Christmas Cookies Recipes - Soft Mincemeat Cookies

A deliciously comforting soft baked cookie.

1/4 cup butter; softened

Cookies

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

Christmas Cookies Recipes - Soft Mincemeat Cookies

2 eggs

3/4 cup mincemeat

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.

In a bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Add in eggs and mincemeat; mix well.

In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; add to the creamed mixture; mixing well. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely.

Makes 48 cookies.

=> Christmas Cookies Recipes: Orange Cookies

A fresh, citrus flavored cookie that will delight everyone.

1 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup buttermilk

3 eggs

2/3 cup orange juice

4 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel

3 to 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Cookie Icing

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Add in the buttermilk, eggs, orange juice and orange peel.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Drop by teaspoonfuls 2-inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool. Frost with Cookie Icing.

Cookie Icing

4 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 teaspoon orange extract

1/3 to 1/2 cup orange juice

Directions

In a bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, orange extract and enough orange juice to get to the desired consistency. Frost cooled cookies.

Makes 144 cookies.

=> Christmas Cookies Recipes: Mocha Fudge Cookies

A delicious cookie graced with coffee and cocoa flavors.

2 cups butter

4 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided

3 cups sugar

1 cup baking cocoa

1 tablespoon instant coffee granules

3 cups packed brown sugar

8 eggs, beaten

3 tablespoons vanilla extract

8 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a Dutch oven over low heat, melt butter and and 2 cups of chocolate chips. Remove from heat; stirring until smooth.

In a bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa and coffee; add to butter mixture. Stir in the brown sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture. Stir in walnuts and remaining chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2-inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until edges are set. Let cool.

Makes 222 cookies.

Christmas Cookies Recipes - Soft Mincemeat Cookies

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How To Make Painted Christmas Cookies

Who doesn't love the smell of fresh baked Christmas cookies? Part of the fun of Christmas for many folks is baking and decorating Christmas cookies. If you like to decorate sugar cookies during the holidays then you may enjoy letting your inner artist come out this year. How about trying your hand at painting your Christmas cookies this year? While at first glance they may seem difficult to accomplish, painting Christmas cookies is easy enough for children to help with.

Christmas cookie paint is actually a simple mix of egg yolk, water, and food coloring. After you've rolled out the dough and cut the shape you want, just paint on some playful designs, and bake your cookies as always. A couple of techniques can be used to place the designs on the dough. You can paint freehand or take a smaller cookie cutter and gently imprint or press the design to paint.

Cookies

Making the paint is easy. Use one egg yolk for every two colors you plan on using. Add ¼ teaspoon water, and beat with a fork until smooth. Divide the yolk mixture into two cups and stir enough food coloring in to make your desired shades. Keep in mind that the paint will dry out fast, so keep it covered when you're not using it. Stir in a little water to keep the paint a consistency that you can work with.

How To Make Painted Christmas Cookies

Easy Painted Christmas Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

¼ cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

4 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

¾ tsp baking soda

Egg Yolk Paint

Cream butter at medium speed and gradually add sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each egg. Add milk and vanilla, and mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, and soda; add flour mixture to creamed mixture, stirring until blended. Your dough will be soft. Shape dough into 2 balls; wrap each in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours. Work with half of dough at a time; store remainder in refrigerator. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thick on floured board or waxed paper; cut with 2 ½ to 3 inch cookie cutters and carefully transfer cut cookies to lightly greased cookie sheets. Paint various designs on cookies using a small art brush and our Egg Yolk Paint. Bake at 375F for 6-8 minutes; cook on wire rack. Makes about 5 dozen.

Easy Egg Yolk Paint

1 egg, beaten

¼ tsp water

Food coloring

Combine egg yolk and water; stir well. Divide mixture evenly into 2 cups; tint as you desire with food coloring. Keep your paint covered until ready to use. If paint thickens, add a few drops of water and stir well. Makes about 1 ½ tablespoons. Prepare this recipe for every 2 colors of paint you want to use.

Painting Christmas cookies is so much fun that you might decide to start a new family tradition. Create these pretty cookies to give away as special gifts or use as tree ornaments. This is a great holiday activity for older kids to make Christmas gifts for Mom and Dad too. If you decide to make painted Christmas cookies as ornaments, just cut a small hole in the top of the cookies before you bake them. Thread colorful cord or ribbon through the hole after the cookies have cooled. Have fun and use your imagination!

How To Make Painted Christmas Cookies

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Cookie Recipe - Old Fashioned Ice Box Cookies

My grandmother was known in our family for her delicious cookies. She lived two hours away from us, but when she would come to visit, she often brought these tasty ice box cookies. I think they were supposed to last for the whole week that she was there, but they barely made it through a couple of days. Of course, in the old days, they didn't have refrigerators. They had ice boxes, and that is how these cookies got their name.

Ingredients

\"Decorated Cookies\"

1 cup soft shortening

Cookie Recipe - Old Fashioned Ice Box Cookies

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups brown sugar

1 teaspoon soda

2 eggs

1 cup finely chopped nuts

3 1/2 cups flour

Instructions

Mix thoroughly the shortening, sugar, and eggs. Sift together the flour, salt, and soda. Blend in the nuts.

