by Jim Bolding
When school is canceled because of bad weather and your children have turned into trolls with no sense of humor, it’s time to declare a bake day. Easy Christmas cookies can save the day and put a smile on everyone’s face! All you have to do is tie aprons on little necks and wash little hands; then you can start measuring and mixing.
One type of cookie that is a snap to stir up is the no bake kind. These are usually based on peanut butter or some other type of gooey product. No eggs can be used, because of the dangers of salmonella, so you have to find alternate ways of moistening the dough. Often you can roll these in powdered sugar to keep them from sticking to each other - add a little cinnamon or other spice to keep it interesting!
Additives can range from dried fruit to nuts to chocolate chips. Dry milk is often stirred in to even out consistency and provide added nutrition. Mix in a few chopped gummy-worms and your cookies will look just like fruitcake bites. Who knew cookies could be good for you! There are a lot of recipes you can try that don’t have to pack on the pounds.
Of course, pure, white, calorie laden sugar is an absolute necessity for easy Christmas cookies that uphold tradition on every level. Simple sugar cookies can be dressed up with sprinkles, icing and broken ones are fair game. Make one batch a little overdone and poke holes in the top with a pencil while they are still warm. These can be decorated, dipped in a thin solution of Elmer’s glue and water, and used as Christmas tree ornaments.
You absolutely have to have gingerbread men. A home made cutter can be made from the end of a large can - just use tin snips to cut a ring and bend it into shape. If currants are too exotic for your little ones, they can use raisins, and you can add more features with a little icing in a tube. Recite the story aloud while baking for added fun
Sand tarts are shaped like crescent moons, and are a nice twist on the regular sugar cookie. Finely chopped nuts mixed in add a little flavor, and the warm cookies are coated in powdered sugar for an explosion of sweet goodness! These are great with a cup of hot chocolate.
Santa will be looking for his plate and mug. Gooey chocolate chip cookies or crispy oatmeal ones will make him go “Ho, ho, ho!” Leave a glass of milk to round off his midnight snack, and don’t forget the reindeer - a dozen baby carrots should do the trick!
Dipped cookies and coffee go hand in hand. Even a basic shortbread number takes on a life of its own with a judicious flavor adjustment! Coat half the cookie with melted white or dark chocolate, almond bark or even melted butterscotch chips to make dunking a completely new experience.
Maybe the best thing about baking easy Christmas cookies is the memories you make with your family. There is nothing quite like a warm kitchen full of delicious smells and happy laughter. There’s really no better celebration than that!
