If you like Red Hots candy, you’ll love these Cinnamon Sugar Sticks. This recipe is just one of the many Christmas cookie recipes that you can find at BHG.com. These cookies are a bit dry but very tasty. They go great with a big mug of hot chocolate or cold milk.
Ingredients

1/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups slivered almonds, toasted and ground (about 7 oz.)
3 oz. white chocolate, chopped
1 Tbsp. shortening
1/3 cup red cinnamon candies, crushed
1/3 cup coarse decorating sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. …read more

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. That means it’s time to bake cookies! Instead of plain old sugar cookies, try these candy cake sugar cookies instead. Recipe and image courtesy of BHG.com.
Makes: 6 to 7 dozen, 2-inch or 4 dozen, 4-inch cookies
Prep: 30 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes
Bake: 7 minutes per batch
Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 recipe Powdered Sugar Icing* and/or 1 recipe Creamy White Frosting (optional)
Creamy White Icing
Sanding sugar and/or small hard peppermint candies
Red food coloring (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 …read more

Gingerbread is a holiday tradition for many families. McCormick offers three ways to use their recipe for gingerbread cookie dough. Your kids will love the gingerbread men. But if you are like me, you’ll adore the Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Lemon Creme. Let’s start with the dough…
Gingerbread Cookie Dough
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Refrigerate: 4 hours
Ingredients:

3 cups flour
2 teaspoons McCormick Ground Ginger
1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg

Directions:

Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl.
Beat butter and …read more

These cookies are very impressive. Though they might take a little longer to prepare than most, they are well worth the time. They look magnificent and taste even better!
When I made these shortbread cookies, I substituted vanilla extract for the almond extract (just because I didn’t have almond on hand). They turned out divine!
Prep: 40 min
Bake: 10 min per batch
Stand: 30 min
Ingredients

1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and finely chopped
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup cold butter
12 ounces white chocolate baking squares with cocoa butter, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 drops red food coloring (optional)
2 teaspoons shortening
White nonpareils and/or red …read more

Are you tired of the same old Christmas sugar cookies? This holiday season, expand your baking horizons with unique cookies recipes such as these yummy Berry-Sage Thumbprints. These cookies are easy to make and absolutely delicious.
Makes: about 60
Prep: 25 minutes
Bake: 10 minutes per batch
Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1-1/2 teaspoon dried sage, crushed
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup blackberry preserves

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. In a medium bowl combine flour, cornmeal, sage, …read more

I’m on the Better Homes and Garden email list and I’ve been receiving their 12 Days of Holiday Baking the last few days, and it’s definitely inspiring me to get started on my holiday baking. It’s not too early to get started planning your holiday baking. You can start planning now to buy the ingredients when they’re on sale, and have your recipes ready to go.
You can even start baking to avoid the last minute holiday rush. Much of your holiday baking can be done ahead of time and frozen until you’re ready to use it. You can make cookies, …read more

Along with the holiday season comes the joy of sharing the kitchen with your children or grandchildren making those wonderful Christmas cookies. This tradition may be more meaningful this year then in years past.
We are all watching our money while still trying to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. The recipes I found use sweeteners judiciously, cookies containing no hydrogenated fat, with all natural ingredients using as much whole-grain flour as possible.
The gift of these different cookies will be a welcome heart healthy change for your family and all of those that receive them as a gift.
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/collections/healthy_holiday_cookies_recipes.html
…read more