Sunday, December 5, 2010

Mrs. Claus

"Yes, there is a Mrs. Claus. She's you-busy making visions of sugarplums come true. No gift is more welcome than goodies from your own kitchen." --Elizabeth Wood, Better Homes and Gardens magazine, December 1955

I do believe part of the merriment of Christmas is baked up in tiny little drops of enchantment-cookies. The smell, the taste, and the sparkle of Christmas cookies hold happy memories in my own heart of this time of year. I don't want to be so busy baking nine thousand batches of cookies that I forget about the relationships around me, but a few Christmas cookies with children in the house are a must.

The scent of cloves would fill the kitchen when my mom would bake her Gingersnaps and we would blissfully stuff our faces on the gallon sized pail of Sugar Cookies my Grandma sent down. She had been known to clean out her sink to mix up batches of cookies in with her grandchildren, because a lil ol bowl wouldn't do in the size of her batches. I believe I came by my love of baking cookies honestly.

I think, as a child, it was a bit bewitching to see the flour, sugar, and butter mixed together and have tasty treats form out of that; it still is.

I hope you all feel as we would expect Mrs. Claus would, brightly baking up treats in her kitchen. Try not to let the load of Christmastime weigh you down, but try and remember the joys in a good old fashioned cookie you enjoyed as a child.

Here's a treat we enjoy:

Almond Sweets

3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Almond Icing
Colored sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a cookie sheet; set aside.
2. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large mixing bowl beat eggs, granulated sugar, oil and vanilla with an electric mixer until combined. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can. Stir in any remaining flour mixture with a wooden spoon.
3. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool. when cookies are cool, spread with Almond Icing. Makes about 60.
Almond Icing: In a medium bowl stir together 1 cup sifted icing sugar (powdered sugar), 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (YUM!), and 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk to make an icing of spreading consistency.

Best of luck to you--I'd love to know if you gave these a shot.

I am linking up here.

22 comments:

Julie Harward said...

These look wonderful and I will try them! I feel the same way about Christmas baking, I just love it like nothing else! Every year I love to make tons of cookies and treats and bundt cakes for all my neighbors. :D

Steph said...

I love making goodies for everybody at Christmas!

LindaG said...

Thanks for sharing this. If the Christmas bug nips, I will definitely give these a try. :)

Shirley said...

I love baking too. I plan on making Viennese crescents, gingersnaps, mincemeat tarts, and maybe rum balls.

Anonymous said...

Hi, very interesting post, greetings from Greece!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Oooh, I think I'm gonna give these a shot, will let you know!

Polly said...

Ooh, these look good and easy to make! I'm going to try this recipe tomorrow and will let you know how they come out.

Hope you stay cozy and warm up there. It's cold and snowy here now but nothing like the temps you guys have.

Polly

Tara said...

I have taken a day off work just for baking...I can't wait!

Grandma K said...

I cheated! I didn't make them but I did get to taste them! Tasted mighty good I would say.....

Jenn Jantz said...

yummmy!!! thanx for the reminder:)

Libbie said...

Hey there...my sister is coming over today with her kids & I am NOt a baker...I REALLY wish I was! It just NEVER turns out! (last week I was warming up chicken nuggets & I had a fire in my oven...shhh :) But SHE IS! So I am gonna see if I can trick her into making some of these little goodies today! Oh & I LOVE your Mrs. Clause quote at the top!

Nicole said...

Wow those look yummy! Too bad I couldn't pull them out of the screen and nibble on a few :)

Lindsay said...

I love making Christmas cookies- a batch doesn't even last a day in this house! Mine don't usually look as pretty as yours, though!

Lindsay said...

I love making Christmas cookies- a batch doesn't even last a day in this house! Mine don't usually look as pretty as yours, though!

BridgeEtta said...

Great! now my mouth is watering. I loooove cookies. My mom used to make a bunch and send them to my sister in the States. She said getting Mom's cookies was one of the highlights of Christmas. Mmmh, that gives me an idea. You're brilliant!

Anna said...

Delish! I will report if I make them! I made some cookies today too...molasses sandwich cookies. I will share this week. Hope you're doing well Mrs. Claus:)

Jaimi_C said...

They look lovely and yummy! Keep up the good work Mrs. Claus :)

Anonymous said...

I'm just about ready to do some Christmas baking. When I was growing up we always made huge batches of sugar cookies and then we would go to town decorating them.

Colleen said...

Mmmmmm, those look absolutely delicious! I think you are making some beautiful memories with your children! I remember my grandma baking with us...it was so good and although there are many reasons that I miss her, the cookies are actually a big one. Every time she'd come over it was with a huge batch of dough that we would shape into cookies and she never was upset when we'd eat it.:)
I don't have a talent for baking but I appreciate it in others.:)
Have a great day!

Alicia said...

Yum! I love love Christmas cookies and baking, you are definitely starting something that will be cherished for years. Oh dear, I miss baking soo much. When our oven is finally repaired next week this will be one recipe that I would like to add to the long list of treats that is waiting to be created.. ready to bake.

Unknown said...

Hi from Ontario, Canada. I found your lovely blog through Julie Harward's blog. This recipe looks delicious and I hope to find time to try it. I'm your newest follower and off to see more of your previous posts. Merry Christmas!

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

My kids and I so enjoy doing this together. My 11 year old daughter loves it and I love having her in there right beside me so I can not only teach her the basics of baking and cooking, but also just spending that time together laughing and talking. I think cookie making is a MUST, especially at Christmastime!

I have a recipe similar to your almond sweets cookies, delicious!

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