favorite I now can't even look at them. :)
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com

Deanna said...

The Melting Moments are all sorts of buttery vanilla goodness. Here's a recipe that I use:

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/10246/melting+moments

As to what I'll bake first - I think the oat bran cookies - just to pretend I'm being healthy.

Sheree said...

Anything with chocolate! I do like the rainbow cookies (made with plain M&Ms instead of chocolate chips) and rolled Florentines (filled with chocolate cream and the ends dipped in chocolate) especially. See the theme here? Yummmmmm....

Tawny said...

Carol, it's hard to imagine ever not having chocolate chip love, but I'd imagine after it being the only cookie to be had, the yumminess would definitely wear off.

Italian cookies are so delish, aren't they?

Tawny said...

Oh yum, Daz. I'll admit I've never used corn flour in cookies (is that a finely ground cornmeal?) but those look wonderful. Like a very interesting butter cookie.

And go you with the bran cookie :-D I like your motivation LOL - gotta get the healthy stuff made so you can have one healthy, one decadent, two healthy, two decadent, etc.

Tawny said...

Oooooooooh, Sheree!!! I want to try the rolled Florentines with chocolate! That sounds so incredibly delicious. I'm not sure I'm deft enough to roll them before the set, though. Is it difficult?

I do like your theme ;-)

Unknown said...

well done Fedora

Hi Tawny like Helen we don't have cookies ... we have Christmas cake or fruit mince tarts and you can find gingerbread men in the shops

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

My personal favorite is peanut butter with the kisses in the center. I did see an interesting recipe on The Romance Dish involving peanut butter cups, more of a tart than a cookie.

My least favorite is gingersnaps, I know, I know, almost a crime NOT to like ginger but I don't like it in cookies or sweets.

Anonymous said...

It's official, I'm baking cookies this afternnon, and that's YOUr fault !!
My favorite holiday cookies are the pistachio/cranberry biscotti. They're beautiful and delicious and HEALTHY (considering the're cookies). I make them with a little sugar and only 1/4 cup olive oil.
Who knew butter-less cookies could be good ?? best discovery for me ever ;-)

Anna Sugden said...

Great and delicious post, Tawny. Would expect no less from you!

I baked cookies for hubby's Advent calendar and decorated them myself - my first such exercise and I have to say they turned out ok *g* given my lack of craft-y skills. I saw the recipe for cookie ornaments in a magazine and thought it would be fun.

I love shortbread, Jammy Dodgers (the ones with the cream in too), chocolate chip cookies (especially if they have peanuts in them too *g*), chocolate digestives, chocolate HobNobs and Iced Rings. I also love millionaire's shortbread which is shortbread topped with caramel and chocolate. Spot the childhood faves in there!

I have to admit I don't like wafer biscuits, ginger biscuits or gingerbread (I know, shock horror!), licorice or aniseed biscuits or Oreos *ducking*

Maureen said...

Cookies are one of my favorite parts of the holiday. My favorite are sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and my least favorite are oatmeal raisin.

Minna said...

Well, it's gingerbread cookies that are eaten here this time of year, besides Christmas pastries and cinnamon buns. Mom used to make 2 kinds of gingerbread cookies: dark and light ones. I always liked the light ones better, but now we haven't been able to find the recipe. It must be there somewhere...

Kirsten said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
alinaduffer said...

Morning Tawny! I love cookies! Baking them, eating them, well just about everything about them, lol! My favorites are sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies. I'm ok with gingerbread cookies, but not my favorite. I also make an awesome peanut butter blossom cookie that rocks!

Have a great day and a Very Merry Christmas!

Gillian Layne said...

Ginger crinkles
White chocolate and cranberry drop cookies
peanut butter cookies
peppermint bark cookies

Yum! :)

gamistress66 said...

Such a YUMMY post! Some cookies must be made annually. In our family it includes spritz for mom to dunk in her tea, pazelles (mom's job to make, great for breakfast), 7 layer or magic bars are always popular as well. I've always like ginger & spice cookies. Haven't made rum balls in many years, but they're still a favorite ;)

We don't do as many as we use to. Everyone is spread out and we don't get to spend much time together over the holidays and too many watching what they eat so that the cookies don't disappear like they use to.

Gannon Carr said...

Cookies....yum! I do love to bake and give away my cookies as gifts for Christmas. Of course, we eat quite a few, too, in this house.

Fruitcake cookies (much better than the fruitcake most people think of), Reese's mini tarts, and of course, sugar cookies all decked out with icing and sprinkles.

Anna, I adore chocolate HobNobs! They're perfect---sweet and salty all at the same time.

Okay, I'm dying for a cookie now, and I haven't even had breakfast yet. *g*

pjpuppymom said...

COOKIES!!!!!!!!

Yep, I do love my cookies. :) My favorite is a variation of Mexican Wedding Cookies. I add brandy to the dough, shape the cookies into logs and, after they're baked, dip one end of the cookie into melted milk chocolate. (My recipe was posted at theromancedish.com yesterday.)

