CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIE FIXINGSGS

I always baked cake mix for my cookies for my kids.
They loved these cookies, so I kept the cookie jar filled up. I liked baking these cookies because  they could be prepared  quickly and yielded over 2 dozen cookies.

We called my oldest son the cookie monster. He could be playing outside 

with his friends, but magically appear 

when the cookies came out of the oven!  My son insisted on having milk with his cookies!  Therefore, I was always asking 

my husband to bring a gallon of milk home. He joked and said that he needed to buy a cow. He could cut down buying milk. I told

him he would be the one milking the cow!

I was very busy during Christmas season so baking scratch cookies were not an option. 

I figured out how to make my cake mix Christmas cookies special. I used butter, real extracts, nuts, candy, and citrus peel.
I used my mom's 30 year old Christmas tree cookie cutter sometimes. It brings back so many memories.Of course, I have the new shiny silver cookie cutters and I let my kids use these. I would be heartbroken if they damaged my old vintage cookie cutter.

SOME OF MY VINTAGE COOKIE CUTTERS 

I took a test batch of my cookies to work 

to see if anyone liked my embellished cake mix cookies. One of my team members kept eating my orange butter cookies.  I had to tell her to leave some for the rest of the  team members. 

Here are the recipes for two of my most requested Christmas cookies:

    

TASTY ORANGE BUTTER COOKIES


1 box two layer yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, soft
1 egg
2 tsp orange peel or zest of 1/2 orange
1 tsp pure California orange extract

Preheat oven 350. Grease cookie sheet.

In large bowl, mix all of the listed ingredients with wooden spoon. 
Remove cookie dough from bowl and 
divide in half. Make 2  logs & wrap in 
plastic wrap. Chill dough in fridge until
firm. Slice cookies into 1 inch disks. Place
12 cookies on cookie sheet.  Bake 10 minutes or until light brown.  Let cookies stand 2 minutes then transfer to cooling racks. Bake second batch or store log in fridge 3 days.


Tips:

Regular orange extract can be used if California extract not available

You can adjust the zest/peel to taste.

I buy prepared organic orange peel from local market.Here is link if you need help making your own zest :

http://www.wikihow.com/Zest-an-Orange

HANDY ZEST CHART:

Lemon Zest     1 1/2 to 3 teaspoons     1 medium lemon
Lime Zest        1 to 2 teaspoons           1 medium lime
Orange Zest     2 to 3 tablespoons        1 medium orange 

RED HOT CHRISTMAS TREES



1 box two layer yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, soft
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
 Red hot candies

Preheat oven 350. Grease cookie sheet

In large bowl, mix all of the listed ingredients.except candy. Blend
well with wooden spoon. Roll out
dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut out the
Christmas tree shapes & place on cookie sheet.  Decorate trees with the candy.
Bake 10 minutes or until cookies are light brown.  Let cookies stand 2 minutes
then transfer to cooling racks.

Tips:

Avoid over cooking because candy will get too hard.

Cut other cookie cutter shapes if desired

Can use recipe for Valentine's Day. Use
heart cookie cutter.

www.bettycrocker.com

 











ROSEMARY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 box two layer yellow cake mix
1 stick butter, soft
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c semi- sweet chocolate chips
1 T fresh rosemary, finely chopped


Preheat oven 350. Grease cookie sheet.

In large bowl, mix all of the listed ingredients with wooden spoon. 
Remove cookie dough from bowl 
and divide in half. Make 2  logs & 
wrap in plastic wrap. Chill dough 
in fridge until firm. Place one batch 
of cookies on cookie sheet. Slice them 
into 2 inch disks. Bake 10 minutes or
until light brown. Let cookies stand 2 minutes then transfer to cooling racks.
Bake second batch or store log in fridge 
3 days.


Tips:

I have rosemary bush in my yard. 
Can use dried rosemary leaves 
but not sure how much. Try one
tsp & bake a sample cookie.
Increase or decrease rosemary 
to taste before baking whole batch.