Christmas cookies and treats: Our favorite family recipe traditions.

Buckeyes

4 cups creamy peanut butter

4 sticks butter at room temp

3 lbs confectioners sugar

2 packages (12 oz size) chocolate chips

1/2 bar of paraffin

Mix peanut butter and butter together.

Add confectioners sugar in by the cup, until smooth.

Form small balls then refrigerate.

Next melt paraffin and chocolate chips together on top of a double boiler of a heavy saucepan.

Using a toothpick, dip cold balls into chocolate.

Let dry on wax paper.

Makes about 166 candies. 

Brigadeiros and Snowballs

Brigadeiros 

3 tbs powdered cocoa

3 tbs butter

3 14 oz cans condensed mild (NOT evaporated)

Chocolate Sprinkles

Combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk in saucepan. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until mixture is very thick. This will take approx 10 minutes and mixture will resemble caramel.

Remove from heat and cool until lukewarm.

Butter hands and roll mixture into small 1 inch balls. Roll balls in chocolate sprinkles. 

Snowballs

1 cup butter softened

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tbs water

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

Colored sugar or colored edible glitter

In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for about 30 seconds. Add the granulated sugar and beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in water and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour and the chopped pecans. 

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake in a 325 degree oven about 20 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely. 

In each of 3 small bowls place 1/3 cup of the sifted powdered sugar.  Add a different color of edible glitter or colored sugar to each. Gently roll and shake cooled cookies in desired powdered sugar mixture.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

2 large eggs

2 cups smooth peanut butter

2 cups sugar

60 chocolate Hershey kisses

Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Beat together eggs, peanut butter and sugar. Shape dough in to small balls and place 1 inch apart on baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and press kisses down onto balls. transfer to rack to cool. 

Sugar Cookies

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 stick of butter flavored Crisco shortening

2 eggs

1/4 cup light corn syrup or regular pancake syrup

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups all purpose flour (plus 4 tbs divided)

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Decorations- Your choice, granulated sugar, colored sugar crystals, frosting, candies, chips, nuts, raisins, coconut, decorating gel.... we did plain white frosting this year to avoid the addition of food coloring :)

Heat oven to 375.  Place sheets of foil on counter top for cooling cookies. 

Combine sugar and butter flavored Crisco in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, syrup, and vanilla. Beat until well blended and fluffy.

Combine 3 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix until well blended. Divide dough into 4 quarters. If dough is too sticky or too soft to roll wrap each quarter of dough with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least one hour.

Spread 1 tbsp of flour on large sheet of wax paper. Place 1/4 of cough on floured paper. Flatten slightly with hands. Turn dough over and cover with another large sheet of wax paper. Roll dough into 1/4 inch thickness. 

Cut out with floured cutter. Transfer to un-greased baking sheet with a large spatula. Place 2 inches apart. Sprinkle with gran sugar or colored sugar crystals or leave plain to frost once cooled. 

Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375 for 5 to 9 minutes.  DO NOT OVER BAKE. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely, then frost if desired. 

 Makes about 3-4 dozen. 

Magic Bars 

1/2 cup margarine or butter

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (6 oz) package semi sweet chocolate chips

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 (325 for glass) 

In a 13x9 inch baking pan, melt margarine in oven. Sprinkle crumbs over margarine then pour condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Top with remaining ingredients and press down with a spatula. Bake 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill if desired. Cut into bars.

Enjoy!

Love and light, 

A