Holiday Entertaining
The Technique
How To Host A Christmas Cookie Swap
Hidden away in a jar of pumpkin pie spice are the essentials for making a fine selection of classic holiday cookies, pies, pastries & breakfast rolls. Simply open the lid & get ready to savor the sweet scent of Christmas morning with a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg & allspice making this popular spice blend a hardworking pantry staple. Couple that with a smidgen of molasses & you have a shortcut gingerbread recipe without the need to roll & cut dough. Gingerbread cookies have always been a personal cookie favorite with the first batch removed from the oven signifying the official start of the Christmas season.
Chocolate-Gingerbread Thumbprints
makes 5 dozen
Dark chocolate kisses pressed into the warm-from-the-oven cookies can be substituted for the Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache although I did win my husband’s heart by preparing them the old-fashioned way.
1 recipe Gingerbread Snowballs
1 recipe Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache
Prepare the Gingerbread Snowballs dough as directed. Press an indentation in the center of each portion of dough before baking. Bake as directed. Cool completely. Omit the powdered sugar. Prepare the Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache. Pipe a small amount into cookie centers. Let stand until set, about 1 hour.
Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache
Microwave a 1/2 a cup of bittersweet chocolate morsels & 2 Tbsp heavy cream in a small glass bowl on High 30 to 60 seconds or until melted & whisk it smooth. Whisk in 2 Tbsp heavy cream & let stand 5 minutes. Dividing the cream will cool the mixture more quickly. Use as directed.
Gingerbread Snowballs
makes 5 dozen
The recipe leans more on the side of a shortbread but the molasses will yield a softer bite.
1 cup softened butter
2 Tbsp molasses
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup finely ground toasted pecans
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp table salt
Powdered sugar
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Beat the butter & the molasses with an electric stand mixer until creamy. Whisk together the flour, the powdered sugar, the pecans, the pumpkin pie spice & the salt. Add to the butter mixture & blend on Low just until the dough comes together. Stop the mixer occasionally & scrape down the bowl sides. Roll the dough into 3/4-inch portions. Place onto parchment paper-lined half sheet pans. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottoms. Cool completely. Roll in powdered sugar.
FROM THE KITCHEN OF BUTTERMILK LIPSTICK
{testing notes}
How To Package Cookies For Gifts
Freshly baked cookies are some of the most special gifts you can give. Pick up a variety of sacks, boxes & bags to slip treats into. Even just a few tucked into a mug with cocoa mix make a sweet gift. Decorate with ribbon, twine or bakery string & add a simple tag. Get creative & show someone how much you care about them.
The Technique
Have each guest bake & share 1 dozen of their irresistible morsels. A gathering of five or six friends will yield a lovely variety of cookies. Friends can have the cookies already portioned & ready to exchange or you can offer a variety of boxes & bags that can be used for the divvy. As the hostess, plan to bake an extra batch of cookies for the party to enjoy with company. Serve with spiced coffee, hot cider or eggnog for a festive beverage. But don’t feel locked into cookies. Miniature loaves of banana bread, pound cake & holiday scented muffins make excellent sweets for giving, too.
The Tune
“Whatever Lola Wants” Sarah Vaughan
httpa://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g5YNPzr8NM
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{college football} Rebecca Gordon@TidefanFare
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Rebecca Gordon
Be sweet.
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