Let’s see how far I get with this idea. I love love love Christmas cookies, and coming up with the idea of 12 cookie posts during the Christmas season gives me a fabulous excuse to make them. And eat them. There won’t be a post every day, but I am hoping to post 12 different cookie recipes from now until Christmas.
Why cookies? They are the perfect home baked item to give away. They can be brilliantly packaged and they are not generally difficult to do. And, they are my personal home baked treat. Cakes, pies, breads–they are all great–but cookies are the best.
To get started, here is a fabulous little Christmas cookie recipe we just tried today. My daughter made these and they turned out great.
White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
8 oz. white chocolate baking squares (the real stuff–with cocoa butter)
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 c. all purpose flour
3/4 c. finely crushed candy canes
Melt 4 oz of the white chocolate of half power in the microwave, stirring after a every minute, until completely melted.
Chop the remained 4 oz of chocolate.
In a mixer, beat butter on high for 30 seconded. Then add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Finally, beat in the melted white chocolate.
Add the flour, candy cane, and chopped white chocolate. Using your handy dandy cookie scoop (or two spoons), drop cookies on baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Cook at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until very lightly brown around the edges. Let cool for a moment before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Out of the oven they candy cane is gooey and chewy. Once cool, the peppermint in crunchy again. They are delicious hot or cold.
These got rave reviews from the rest of the family. Very Christmasy, not too difficult, and just yummilicious.
Damommachef Cooks 
Jaimie
December 3, 2011
Ok, yum. These look really good. Not sure that I would like the crunchy candy pieces, but right out of the oven sounds delicious! And they are so pretty for the holidays.
Damommachef
December 3, 2011
I think the key to having the crunchy pieces not be out of place it to make sure they are fairly small pieces. You don’t want to make a dust or powder out of the candy canes, but you don’t want big hunks, either.