As the calendar page turns to December, in a typical year I would be preparing for an annual Christmas cookie-baking weekend. A few friends and family would come together for three days to bake dozens of cookies which, ultimately, we give away. It’s my favorite holiday tradition.
This year, thinking positively that change is good, holiday baking will be different. There will be delicious cookies, yet just not as many as in the past. Instead of thirty different varieties of holiday treats, I’ll prepare just a few. I’m thinking of challenging myself with more difficult recipes that might fail, versus the tried and true.
Recently, I tested some recipes to determine the best to share for this blog. Catsie’s Holiday Peppermint Chocolate Chip cookies turned out awesome, taste great, and seem fitting for the holiday spirit.
Catsie’s Holiday Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup Andes créme de menthe chips
4 to 5 peppermint oil drops (or to taste)
1 cup mixed toasted pecans, sliced almonds, and chopped walnuts
Directions:
Cream together butter and sugar.
Add egg, vanilla, and peppermint oil, and blend.
In a separate bowl combine flour, cornstarch, soda, and salt.
Sift and add to creamed mixture.
Stir until blended.
Stir in chips and nuts.
Make balls of dough using 2 tbsp. size cookie scoop. Roll each in hand to ball shape and place all on one cookie sheet.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.
(At this point chilled cookies can be placed in plastic freezer bag and freeze. Thaw 20 minutes before baking.)
Placed chilled dough balls two inches apart on baking sheet.
Bake 15 to 18 minutes at 325 degrees or until browned and a bit crispy around the edges.
I have six three-ringed binders containing hundreds of recipes, not to mention dozens of cookbooks, as well as a proper recipe box including my mother’s and grandmother’s holiday favorites. Although choosing five to eight recipes from that collection will be difficult, the challenge of change is good. I can create a small platter with extraordinarily beautiful and tasty treats.
Who knows what changes we’ll face in 2021, but for now, I encourage you to bake a batch of Catsie’s Holiday Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies. Not only will you have fun, you’ll have a tasty treat to bring holiday cheer to your home.
