Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas Cookies

This year I was involved in two big Christmas cookie events. I've made a bazillion cookies in the past few weeks. Although cookies aren't exactly WLS-friendly foods, there's no reason we can't enjoy one or two in moderation throughout the Christmas season. And even if you don't want to eat any cookies, there's no calories in drooling over delicious photos of cookies, right?
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My mom (left) serving up cookies to a customer at the Cookie Walk.

The first event was a Charity Christmas Cookie Walk organized by my mother for the VFW Post that my grandfather was active in all his life. My mom and grandmother are still active with the Ladies Auxiliary and they hosted their first annual Cookie Walk this year. The money raised from this event will be used for projects the VFW does in the community for veterans and their families.

What is a Cookie Walk? It's sort of like a bake sale, except you get to choose the individual cookies you want to buy to make up your packaged cookies. The ladies of the Auxiliary (and other volunteers like me) baked and baked and baked. There were about 500 dozen cookies in about 35 different varieties to choose from. The cookies are lined up on trays and you walk down the row choosing which cookies you want. The cookies are boxed up by the dozen and you buy only the varieties you choose.

I made 7 dozen Magic Cookie Bars and 10 dozen Christmas Holly cookies.

2010-11-24 magic cookie bars

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Magic Cookie Bar 

1/2 C butter (melted)
1.5 C graham cracker crumbs
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 C chocolate chips
1 C shredded coconut
1 C chopped nuts

Combine melted butter and cracker crumbs. Press graham cracker crumbs into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan to form crush. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over crust and allow to spread and cover entire crust. Sprinkle on chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Bake at 325-degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve.


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Christmas Holly Cookies

1 bag large marshmallows
2 sticks butter
1 t. vanilla
1 t. salt
1 t. green food coloring
4 C corn flakes
1 pkg cinnamon red hots

In a large pot, melt butter. When melted add vanilla, salt and food coloring and stir. Then add marshmallows and combine until melted. Find the right balance of how long to let the marshmallows cook after they are melted. Too short of a cooking time and they will be too sticky, too long cooking time and they'll end up hard. I find about 1 minute at the boiling point is right but you'll need to adjust based on your tastes. Drop by spoonful onto waxed paper or parchment paper and add 3 red hot candies on top. Let cool to set. Enjoy!

I'll share another cookie creation soon -- the Snowman Cookies!

~Pam


Other Favorite Cookie Recipes
Cream Sandwich Cookies
Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cookies

2 comments:

  1. Pam, I think those Holly Cookies (I call them holly drops) are a regional thing. I grew up with them, my husband's family who is from Ohio knows them but I made a batch to give out last year to friends in Texas and they had NEVER seen or heard of them. Strange. But they went over great so I'll certainly be doing them again.

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  2. @Jenn - I love those cookies! I remember my mom making them when I was a little girl and she continued to make them almost every year. It's one of my favorites for sure!

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