Another favorite is frosted sugar cookies. I'll be making some tomorrow with my 4-yr-old grandniece. My sugar cookie recipe has lemon extract in it and gives it a little something extra in taste that I just love.

Congrats, Fedora! Will the GR be your cooking baking assistant today?

pjpuppymom said...

I did see an interesting recipe on The Romance Dish involving peanut butter cups, more of a tart than a cookie.

Dianna, I make a variation of the recipe Gannon posted yesterday, using a peanut butter cookie recipe with the Reese's peanut butter cups in the center.

runner10 said...

I love peanut butter cookies with a hershey kiss in the center.
I don't care for oatmeal cookies.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas.
I'm going to the kitchen now to find something to eat!

Kat said...

Unfortunately I rarely meet a cookie I dislike; it is my agreeable personality.

Laurie G said...

Favorite: SPRITZ butter cookies!
My Mother-in-laws recipe:

3/4 cup BUTTER (must be real butter) room temp
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
or
1/2 cup ground almonds
3 cups flour if dough is too soft add small increments of flour to harden dough.

Mix butter, sugar and vanilla together together. Mix together flour and nuts or almond extract add to first ingredients. Add extra flour if needed.
Place in cookie press and place on cookie sheets.
Check cookies after 10* you do not want them to burn.
ENJOY!

You must use a cookie press, alternate shapes, place on cookie sheet.
Bake at 300* 15-20 until golden brown.
** If your oven runs cool increase temp to 325* for about 15 minutes.

Least favorite:
Cookies with jam or nuts

Joan said...

Alas, my cookie baking time has been so limited this year.

I like roll out gingerbread though it is a bit of a hassle. In lieu of that a good molasses cookie works.

My drop sugar cookies rolled in red and green sugar.

Caramel brownies. Jam thumbprints.


I have to stop now and go to WW....aghhh

Susan Sey said...

Good morning, Tawny! What a timely post! My jeans have been nagging me all day about the ill-advised number of chocolate covered pretzels I ate this past snowy weekend. But I have caramel corn on the brain today & think it's going to be a kitchen intensive day. :-)

My absolute favorite of course if the chocolate filled pretzel rings with the M & Ms front & center. After that, I love a good spicy gingerbread cookie with that zingy lime glaze. I wouldn't kick a nice buttery sugar cookie out of bed either.

Ooooh, & I love leubkeuken (or however the heck you spell that) which I only discovered since moving to MN.

Janga said...

Yay for cookies! I'd rather eat them than bake them, and I rejoice that I can count on a couple of friends baking and sharing two of my favorites--white chocolate-macadamia nut and lemon bars. I love chocolate chip-pecan cookies too and lemondrop cookies. But my top favorite Christmas cookie is an iced sugar cookie decorated by small hands and accompanied by a sticky kiss.

Margay Leah Justice said...

I love the sugar cookies with the green and red sprinkles. I actually can't think of a Christmas cookie I don't like.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Oh Tawny, cookies!

So far this year I have:

rolled and dipped 9 doz. Buckeyes, (which are technically candy, but don't tell the men in my family!)

Baked:

1 batch of M&M cookies, (which grandbabies, son and hubby have already eaten)

1 batch of chocolate mint cookies, (which I've hidden some, but will undoubtedly need to make again before Christmas Eve)

Today I'll make:

Coconut jam thumbprint cookies
Peanut Blossoms and
Sugar cookie dough. (I plan to roll, cut and bake tomorrow so the grandbabies can help decorate them on Thurs.)

Those are the traditional cookies I do every year.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Pissenlit:Favourite holiday cookies?
Cookies.


Do you hang out with my son? LOL

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Tawny: I love the Peanut Butter Blossoms with the kisses, yes! I realized after I got home from the grocery store tonight that I'd got all the ingredients EXCEPT my kisses, darnit *g*

I hate when that happens!!


Have you noticed that the kisses often fall off the peanut butter bases? Mine do. So I started doing something different with mine two years ago.

I put thelittle balls of dough into mini muffin pans, and push the kisses down in. The dough cooks up around the kiss and only the little pointed peak pokes out the top. Too cool. They look like calla lilly or tulips!

Laney4 said...

Favorite? Shortbread related.
Least favorite? Fruitbread related.
Prefer my butter tarts and brownies all year long, though.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Anna S. or Oreos

WHATTTTTTTTT!?!?!?!?!

Girl, are you crazy?

At Christmas I take these and dip them in melted chocolate with peppermint flavor in it. They're gone in minutes when I take them to work!!!

Anna Sugden said...

Sorry Suz, but I just don't like them.

Don't like Hershey's kisses either *ducking again*.

I think it's that type of chocolate flavour, because I don't like dark or bitter chocolate. Either that or blame English eccentricity *g*

Love Cadbury's, though.

Trish Milburn said...

My absolute favorite cookies are made my Christie Cookie Company here in Nashville. OMG, that are awesome. You bite down and you taste the butter.

My favorite type of cookie overall is oatmeal chocolate chip. You don't find them lots of places since the makers of oatmeal cookies seem to think the only thing that goes with oatmeal is raisins. I make them from time to time, but not too often or I would be HUGE.

