{"id":5839,"date":"2011-12-11T20:22:42","date_gmt":"2011-12-12T01:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.relishments.com\/blog\/2011\/12\/highlights-christmas-cookies\/"},"modified":"2011-12-11T20:22:42","modified_gmt":"2011-12-12T01:22:42","slug":"highlights-christmas-cookies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.relishments.com\/blog\/highlights-christmas-cookies\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights: Christmas Cookies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another sign that Christmas is on the horizon?  I\u2019ve got cookies on the brain.  It just occurred to me that I don\u2019t have any cookie swaps on my calendar this year and I had such a good time at the 2 I attended last year<\/a> that I think I\u2019m going to host one in January (let me know if you want in!)<\/p>\n

\"IMG_2133\"<\/a><\/p>\n

the results of my 2009 baking<\/div>\n
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\"IMG_3501\"<\/a><\/div>\n
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the results of the 2010 cookie swap #1<\/div>\n
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I\u2019m planning on keeping my baking fairly low key this year, but I can\u2019t go to school empty handed on the day before break.  It\u2019s just not in my nature.  I think I\u2019ve settled on what I\u2019m going to do, but I might change my mind, given all of the posts I\u2019ve seen lately:<\/div>\n
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Food In Jars has a recipe for thumbprint cookies<\/a> that are a great way to use homemade jam.  You know, that homemade jam that I never got around to canning this summer?  I\u2019ll add that to the file for next year.<\/div>\n
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What kind of holiday cookie are you<\/a>?  Take the Washington Post\u2019s quiz to find out.  I\u2019m apparently a no-bake cookie, which surprised me, but I guess I am pretty busy. <\/div>\n
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Peanut butter buttercream sandwich cookies<\/a> don\u2019t scream Christmas to me, but they still look awfully tasty.  I really don\u2019t know where Evan comes up with these genius ideas.  Also, a good reminder that my frosting making experience is almost non-existent.<\/div>\n
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Speaking of geniuses, Liz kicked off her 17 Days of Cookies<\/a> at the beginning of this month and they all use the same base sugar cookie dough.  My favorite recipes so far are Nutella Cookies with Sea Salt Sprinkles<\/a> and Caramel Toasted Coconut Stars<\/a>, but I\u2019m excited to see what else she comes up with.<\/div>\n
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If you like a little spice with your sweet, I\u2019d take a look at The Kitchn\u2019s collection of 10 spice cookie recipes<\/a>.  <\/div>\n
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Julie mixed some of the best flavors of the season and posted Eggnog Sugar Cookies<\/a>.  Um, yes please (and only 6 ingredients!)<\/div>\n
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It needs to be known that I have a (possibly unhealthy) obsession with all things shortbread.  These hazelnut and olive oil shortbread cookies<\/a> on The Kitchn sounded fabulous until I saw the photo.  Then they looked and sounded phenomenal.  Also being added to my \u201cto make\u201d list? Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies… or Banana Chocolate Chip Sandwiches<\/a> from Home Cooking in Montana.<\/div>\n
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On Smitten Kitchen, there are some mighty tempting looking Nutmeg Maple Butter Cookies<\/a>, made even more adorable by the use of leaf and acorn shaped cookie cutters.  I bet they taste like fall.<\/div>\n
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Too busy to bake? Trust me, I feel you on that one.  There are some yummy ideas on Chow\u2019s \u201cCrazy Easy Christmas Cookies\u201d<\/a> list, so don\u2019t despair!<\/div>\n
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I generally don\u2019t believe in sugar substitutes (except maybe honey or agave, but never Splenda or Equal and anything with stevia in it tastes gross to me), but one Chow writer did some experiments to see how sugar substitutes affected her snickerdoodles<\/a>.  In the end, it seems that she doesn\u2019t believe in them either.<\/div>\n
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I had good intentions, as usual, to start my baking early this year.  Good thing there\u2019s still time to do so and put these tips for freezing cookies<\/a> into practice, from Life Your Way.<\/div>\n
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Apparently there exists a thing called Speculoos Cookie Butter<\/a>.  And, according to Halley on Blunder Construction, it is amazing.  It doesn\u2019t really seem like my kind of thing, but if I ever make it to Trader Joe\u2019s again maybe I\u2019ll try it.<\/div>\n
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Lastly, Bit Rebels shared this excellent mug with a cookie pocket<\/a>.  I love that idea!<\/div>\n
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<\/em><\/div>\n
(if that wasn\u2019t enough links, check out <\/em>last year\u2019s Christmas cookie highlights<\/em><\/a>!)<\/em><\/div>\n

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