Christmas Notebook

The day after the open house, we divide the cookies and distribute the leftovers. I put one box of cookies in the freezer for my side of the family’s Christmas party, one in the freezer for our church’s Christmas party, and one box of truffles in the freezer for the concert we host in our home each December. Then I loaded two 9×13 aluminum foil pans for the local volunteer firefighters and one pan for the police department. The firefighters also get the extra Chex Mix and Candy Jumble. They meet on Monday evenings, so it’s perfect timing. We want to be sure they know how much we appreciate their service to our community all year long. I also packed a small box of goodies to send to Younger Son and his wife who are not able to be at the open house.

I have been asked how many cookies and candies I make each year for Christmas. Here’s this year’s list.

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Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
I double this recipe for the open house. I bake the cookies and freeze them. The day before the party, they are taken out of the freezer and thawed on the kitchen table. Tip: Not opening the cookie containers until thawed keeps condensation from forming on them.

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Nutmeg Logs
Over the years, I have found these freeze just fine with the drizzle on them.

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Elfin Bites
Tiny little shortbread cookies. Adding the sprinkles and cutting them small was something I came up with years ago. Elfin Bites seemed the perfect name. The recipe is from the Fanny Farmer Cookbook. I double the recipe for the open house.

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Holiday Icebox Oatmeal Cookies
A simple cookie, but I love the crispy oat flavor.

After making the Holiday Icebox Oatmeal Cookies for many years, I tried scooping the dough without chilling it. I rolled the balls in sugar. It’s a quicker and easier way to make the same cookie.

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Peppermint Meltaways
I think last year was the first year I made these. Delicious! Somehow, I don’t have a picture of the finished cookie, but they look just like the ones pictured on the recipe site.

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Cranberry Orange Cookies
These are very good. You can taste the orange zest and the tang of the dried cranberries.

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Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies
Roll the dough into balls and dip them into white sanding sugar for a pretty sparkle on the cookie tray.

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Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread Cookies
This picture doesn’t do these beautiful little cookies justice. Pretty and delicious!

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Holiday Petits Fours
This is Middle Daughter’s favorite holiday treat. They are not hard to make. They just take a little time.

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Date Balls
My friend Mellanie shared this recipe with me years ago. One of my favorites.

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Sugarplums
I love these dried fruit and nut treats.

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Daniel’s Cookie Bar Bites
Named for Younger Son who used to make these cookie bars when he was living here.

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Toffee Bar Crunch Biscotti
This has become a holiday favorite! If I made only one kind of biscotti, it would definitely be this one.

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Brownie Biscotti
A pretty cookie, with the dark chocolate in contrast to the bright almond slivers.

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Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
While the chocolate is melted, you can add a Hershey’s Kiss to the top. Or wait until the chocolate has hardened and add ganache or frosting to the top of the cookie. Or leave it plain. They are so good no one will complain.

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Chocolate Creams
I’ve made these for Christmas for a long time. I’ve also made them as wedding favors. A very chocolaty candy.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
I didn’t make these one year and there was a regular hue and cry about it. Now I make them every year.

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Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
A simple addition of seedless raspberry jam dresses up the chocolate truffles.

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Mocha Truffles
Yummy coffee flavor.

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Oreo Truffles
Everyone seems to love these simple to make candies.

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Cherry Fudge Truffles
These seem to get even better after a day or so. They freeze well.

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Oreo Cherry Truffles
These are a favorite of Older Son’s wife. She is a wonderful daughter to us. Helpful and encouraging and loving. A very real blessing. It is a delight to make these for her.

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Almond Truffles
Made with almond extract (not imitation).

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Minty Cream Cheese Truffles
This was a new recipe for me this year. It got a lot of rave reviews and some requests for the recipe.

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Candy Jumble
Quick and easy. This is a treat the kidlets can help you with.

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Macadamia Nut Craisin Bark
Super easy and very tasty.

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Christmas Mice
These little mice are a Christmas tradition at our house. I am sure more go home from the open house wrapped in napkins than are eaten at the party!

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Candied Pecans
Can’t stop eating these…

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Chex Mix
This salty treat is a good counterpoint to the sweetness of the cookies and candies. This recipe will fill two one-gallon-size zippered plastic bags.

There you go. All the recipes I used to make the open house goodies. I had to hunt a few down. I have pages in my Christmas Notebook with the recipes, but didn’t have a link for all of them. Now I do.

Enjoy! If you try any of the recipes, let me know how you like them. Merry Christmas!

~~Rhonda