Trish Milburn said...

Oops, forgot least favorite -- peanut butter cookies. I detest peanut butter.

Gannon Carr said...

Love Cadbury's, though.

Anna, real English Cadbury's is divine! Great, now I'm fantasizing about a creamy Galaxy bar!

jo robertson said...

Whoooohoooo, Cookie Day! There really ought to be a national holiday for cookie making, Tawny. Great post.

Can you tell cookies are my fave dessert/treat? I'm with you on the sugar cookies -- BEST EVah!

I also admit to being partial to peanut butter cookies with walnuts in them, but they're not very crissy!

Tell us about Rugelach. That's an unfamiliar one to me.

How about some sharing of recipes?

petite said...

Yummy, SHortbread are my ultimate, then oatmeal raisin, thumbprint raspberry, Lemon cookies and chocolate lacy.

traveler said...

Chocolate chip, Italian butter cookies, Biscotti, macaroons, and shortbread. Wonderful.

p226 said...

Cookies.

*grumble*

I currently have a bone to pick regarding cookies. A specific cookie, that should be destroyed in a Stalinist purge of the confection world. I mean, sic Chairman Mao on them.

You see. Oatmeal raisin cookies are culinary LIES.

You know it's true. You walk by a pan or tin of them, and you see it. And you know what you've got. And you begin to salivate over the impending perfection of yummy, gooey, chocolate chip cookies. So you grab one and you take a bite.

And it's OATMEAL. OATMEAL AND SHRIVELED OLD GRAPES.

Deceived AGAIN!

Santa wants chocolate chip!

p226 said...

Oatmeal raisin. Lies I say!

Deb said...

I like old-fashioned sugar cookies and they are best when cut out and frosted by a child. :) I saw a clever cookie at a cookie walk on Saturday. It was an upside down heart frosted to look like Santa. Cute.

I like Swedish crescent cookies (like Mexican/Russian teacakes), peanut blossoms, pebbernodder (Danish and NOT like the German peppernut), and I make English shortbread for the neighbors.

I know it's not a cookie, but I DETEST divinity. Bleh.

Blodeuedd said...

Gingerbread cookies..though most are icky, but finally found a good brand

Donna MacMeans said...

Cookies!!! They will be the death of me - I can't resist them (not that I try all that hard). Those reindeer ones in the blog are adorable.

My favorite is chocolate chip because they're so easy to make and delicious hot our of the oven when the chocolate is rich and gooey. BUt that's not really a holiday cookie - more of an everyday cookie (Hah - as if they'd last longer than one day!)

For the holidays, I love the sugar cookie cutouts because they look so good. I also like Tuiles - which require a certain amount of focus in the making - but the delicate lacy almond flavor is fabulous.

Least favorite cookie is one decorated with those little metal-like balls. Ate an angel once that was outlined in those things and ended up having to get a root canal. Expensive cookie! I admire those from afar these days.

Cybercliper said...

My most favorite holiday cookies are definitely Gingerbread cookies. I guess its because I only get them once a year. And my least favorite are those jeweled or fruit cookies - kinda mini versions of the fruit cake with all the candied stuff in it. While I don't care for the fruit cake it always makes me smile because it reminds me so much of my Dad - he loved Fruit Cake and could eat one all by himself.

Christie Kelley said...

I love making cookies! My favorites are gingersnaps and eggnog.

I'm still thinking about the least favorite one...maybe shortbread. I can usually pass those up.

Tawny said...

Hi Barb :)

Tarts and Christmas cakes sound lovely. And gingerbread men - OH YUM!!!

Tawny said...

Dianna, I'm hitting the Dish to look at that recipe :-) I love mini-peanut butter cups (better than the big ones). And lol on the lack of ginger love. I'm not a big fan myself, to tell you the truth

Tawny said...

YAY!!! I love it when I'm a naught influence, Emmanuelle ;-)

LOL

The biscotti sound yummy--and yes, very healthy! Is that what you'll be making today?

Tawny said...

Anna, I would so love to see your advent cookies! I'll bet they are darling. Are they really little?

I'm giggling at your cookie names. I love Jammie Dodgers (what ARE they?) and really? A cookie called chocolate digestives? Tell me more- I'm so intrigued!!!

and LOL on the lack of Oreo love *g* I haven't had an Oreo in forever. Not out of a lack of love, but because we just don't do the store bought cookies, but I have to say, I don't miss them.

Tawny said...

Hi Maureen :-)

Sugar cookies are like a holiday must, aren't they? The shapes and the decorations and all that great sugary taste.

It's looking like oatmeal raisin is hitting a lot of least favorite lists here today, though! I do like them, especially with nuts, but don't really think of them as a holiday cookie. They say autumn and pre-Thanksgiving more to me.

Tawny said...

Minna, I'll bet light gingerbread is delicious. I think I've only had the dark. If you find the recipe, please share :-) I'd love to try that.

Pissenlit said...

Suzanne - Do you hang out with my son? LOL

LOL I don't think so. I don't recall any epic battles to the pain for available cookies. Hahaha!


