Mexican Ribbon Cookies, Day 6

Ok, I am taking a break from Pinterest recipes for a while.  Today's entry for the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies blog series is a Mexican-inspired twist to a ribbon cookie recipe.  It's not as pretty to look at as the original because both layers are chocolate, but it's very tasty because who doesn't love chocolate?!

So go ahead and check out my recipe for Mexican Ribbon Cookies, and if you're just joining the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies party you need to click that link to see the rest of the yummy recipes!

Happy Baking and Merry Christmas!

Scandinavian Almond Bars, Day 5

Today's recipe is yet another one I got from Pinterest.  The original source is this food.com recipe.  Can you tell I love Pinterest??

This recipe is really awesome not just because I am Scandinavian, but because it makes a TON of really delicious cookies.  If you love almonds and cookies that aren't super sweet than this is a recipe for you!

Candy Cane Blossoms, Day 4

Another delicious Pinterest find, today's Christmas Cookie comes from fellow food blogger Baked Perfection.  These cookies are as yummy as they are cute!  Like yesterday's Reindeer Noses I think these would be easily adaptable to lots of other seasons and holidays.  And I wish my stepson had been around because I really think he would have had fun helping me bake these - my hands were covered in colored sugar by the time I was done and what little boy doesn't love to make a mess?!

Grandma's Honey Cookies, Day 2

Growing up, my grandmother's honey cookies were a big Christmas tradition.  They always seemed extra special because they need to cure for about 2 weeks after baking, so there's a high level of anticipation involved.  It takes two weeks because after baking the cookies are literally as hard as a rock.  If you bit one you'd probably break a tooth.  But through the magic of time and the moisture from a few slices of bread, after two weeks the cookies are softened and ready to frost.  And you will find that the wait was most definitely worth it.

Intrigued?  Here's the link to my grandma's honey cookie recipe.  You've got just enough time left to make these cookies and still be able to leave some out for Santa, so Happy Baking and Merry Christmas!

Sour Cream Cut-out Cookies, Day 1

Ahh cut-out cookies.  The quintessential Christmas cookie.  I had to start my 12 Days of Chrismas Cookies list here.  Most of my friends and family members who bake cookies during the holiday season make these, especially the ones with little kids.  Decorating the cookies is the fun part!  The following recipe is one I got from my step mom a number of years ago, and it's by far my favorite cut-out cookie recipe.  I might be partial here, but I'm pretty sure it's the nutmeg.  ;-)

Honey Cookies

Nothing is quite as wonderful to me during the Christmas season as Christmas cookies.  They have this magical ability to take me back to my childhood.  On my mom's side of the family we usually had two kinds of cookies: the usual cut-outs that so many people know and love, and these honey cookies.  The recipe came from my mom's mom, who is Finnish.  This is the only Finnish food I can ever remember my grandma making, but if the rest of Finnish cuisine is like this then maybe I should invest in a Finnish cookbook!

There is only one problem with these cookies:  You have to let them cure for about two weeks after making them before you can eat them.  And trust me when I say that once you've had them you won't want to wait two weeks!  Lucky for you that there's still 16 days till Christmas so there's plenty of time for you to make a batch of these honey cookies for your family.

Mexican Ribbon Cookies

Happy Cinco de Mayo! In honor of the holiday I wanted to try out a cookie recipe with a little spice. These Mexican Ribbon Cookies were inspired by Betty Crocker's Crisp Chocolate-Espresso Ribbon Cookies. I made those cookies last week for a get together and they were really easy and tasty so I wanted to come up with some other variations.