Last Minute Cookie Ideas

Presents? Check. Christmas dinner menu? Check. Relatives know what time to come for Christmas? Check. Cleaning? Well, it's getting there, I still have time. All my cookies are baked? Yikes, no, I still need more cookies. We have the in-laws coming on Saturday. We are going to relatives on Sunday. And we are having relatives over on Monday. Plus we have a holiday dinner party tonight. (Actually, it's more the Packers vs. the Vikings dinner, but I since I turned 30, I don't feel like I need to pretend that I actually like watching the sport. So, the girls will be drinking wine and asking for the occasional score.) I will need cookies for all the occasions. Plus, I will want to horde some for myself. I mean it is the holidays and all!

Cookies. Lucky for you I have a couple of awesome recipes for last minute cookies you are sure to love.

White Chocolate Raspberry Cookies (everyone loves these):
8 oz white baking bar
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes, though I use unsalted, just my preference)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 oz. white baking bar
1/2 tsp. shortening

Melt 4 oz. of the white baking bar over low heat (or follow package instructions for melting in microwave). Set aside to cool.

Beat butter in a large mixing bowl with for about 30 seconds or till softened. Add the sugar, baking soda, and salt. Beat till combined. Beat in the eggs and melted white baking bar till combined. Beat in as much of the flour till combined. Chop remaining 4 oz. of white baking bar and stir/mix into batter.

Drop batter by rounded spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool for a minute. Move cookies to wire rack and cool.

You can do the following step when cookies have cooled or right before serving. Heat and stir the jam in small saucepan over low heat till melted. Spoon about 1/2 tsp. of jam onto top of each cookie. Heat remaining 3 oz. of white baking bar and shortening (I do not use the shortening). Drizzle each cookie with some of the melted white baking bar. Refrigerate about 15 minutes to firm chocolate, if necessary.

Makes about 48 delicious cookies.


Christmas Wreaths (good one for the kids and adults)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 bag large marshmallows
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. green food coloring
4-5 cups Corn Flakes (I use Special K)
Red Hots

In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Add marshmallows, stirring until melted and blended with butter. Add almond, vanilla, and food coloring (might need more food coloring, I remember using more). Stir until mixture is a uniform green color. Add Corn Flakes, mix well but gently.

On sheet of wax paper, form heaping tablespoons of mixture into wreaths. (I do not try to form these into wreaths with holes in the middle, I just drop a heaping chunk down on wax paper.) Decorate with red hots (to make them look like red berries, I group 3 together). Cool completely.

Makes 2-1/2 to 3 dozen.