Tawny, I just had a thought. Do gingerbread houses count as one cookie? If they do, I'd like to change my answer from gingerbread cookies to gingerbread houses. They're so much bigger! :D

Anna Sugden said...

Tawny - Jammy Dodgers are two round shortbread cookies sandwiching a jam filling. I love the ones that aren't technically Jammy Dodgers, but are the same except they also have cream in the filling.

Digestive biscuits are lovely ... then you top them with milk chocolate and you have heaven! Hob Nobs are kind of a healthier biscuit with more 'bits'. They're all on Wikipedia, I think.

Yes, my Advent cookies were small - I got some really cute mini-cutters with Christmas shapes. I even have a penguin!

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Fedora, he's left our shores for your place!

Tawny, what a fun post. I LOVE cookies. I can't bake a cake to save myself but I'm actually pretty good at biscuits (cookies in Americanish!). I have a wonderful recipe for chocolate chip cookies with walnuts. Yum! Hmm, maybe I should do some baking to celebrate the festive season.

Good luck with the prize draw, everyone. I love the Bandita Christmas celebrations every year.

Tawny said...

Kirsten, gingerbread is a fabulous connection to happy holidays past, isn't it? Especially when shaped like little boy sand girls. There's something extra fun about gingerbread boys and gingerbread girls :-)

Becke Davis said...

Plain old sugar cookies are my favorites. Least favorite? I can't think of any!

Merry Christmas, Banditas!

elaing8 said...

My favorites are sugar cookies and oatmeal raisin. My least favorite are gingerbread.

Happy Holidays!!

Beth Andrews said...

Yum! We are big fans of holiday cookies at my house *g*

My youngest has already made frosted sugar cookies but we'll need a another batch soon. We also make thumbprints and peanut butter kiss cookies and use the same dough to make reese cup cookies. My mom makes Spritz and Pepperkaker cookies. I'm also thinking of making raspberry cheesecake bars - I'm a big bar cookie fan *g*

My least favorites are snowballs and Pitzels (no anise for me either, Fedora!)

catslady said...

I love most cookies - just not anything with coconut sprinkled on the top (if it's in the cookie I don't mind lol). My favorite is a family tradition - thumbprint but with grape jelly, almond extract and nuts on top - yum!

Jeanne M said...

I love all the "cookie monsters" in my home! Fortunately they eat all the cookies really, really quickly because even though I make them I CAN'T EAT THEM! I'm a juvenille diabetic (which sounds like a stupid thing to say about someone in their 60's but I've had this disease for a very long time) but luckily for my family I LOVE TO BAKE!

Their favorites (depending on which one you ask) are chocolate chip, peanut butter, gingersnaps, wine biscuits (in our house these count as cookies - my husband's Italian), macaroons, and Christms sprintz cookies.

Leni said...

My favorites are the traditional sugar cookie cut-outs and the gingerbread man cookies.
I still haven't found the best recipes for these cookies, but they look cute after decorations are applied.

Tawny said...

Good afternoon, Alina :-) Mmm, you are a fellow cookie aficionado, I see!

So what's your peanut butter blossom secret? Gonna share your what makes yours rock? *g* I'll be they are delish!

Tawny said...

Oooh, Gillian!!! YUM - I love bark LOL.

And cranberry and white chocolate drop cookies sounds so festively delicious. I might have to add that to my cookie-making list. Do you use dried cranberries or fresh?

penney said...

Mine is ginger bread men cookies,
Wonderful blog today, thanks
Penney

Lis3182 said...

Cookies... hummmmm.... Well I always like coming up with my own little design..even if they don't always work. I like Sugar Cookies number 1! I also like this cookie that i usually get at the Chinesse rest. and it has coconut in it really good!!!! I like oat meal rasin and white choc. macadameia nut too... ohhh and I like snickerdoodles too.. least fav would probably be chocolate chip... guess i since that's all that mom made when i was little i'm over them.

Tawny said...

Gamistress, it does get harder to do the big cookie-fest when there aren't as many people to share the work. Both the making the cookie work and the eating the cookie work. I'm all for making them by the dozens, but the eating part... Not so much :-D

I haven't had spritz cookies in forever - YUM. We do 7 layer bars once in awhile, too. So yummy with all the layered sweetness.

Tawny said...

Mmmm, Reeces mini tarts. This must be the delish cookie that was on The Romance Dish that Dianna mentioned. I'll have to check it out (and them make it LOL)

Now I really want to know what hobnobs are *g* I love anything with a sweet/salty combo!

and LOL -did you get a cookie? Did you wait till after breakfast?

Tawny said...

Oooooh man, PJ. Your version of the Mexican Wedding cookie sounds divine! I'll be hitting The Dish and getting your recipe!

I'll be the lemon is fab in the sugar cookies. I'm a fan of that over almond, since it's a little more zingy :-)

Have fun decorating the sugar cookies with your grandniece!

Tawny said...

LOL Runner10. Did you find something good to eat?

I hope you have plenty of cookies to feast on this season!!

Tawny said...

Kat said: Unfortunately I rarely meet a cookie I dislike; it is my agreeable personality.

