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Brown Sugar Oatmeal Jumbles

December 10, 2009 By Kate 8 Comments

I am honored to have this post included in the Deck The Blogs feature at Oprah.com.

There are Christmas cookies I make because they are traditional. There are cookies I make because I want to try something new. There are cookies I make just for the kids. There are cookies I make just for the adults.

These cookies? These cookies fall into each of the above categories. There’s a little something for everybody to love with these.

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Brown Sugar Oatmeal Jumbles

  • 1 c. butter
  • 1 1/2 c. brown sugar
  • 2 t. vanilla
  • 1/4 c. milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 c. flour
  • 1 t. baking soda
  • 1 t. baking powder
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • 1/2 t. cinnamon
  • 3 c. oats
  • 1 c. chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 c. peanut or plain M & M’s

1. Beat butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, milk and eggs and beat until combined.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Slowly add to mixing bowl and beat just until incorporated. By hand, stir in oats, chocolate chips and M & M’s.

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3. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden brown.

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4. Cool on wire racks and store in airtight containers. Cookies can also be frozen.

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Set out a plate of these cookies and watch them disappear before your eyes. Little hands can’t stay away!

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Don’t forget to stop by In Jennie’s Kitchen to see today’s cookies for the 12 Days of Sharing. And please consider participating, spreading the word, and/or donating to Share Our Strength and support their cause that no child goes hungry!

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Orange Infused Snowball Cookies

December 8, 2009 By Kate 14 Comments

I am honored to have this post included in the Deck The Blogs feature at Oprah.com.

I love these cookies. They are so easy to make and they’re full of fresh flavor. The orange taste is subtle and not overpowering, which makes them higher on my list since I’m not a big fan of too much orange flavor.

Also, unlike yesterday’s recipe, I know that these cookies are perfect to make ahead of time. Both the dough and the baked cookies freeze perfectly. Plus, it is so easy to make a double or triple batch of the dough.

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Orange Infused Snowball Cookies

  • 1 c. butter
  • 3/4 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 orange (2 T. grated orange rind and 1 T. freshly squeezed juice)
  • 2 1/4 c. flour
  • 1/2 c. granulated sugar

1. Beat the butter until creamy. Add the powdered sugar until completely combined. Add 1 T. orange juice and beat for 30 seconds.

2. Stir in flour, working in batches, until combined. By hand, stir in 1 T. grated orange rind.

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3. Combine granulated sugar with remaining tablespoon grated orange rind and set aside.

4. Using a teaspoon of dough at a time, roll into a ball. Roll balls of dough through the sugar and orange rind combination. Bake at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes, until the bottoms are golden brown.

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Don’t forget to stop by In Jennie’s Kitchen to see today’s cookies for the 12 Days of Sharing. And please consider participating, spreading the word, and/or donating to Share Our Strength and support their cause that no child goes hungry!

Stop by Stolen Moments Menu Planning to order your fully personalized menu plans that will help you save time and money in the kitchen! Be sure you check out the Christmas gift subscription special while you’re there.

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Cream Cheese Pastry Cookies

December 7, 2009 By Kate 10 Comments

It feels so good to finally get started on my Christmas baking list. I’ve added quite a few new recipes and ideas to this year’s list that I’m excited to try.

These cookies were an experiment for me, so I just made a small batch to begin with since I wasn’t sure if the dough would freeze. And I’m never comfortable making a new recipe to give as a gift unless it’s passed the rigorous standards of our 4 kids and their very discerning dad. These cookies passed with flying colors.

However, I’m not sure how well the dough or the baked cookies would hold up in the freezer, so these will have to be made at last minute before giving them out. But I definitely think it’s worth the extra effort. They are light and flaky and just bursting with flavor.

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Cream Cheese Pastry Cookies

  • 1/2 c. butter
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/4 c. flour
  • 1/8 t. salt
  • Filling of choice. Some options include: jam or preserves, almond paste, more cream cheese, nuts tossed with brown sugar and cinnamon. Really, the options are endless!
  • Coarse or granulated sugar, optional

1. In a mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese together until creamy. Add flour and salt and beat just until combined. Wrap dough and refrigerate at least one hour, until easy to handle.

2. Roll out refrigerated dough on a lightly floured or parchment-lined surface. Be careful not to leave the dough too thick. About 1/8 inch thickness is good. Cut the dough into evenly sized squares.

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3. Place about a 1/2 teaspoonful of the filling of your choice in the center of half the squares. Top the squares with the remaining dough squares and seal the edges all around with the tines of a fork. Sprinkle the tops with coarse or granulated sugar, if desired.

4. Bake cookies on a parchment paper or foil lined cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

This recipe will make about 1 1/2 – 2 dozen cookies, depending on how big you cut your squares and how patient you are with the dough.

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Please take some time to visit In Jennie’s Kitchen today and for the next 11 days for the 12 Days of Sharing virtual cookie swap. Jennifer Perillo put together this fantastic idea as a fundraiser for Share Our Strength. I am so excited to see all the wonderful recipes and to help raise some more money for Share Our Strength in any way possible. (You do remember the Virtual Great American Bake Sale earlier this year, right?)

Stop by Jennifer’s to get the full scoop on 12 Days of Sharing, participate if you can, help spread the word and consider donating to this wonderful cause!

And also stop by Blessed With Grace for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam for Tasty Tuesday.

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