CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Of course I'd love to have ALL of our household goods, but this time of year has me dreaming about my standup mixer. Quite honestly, the holiday season is a free pass to bake excessive amounts of sweets — especially cookies! I typically look forward to December as an excuse to donate confections to the local single airmen. It gives me a reason to test various recipes and bake like it's my job. Because I'm without my favorite kitchen tools, I thought I'd live vicariously through m' blog.

Here are nine recipes that I wouldn't mind testing...

Samoa Sugar Cookies via Cooking Classy

Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies via Cooking Classy

The Nora Ephron Cookie via The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook

Puppy Chow Cookies via Cookies and Cups

Red Velvet Sugar Cookies via Cooking Classy

White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Cookies via Top with Cinnamon

Peanut Butter Drizzled Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies via How Sweet It Is

Oatmeal Cranberry Sandwiches via Two Peas and Their Pod

Sugar Cookies via Better Homes & Garden

After reading about The Nora Ephron Cookie, I'm more convinced than ever that we would be the best of friends!

Keepin' It Sweet!

How about a virtual cookie exchange to kick off the weekend?

Since we all know I've yet to learn how to use my shiny sewing machine—I've had it for over a year. I like to think I've honed my cookie-baking skills instead (err, somewhat). Of course, I have been known to jump to conclusions by just mixing all the wet and dry ingredientses* before reading the instructions. Lesson learned: not all cookies are created equally (case in point). Despite my occasional lack of patience and attention to details, it's hard to royally mess up sweet concoctions that consist of butter and sugar. If anything, the holiday season is a great excuse to whip out your mixer and colorful sanding sugar. This weekend, why don't you throw on your apron and try one of these cookie recipes? *Anyone notice my snarky nod towards Teresa Giudice? I'll keep the Bravo references cumin.

The Official Christmas Confection Lineup:

Toffee-Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies // Saltine Cracker Toffee // S'mores Cookies // Frosty the Snowman Cookies // Peanut Butter Cookies // Fudgy Nutella Cookies with Sea Salt // White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies // 

O Tannenbaum Christmas Tree Cookies // Marshmallow Chocolate-Chunk Cookies // Pumpkin Whoopie Pies // 

Shining Star Sandwich Cookies // Lollipop Cookies // Old-Fashioned Gingerbread // Momofuku Compost Cookies // Oatmeal Lace Cookies // Warm Woolen Mitten Cookies // Hot Cocoa Cookies // Coconut-Caramel Rounds //  

Do you have any great cookie recipes I should know about? Hope your weekend is merry!

Toodles,

ANF

(Image Credit: Kate Spade Holiday Campaign 2010)