ROFL!!! This must be a wonderful month for you, then. YAY - Cookie Month!

Tawny said...

Laurie, thanks so much for sharing the recipe. It looks great!! I don't know if I still have my spritz cookie press but I'll have to look :-)

Tawny said...

JoanieT, my MIL made the most incredible molasses cookies. I can't seem to replicate them, though :-(

YUM on drop sugar cookies rolled in colored sugar. I wonder if I could get away with doing half of ours that way instead of rolling them out LOL. If so, I could do a quick batch today before dinner. Hmmmm...

chey said...

My favourite Christmas cookies are shortbread. I bake them. It's a holiday tradition and I'm able to make them gluten free.

Tawny said...

Mmmm, Susan. Caramel corn. Now my mouth is watering. LOL about not kicking the cookies out of your bed - you have such a sexy way with words ;-)

Did you get your baking done? And what is leubkeuken?

Tawny said...

:-) Janga, I'm the complete opposite. I'd rather bake them than eat them. Or at least, I'd rather not eat the quantities that I want to bake LOL

and btw, this melted my heart today :-)

But my top favorite Christmas cookie is an iced sugar cookie decorated by small hands and accompanied by a sticky kiss.

Tawny said...

Margay, the sprinkles really do make the cookie special, don't they?! I love sprinkled sugar cookies!!

Bonnie Vanak said...

Oh yum! Great post. I'm coming to your house. I made my mom's almond butter cookies, called Spritz cookies, and burned half the batch. The oven was smoking and the dogs were scared. But even burnt, they are good! And those peanut butter blossoms ... mmmm. I usually make rum balls. They're refrigerated and safer for me to make. :-)

Jill James said...

Cookies!!! I love butter cookies and decorated sugar cookies. I hate peanut butter cookies. Since I hate PB not a surprise I hate the cookies.

Kate Carlisle said...

Really? There's a *least* favorite cookie category? Hmm ... I'll have to think about that one. ;-)

But favorite cookie, oh, there are so many! I like almost everything. But my favorites are probably snickerdoodles and chocolate chip. I'm sort of a purist, I guess.

And now I'm in the mood to bake cookies! Thanks for the inspiration, Tawny!

Congrats, Fedora! But hide the cookies! ;-)

irish said...

I love homemade sugar cookies with homemade buttercream frosting!!
I also love Chocolate Chip with walnuts cookies
I absolutely love peanut butter with butterscotch bits melted on the top
I also love Danish Wedding Cookies
My final top 5 is homemade Oatmeal raisin cookies.
I love cookies!!!

Deb said...

@Irish---besides traditional wedding cake at my wedding, I also had a Danish wedding cake. (It's the almond/marzipan cookies baked in rings and the layers/rings get smaller as they go up to the top tier. It is very good!

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

PF said..........Dianna, I make a variation of the recipe Gannon posted yesterday, using a peanut butter cookie recipe with the Reese's peanut butter cups in the center.

Oh, that would be good, I am trying to figure out just how labor intensive it would be to make those for the office dinner, I am thinking probably more than I am ready for.....LOL over 100 in the office and who knows how many each of the would eat.

Tawny said...

Oh Suz, you are like Santa's favorite baking elf!!! Look at all that yumminess you are making!! I wanna come to your house for the holidays - you have the BEST cookies!

Tawny said...

Suz said: I put thelittle balls of dough into mini muffin pans, and push the kisses down in. The dough cooks up around the kiss and only the little pointed peak pokes out the top. Too cool. They look like calla lilly or tulips!

Oh man, I'm so trying this!!! It sounds both delicious AND clever ;-) Thanks!!

Tawny said...

Laney, isn't it fun how we have year-round favorites, and holiday only favorites? I'm definitely that way.

Tawny said...

Vrai Anna said: Don't like Hershey's kisses either *ducking again*.

Oh my...

Tawny said...

Trish, the buttery rich cookies sound great! I'll bet they're so rich and wonderful. LOL on the misguided raisin inclusion instead of chocolate chips in your oatmeal cookies. I've only had oatmeal chocolate chip a couple times, I'll admit. But those were a couple of memorable times!

Tawny said...

Note to self: Never, EVER send Trish peanut butter!

Tawny said...

Jo, I love the idea of National Cookie Day. I'll bet with all the wild National this Days and National that Days there probably is one already LOL.

Rugelach resembles one of those roll up crescent rolls, but it's made from a buttery cookie and is filled with nuts and sugary goodness. Rich, delicious and just the right combination of sweet and buttery.

Tawny said...

Petit, great list :-) The chocolate lacy sounds intriguing!!!

Tawny said...

Love your fave list, Traveler :-) Especially the biscotti. I've yet to master making those!!

Tawny said...

ROFLMAO!!!!

And it's OATMEAL. OATMEAL AND SHRIVELED OLD GRAPES.

Ooooh, the painful deception. The wrongness of it all!!! The evil plot to overthrow Cookie Goodness!!!

Tell ya what, P226, I'll take all those oatmeal raisin cookies off your hands and trade you for chocolate chip. Not because I don't love my chocolate chip more than oatmeal raisin, but because I hate to see your holiday ruined by shriveled old grapes *g*

Question, though... would oatmeal chocolate chip work for ya?

