Christmas Baking

I've been baking like crazy over the last couple of weeks. I've made Belgium cookies, sugar cookies, shortbread, peppermint meringues,whipped shortbread, dream bars, and cranberry-almond biscotti! Luckily, we have some visiting to do over the next week so I can bring sweets along with me because there's no way we need to eat all of it!

Whipped Shortbread Cookies

The whipped shortbread recipe I made was spur of the moment but it turned out really well.

Whipped Shortbread
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
18 Maraschino cherries, halved and blotted dry

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Beat butter and sugar in medium bowl for about 5 minutes until light and creamy. (I used my kitchenaid mixer)

Combine flour and cornstarch in small bowl. Add to butter mixture in 2 additions, beating well after each addition until no dry flour remains. Drop using 1 tbsp for each, about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Put 1 cherry half in centre of each cookie. Bake for 12 minutes until edges are just golden. Let stand on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool.

 Whipped Shortbread Cookies
These cookies are so yummy! They melt in your mouth and I think they look so cute with a cherry in the
centre!

Sugar Cookies
Sugar Cookies

 Belgium Cookie
By far, belgium cookies (or empire cookies) are my favourite Christmas cookie!

Peppermint Meringue
We made peppermint meringues which taste like candy. I've never made meringues before but I will definitely try them again with a different flavour.

Peppermint Meringue
Sorry for the dark photo, since meringues take 3 hours to bake, it was dark by the time they came out of the oven.

I still plan on making mint nanaimo bars, chocolate macaroons, and gingerbread whoopie pies... our freezer is going to be full!

Have a good night!
xo Jen

4 comments

  1. these desserts sound sooo yummy!


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  2. Beautiful selection of cookies! Why does Christmas bring out the cookie baker in people? I'm the same way.

    Your cookies with the cherries look like ones my mother often makes at Christmas. I've never heard of Belgium cookies. I'll have to Google that!

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  3. Belgium cookies is a new one on me as well and the alternative Empire Cookies is no clearer, either! Either way, they all look and I'm sure will taste fabulous.

    Happy Christmas - and thanks for the posts during 2011 that I've followed since starting my own blog at www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.com. Looking forward to what 2012 brings - and wish you a prosperous spell in the New Year too.

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  4. I don't know what it is about Christmas but I want to bake everything! haha. We don't even have company coming over but there's so many good recipes that keep popping up!

    I had no idea Belgium Cookies weren't that popular. They are two thin shortbread-like cookies with raspberry jam in the middle, some icing sugar frosting on top with a cherry. Sooo good!

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