Gingerpersons

I made these cookies in advance for a Buckley Family cookie baking and decorating featuring Meems and the Littles, along with celebrating Tim's birthday. Baking cookies at Christmas was a long-running tradition when I was a kid. This year, we used cooking baking as a reason to get together and teach the tradition to the youngest--Lucas (7), Eva (4), and Andrew (2). A good time was had by all, such that getting together to bake and decorate cookies just might become a new annual tradition.

I made these cookies in advance. This recipe results in nicely chewy and spicy gingerbread cookies. I figured the gingerpersons would be easy and fun to decorate. I made some marshmallow fluff frosting that paired well with these cookies. We had an assortment of icings and sprinkles.  The decorating was quite creative. 

Gingerpersons 

• 4 cups flours
• 1 tbsp. ginger
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup firm brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light molasses

Stir together the dry ingredients. Beat butter and sugar with mixer until light and fluffy. Blend in molasses. Gradually add flour mixture by hand to form dough. Cover and chill until firm for 1-2 hours. Roll out dough to about 1/8-inch thick. Use person cookie cutter. Bake cookies at 375 for 7-8 minutes. Cool. Decorate as desired. Enjoy!

Peanut Blossoms

These cookies are a classic American cookie--peanut butter cookies topped with chocolate kisses. This recipe became popular as Hershey's kisses became readily available. There are other variations of this cookies with a different cookie base and different flavor kisses. This version is the well known version.

The ingredients in these cookies are basic. The chocolate candy kisses are the standard candy used, but any bite-sized chocolate candy would work fine. I think Rolo candy would be delicious too. When I made these cookies, the cookies did not puff up as much as they should have, so the cookies are flatter than they should be. But the cookies are still delicious.

Peanut Blossoms 

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup firm brown sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 2 Tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 egg
• sugar for coating
• Hershey chocolate kisses

Combine all the cookie ingredients until dough forms. Shape into balls, using a teaspoon for each. Roll the cookie balls in sugar to coat. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Top each cookie with a chocolate candy kiss, pressing down until the cookie cracks around the edge. Allow to cool. Enjoy!

Spicy Fruit Cocktail Cookies

December means that it is time to make cookies. Mom's recipe box has many cookie recipes. While I do not remember this cookie from childhood, I definitely remember having fruit cocktail often. All the fruits in fruit cocktail--pears, pineapple, grapes, peaches, and cherries--are delicious. The best fruit is always the cherry.

The spices in the name of these cookies are cinnamon and cloves, giving the cookies a very wintry flavor. I made these for Thanksgiving, but the cookies lost attention to the various pies and whipped creams. Nevertheless, these cookies are a tasty treat that are worth giving a try.

Spicy Fruit Cocktail Cookies 

•  3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. rum flavoring
• 1 cup fruit cocktail, thoroughly drained
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 tsp. grated orange rind

Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices together. Cream sugar and butter until light. Add eggs and flavoring; mix well. Stir in sifted dry ingredients. Blend in fruit cocktail, nuts, coconut, and orange rind. Drop by spoonfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until done. Enjoy!