Tawny said...

Oatmeal raisin. Lies I say!

snicker

Tawny said...

Deb said: I saw a clever cookie at a cookie walk on Saturday. It was an upside down heart frosted to look like Santa. Cute.

Awwwww this sounds darling! There is nothing sweeter than cookies frosted by kids.

LOL on the divinity hate. I only like it if there are lots and lots and lots of nuts in it. Otherwise it's like eating spun sugar air *g*

Tawny said...

Blodeuedd, some gingerbread can be kinda eh, can't it. I'm glad you found a favorite :-)

Tawny said...

Ack, Donna! Those silver balls (nonpareils?) are nasty! They have no flavor and while they sparkle quite prettily, they are a nuisance when it comes to the joy of cookie consumption!!

I'm with you on the year round goodness of chocolate chip :-D I'm not sure I've had Tuiles but they sound lovely :-) I have very little focus, though, so I guess they won't make it to my to-be-baked list this year LOL.

And why resist a cookie? I mean, just... why?

Louisa Cornell said...

Fedora! You caught the sweetest cookie of all! The GR !! Actually I have made several batches of cookies with the Rooster Cookie Cutter I won on the blog! Everyone loves them!

First of all, P226, I almost fell out of my chair laughing at your oatmeal raisin cookie rant. In fact I copied and e-mailed it to the girls in the bakery because a couple of them feel exactly the same way! They rant about how good those cookies smell when they are cooking but they HATE the taste! Too funny! Folks I think we have our Cookie Grinch!

My favorite holiday cookies are :

My Mom's potato chip cookies ! She only cooks them this time of year because she has been giving a batch to the fire department and a batch to the police department every year since 9/11. They are SCRUMPTIOUS!

Next are her peanut butter balls. YUMMY TO THE MAX !!According to rumor they have been known to spark smackdowns at the fire station over the last one in the tin.

Next would be the Ghiardelli Chocolate Chip cookies we bake at Walmart. People have been known to make any excuse to cruise through the bakery when these cookies come out of the oven. I am quite sure they are listed in the appendix to the Seven Deadly Sins!

Next Lorna Doone Shortbread cookies. Sorry. I am ADDICTED to these and they are heavenly dunked in a nice hot cup of tea!

Next my aunt's Peanut Butter No-Bake Fudge Cookies. Don't tell p226 but they have oatmeal in them! But the chocolate and peanut butter covers that up nicely!

And hey, I happen to like digestive biscuits! Another great cookie to dip in your tea on a cold winter's night!

Lis3182 said...

Hey everyone... just curious if anyone has had this problem... I have a very complicated house... my "dad" can't have regular sugar... has to be the Spelinda due to having to watch his sugar intake, "mom" can't eat nuts, "sister" can't have Spenlinda due to an allergic reaction so it has to be pure sugar for her... I was thinking that I could use the sprinkles to color code the batches so that way everyone can have some but know what is what... like sprinkle the Spelinda cookies with Red Sprinkles... and pure sugar cookies with Green Cookies... any other ideas???

Pissenlit said...

Lis3182, as someone with a nut allergy, I'm a huge fan of easily identifiable food. Colour coding with drops of food colouring might be another possibility.

Unknown said...

I love about all cookies but last year I found a recipe for an oatmeal spice raisin cookie that was out of this world. In fact I made cookie mix in a jar for the ones in my family. The jars came out really pretty although they had to mix them and bake them. They really enjoyed the cookies.

Louisa Cornell said...

Lis3182, perhaps you can use cookie cutters - each one different and each one coded to suit a specific person's dietary needs?

Cecile Smutty Hussy said...

My favorite cookies are those sugar cookies with the red and green sprinkles on them. I know they make them all year long with other sprinkles, but for some reason, cuz they are Christmas shaped... They are just simply delicious!

Sheree said...

Tawny, I don't make the rolled Florentines; I buy them from the local market. They're really good. Next time, I'll take a photo so I can post it.

Lois said...

First and foremost, chocolate chip. Will turn away any others if there is chocolate chip first. But then, of course, peanut butter, sugar, and hoping to have some gingerbread men too! :)

Lois

Gwen said...

All cookies are good!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!

Cassondra said...

Mexican Wedding Cookies?

*frowns at screen* I'm not sure I know what those are. I, however, am NOT a cookie freak. I like cake and pie. But cookies--there are only a few which make me drool.

Coconut macaroons.

Those Pepperidge Farms shortbread cookies with the jam in the centers. OMG. *wipes drool*

I like those little white puffy cookies--Russian Tea Cakes is what my aunt calls them.

And I kind of like molasses Oatmeal cookies.

But I like Scottish Shortbread a LOT. YUMMMMM..

Is Baklava a cookie? Could we pretend it's a cookie?

That would trump all of them.

Cassondra said...

P226 said:

And it's OATMEAL. OATMEAL AND SHRIVELED OLD GRAPES.

Deceived AGAIN!


