Holiday Cookies 2011, Part 2

Here's my holiday gift to you, my wonderful readers: Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. I can't describe to you how much I love peanut butter, and of course chocolate! I've had these at holiday parties for years, and never realized how easy this was to make.

Also, I made these with traditional milk chocolate Hershey Kisses. However, there are some fun holiday versions - peppermint, white chocolate, candy cane flavored - these could easily be changed up!

Peanut Butter Blossoms (adapted from Bakergirl)
(makes about 32 cookies)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Hershey kisses
1/4 cup granulated sugar to roll cookies in
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a bowl with a mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Then beat in egg and vanilla.
3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture and beat until well blended.
4. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls and roll in 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Set ball 1 1/2-inches apart on a greased baking sheet.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until slightly darker brown.
6. Place 1 chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie; expect dough to crack. Return to oven and continue to bake until chocolate is shiny and soft, about three more minutes. Cool and then serve.

Holiday Cookies 2011, Part 1

I'll fully admit it - baking is not always my favorite thing. The exactness of the measurements, the mess I make in the kitchen, the fear of leaving the food in the oven for too long and burning - it gives me some serious anxiety!

Luckily, I've realized that practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to baking cookies. Below is my favorite holiday cookie I made as presents for friends and family. It was a great, personalized touch and I'm happy I made the effort to embrace baking more! Hopefully in 2012, you will see some sweeter options in the blog. In the meantime, enjoy!

Mint M&M Cookies (adapted from Treasures from Brenda)
(makes about 40 cookies)

Ingredients

1 cup of soft butter (it is critical that it be soft)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups regular all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
9-ounce package of mint M&Ms (found at most supermarkets during the holidays)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and the vanilla.
4. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix.
5. Stir in M&Ms
6. Using a small spoon, drop cookies of about one heaping teaspoon onto your cookie sheets, making them about two inches apart.
7. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes (mine were perfectly cooked in 11 minutes). Be sure to remove before they become too brown - they can burn quickly!
8. Cool on cooling racks and then enjoy!

Remember to always:

via littlebitsoflovely