SNORK! I like Oatmeal raisin. Especially if they're molasses oatmeal raisin.

Not so big on Chocolate chip, though they are Steve's favorite.

Cassondra said...

Flchen, wooot!

And I don't like licorice either.

*high five*

p226 said...

Tawny,

I would gladly trade all of the world's oatmeal raisin for chocolate chip. I think it would be a service to humanity. It would draw geopolitical power to me. Because, chocolate chip represents all that is good and right with the world, whereas oatmeal raisin is like the dark deception of Mordor.

Yes.

I shall be the king of chocolate chip land. I will be a benevolent monarch.

And no, oatmeal chocolate chip will not do. This is a yes/no black/white issue. There shall be no partisan compromise in my kingdom.

Dina said...

I love butter cookies and oatmeal raisin, I make these every yr. :)

Tawny said...

Cybercliper, what a lovely memory :-) And a great reason to smile at cookies you don't particularly like *g*

I think that's one of the greatest things about holiday treats is the tradition of their once a year appearance. I'm sure gingerbread is delicious anytime of year, but I only want it at Christmas :-D

Tawny said...

Christie -eggnog cookies? Do tell, these sound interesting :-D

Lis3182 said...

Pissenlit & Louisa -

Great ideas... thanks for the help.. that will give me a couple of different options when I make a couple of different batches at the same time :)

Tawny - we have several bright ideas flowin around here!

Melissa

Tawny said...

Hi Karyn :-)

Not a nut fan, huh? I hear ya on the frosted shortbread. Everything tastes better with frosting *g*

Tawny said...

Pissenlit asked: Do gingerbread houses count as one cookie? If they do, I'd like to change my answer from gingerbread cookies to gingerbread houses. They're so much bigger! :D

LOL - they count if you eat them!!!

Tawny said...

Anna, thank you for the cookie tutoring :-D And I'd love to see pix of your cute lil advent cookies! I'm sure they are adorable!!

Tawny said...

Mmmmm mmmmm good, Fo :-)

I love chocolate chip with walnuts. I can actually pass a chocolate chip up unless it has walnuts. Then I HAVE to eat them. Have to. It's mandatory!

I vote that you go bake.

Tawny said...

Merry Christmas, Becke!

I wish you lots of wonderful sugar cookies this season :-D

Tawny said...

Hi Elaing8 and Happy Holidays to you, too :-)

Sugar cookies are definitely winning the top fave spot today! And oatmeal raisin are doing pretty well, too. Except for P226. I think he'll turn any and all oatmeal raisin cookies away LOL

Tawny said...

Mmmmm. Beth, how many cookies are you sending me?

Just asking ;-)

Cuz I know you (and your daughter) are awesome bakers!

Tawny said...

Catslady, I've never thought about the coconut placement, but can totally get why it's not as appealing to have coconut as a decoration, since the texture is so different as when it's inside the cookie.

Your thumbprint cookies sound awesome!!

Tawny said...

Jeanne, diabetes is such a tough challenge. It sounds like you do well managing yours - and still bake up a storm :-) do you have a taste tester to help you out? My girls always volunteer to check the dough and the first dozen cookies to make sure I got them right *g*

I'm familiar with all the cookies except for the wine biscuits, but those sound intriguingly fun :-)

Tawny said...

Leni, I love how adorable holiday cookies look when decorated. They can range from cute to elegant, but they are always so tempting to eat :-)

Christine Wells said...

Hi Tawny! I could really get into a Christmas cookie tradition but sadly we don't have one here. My favourite cookies are Dutch spice biscuits, full of cinnamon and ginger etc. But we tend to have things like rum balls and truffles, apricot coconut balls and glace fruit as our Christmas treats! My least favourite is... Hmm, probably Christmas cake because I hate sultanas and raisins. Blech!

Tawny said...

Hi Penney :-) Gingerbread men rock, huh? Thanks so much for stopping by today - I hope you have a wonderful Holiday!

Tawny said...

Lisa, great list of fave cookies!! LOL on being over the chocolate chip cookies. I know someone who would welcome all of the ones you don't want ;-)

That's cool that you create your own recipes!

Tawny said...

Chey, gluten free shortbread? SWEET!!! That's so cool that you're able to adjust your recipe like that so you can enjoy them so much more :-)

Tawny said...

LOL Bonnie. Come on over and we'll have a cookie marathon. I might claim dibs on being in charge of the oven, though! My dogs are wimps and get scared easily *g*

Tawny said...

Hey there, Jill :-)

Another non-peanut butter fan, huh? Trish doesn't eat it either. I'll take hers and your share of the peanut butter cookies, then :-) I'll even trade some sugar cookies!!

Tawny said...

You cookie purist, Kate :-)

Did you think up a least favorite cookie? And more importantly, did you bake today? If so, what'd you make and when will I get mine *g*

Landra said...

Give me Chocolate Chip and Frosted Sugar Cutouts anyday!!! I love me some holiday cookies and plan on baking away this coming weekend.

My favorite is a delicious cutout, followed by Chocolate Chip and Gingerbread.

Least favorite is Oatmeal Raisin... just not my bag of fruits. Thanks for sharing your favorite and least's.

Lis3182 said...

I don't do the PB either! Can't stand them but love reeses LOL too funny i guess cuz it has a sweet taste to it.

well everyone I'm off for now cuz i'm sick and have to be up at 6 am and already took my nite quill ... keep the ideas flowing!

Great talking with everyone!

Tawny said...

Oooh, Irish! Butterscotch bits are so yummy. What a FABULOUS top 5 list :-)

Tawny said...

Deb, I think you shared a picture of your wedding cake (it had little flags, right?) and it looked SO wonderfully good!!! I'll bet it tasted even better :-)

Tawny said...

Dianna, 100 to feed cookies to is a LOT!!! Yum, but still, that's a lot of work :-D

Tawny said...

Dianna, 100 to feed cookies to is a LOT!!! Yum, but still, that's a lot of work :-D

Tawny said...

Louisa... potato chip cookies? Okay, I need to know more about this... I love potato chips and I love cookies. This sounds like a match made in heaven.

LOL on your hidden oatmeal. I think we'll have to either hide it or ban it from now on to keep P226 happy.

And I STILL don't know what digestive cookies are. Just that people say they are delish.

BTW, that is so lovely that your mother gives cookies to the police and fire dept every year. What a wonderful inspiration!

Tawny said...

Lis, you have gotten some wonderful suggestions already and I don't have much to add - I love the idea of a color and ornament/shape for each 'type' of cookie. It'd make it so much easier for your family to identify their own special treat :-)

And that's so sweet of you to make them all ones they can enjoy!

Tawny said...

Virgina, I'd love to hear your recipe. You might have to whisper it, though *g*

I always intend to do gift jars, but never quite get myself together to actually make them. I wish I did, they are so lovely and fun.

Tawny said...

Cecile, I think the holiday shape adds so much fun to the sugar-sprinkled sugar cookies! They are just yummier that way for some reason LOL

Tawny said...

Sheree, I'd love to see the photo of your Florentines :-)

Tawny said...

Mmm, good list, Lois :-) I'm a fan of all of those cookies, too! Especially gingerbread men, this time of year.

Tawny said...

Merry Christmas, Gwen :-D

and I agree!!!

Pat Cochran said...

Hey, Tawny,

I loove cookies, mostly because they are so portable! If I have
to choose a top five, they would be: Shortbread Pecan, Lemon Sugar, Raspberry Thumb Print, Raisin Oatmeal, and Chocolate Chip. Oh
my, I am in serious need of a
cookie fix!!!

Pat Cochran

Tawny said...

LOL at the drooling, Cassondra.

Mexican wedding cookies are very similar to Russian tea cakes. I've even seen them called snowballs. All the recipes are a little different, yet very similar.

I'm all for pretending Baklava is a cookie!! Because it's straight up delicious *g*

Tawny said...

I shall be the king of chocolate chip land. I will be a benevolent monarch.

All hail the Cookie King!!!

*ggg*

Tawny said...

Dina, both are such yummy cookies, I'd make them each year too :-)

Tawny said...

Tawny - we have several bright ideas flowin around here!

Absolutely!!! And so many delicious suggestions *G*

Tawny said...

Madame, we can share our tradition with you. I'd be happy to encourage world-wide cookie appreciation!!!

Dutch spice biscuits sound so good! And I'm a major fan of truffles (are your truffles the same as my truffles? Chocolate filled chocolate drizzled with more chocolate?)

Tawny said...

Hi Slush :-)

Great list of faves, and least fave (as you can see from the comments, there is even a kingdom being founded to ban all oatmeal raisin cookies!)

Thanks for stopping by to share your faves, too :-D

Tawny said...

Lis-take care of yourself and get some rest!! I hope you're better soon.

Tawny said...

Hi Pat.

What a wonderful point about the portability of cookies :-D They ARE easy - which is probably why its so easy to overeat them. A slice of cake requires a fork, after all LOL.

Yummy list of favorites. You have excellent taste *g*

Laurie Logan said...

Oooh, I love Christmas cookies. Our family gets together every year to make them.

Favorites are:

Frosted and decorated molasses cookies

chocolate snowcaps

dateroll cookies

gingerbread

And we make the most beautiful Santa sugar cookies. We frost and paint them. They are truly works of art!

Least favorite are... hmmm... not sure I have any. :)

Tawny said...

Hi Laura :-)

I love Christmas Cookies, too - and am kinda jealous that you can do a big family cookie fun day :-) Sometimes my niece and nephews will join my daughters and I, but that's about it. I love the idea of big gathering of cookie love LOL.

I'd love to see your painted Santa sugar cookies!!

Book Chatter Cath said...

Ok...Jammie Dodgers are 2 shortbread cookies the top one has a hole in it and they are stuck together with gorgeous sticky red raspberry jam.
A Toffee Pop is a biscuit with a large dollop of caramel toffee on it and fully coated in chocolate best when cold from the fridge as the get very chewy:)

Tawny said...

Wow, Cath. They both sound good, but I have to admit I love anything with caramel and would love to try a toffee pop. YUM city!