Now, on cutting board, or on a piece of wax paper, divide the cookie dough into two rolls. Wrap each roll in wax paper, making sure all of the dough is covered so none of it dries out. Chill these two rolls in the refrigerator overnight.

The next day, when you are ready to make the cookies, take them out and cut the rolls into 1/8 inch slices. Place about an inch or so apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. This recipe should yield about 12 dozen cookies.

You may want to choose a day when your children are home from school because of a snow day. Enjoy an afternoon in the kitchen together preparing and baking these cookies. Then curl up and watch a movie together or play a board game at the kitchen table while you are munching on them!

Cookie Recipe - Old Fashioned Ice Box Cookies

For ideas and tips on homemaking, cooking, crafts, family life, gardening, family history, and a touch of the past, visit http://www.oldfashionedhomemaking.com.

Pfeffernusse German Cookies Recipe

This is a traditional recipe for Pfeffernusse cookies which are often made in Germany during the Christmas holiday season. They are spicy, crisp, peppery cookies which are wonderful for dunking in milk or coffee. Their taste even improves with age when kept in a sealed air-tight container at room temperature. Baked cookies can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Ingredients:

Cookies

1/2 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup honey
2 large eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground anise seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar for dusting

Pfeffernusse German Cookies Recipe

Directions:

Grease cookie sheets and set aside.

Melt butter or margarine over medium-low heat in a saucepan. Stir in the molasses and honey and continue to heat and stir until mixture is creamy and well blended. Remove the saucepan from heat. Allow to cool to room temperature. Stir eggs into the cooled mixture.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, ginger, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, anise seeds and salt until well blended. Stir in the molasses mixture and mix well until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate dough for 1 to 2 hours.

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Roll dough into small balls about 3/4 inch in diameter. Place dough balls 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets.

Bake in preheated oven 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Use a spatula to move cookies to a cooling rack.

Place powdered sugar in a plastic bag. Adding a small amount of cookies at a time, shake gently to coat completely with powdered sugar.

Recipe yields about 5 1/2 dozen cookies.

Pfeffernusse German Cookies Recipe

K. Hupp enjoys cooking, gardening and unique collectibles. Visit a German Collectibles Haus to see the newest Steinbach Nutcrackers and Smokers for the holiday season.

Christmas Party Games - Plan a Merry Event!

Christmas - games, parties and fun! Who can resist the joys of the holiday season all the decorations, traditions, contagious cheer and endless parties! If the holiday spirit has swayed you into hosting a Christmas party you've come to the right place! With a little planning you can host a memorable Holiday soiree that will be remembered long into the new year!

It's Just Around the Corner - Plan Early!

\"Decorated Cookies\"

In case you haven't noticed (but we're sure you have), the month of December is crazy busy and gets crazier as Christmas comes near. Best advice on this topic is to PLAN EARLY! Planning in November will assure you have time to organize the party and still tackle your own Christmas "To-do" list. You'll also be able to get the invitations out before your guest Christmas calendars fill up.

Christmas Party Games - Plan a Merry Event!

Mind the Pocketbook - Set a Budget

The first, and most important, step is to set a budget! Determine how much you can comfortably spend. Setting a budget (and sticking to it) will not only keep some Christmas cash in your pocket but will also help guide your party planning decisions.

The Whole Crew and Aunt Sue Too - Make the Guest List

Be realistic about how many guest you can handle. Take into account the size of your place and the work involved in entertaining a group. Remember too that 'tis the season to be jolly and someone will likely bring an extra guest or two. Better to have a shorter list of closest friends and family unless you plan to have some hosting help and can afford to feed and entertain a larger crowd.

Any Day Now - Choose a Day and Time

'Tis the season for full social calendars so choose your date early and wisely. If possible, it's best to give guest at least three weeks notice. Saturday is usually the best day for most people to attend but Sunday can be good too. Remember to consider your schedule, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for the party and tend to your Christmas "To-do" list.

It's All about the Food - Plan the Menu

Your budget, guest list and party time will help guide this step. You can choose a potluck event a catered affair or anything in between. Perhaps a formal dinner and invite guest to bring their favorite dessert. The only rule on party food is the time of the party. If the hours of your party include the dinner hour you should serve heavier entree foods. Evening parties can serve lighter to heavy hors d'oeuvres and desserts. Don't forget the beverages! Alcoholic drinks are not mandatory so don't feel obligated to serve them. Perhaps wine options are a better fit for your affair. If you do offer alcoholic drinks be sure to have alternatives for those who don't drink and designated drivers. Keep the bar drinks simple to avoid the added work of playing bar-tender and the extra expense of stocking the bar. Should any of your guests have one-too-many be sure they do not drive home.

Get the Party Started - Plan the Fun

Above all else your Christmas party should be fun! Plan fun activities to get the party started and keep it going.

- Christmas party games. Games are a great way to get your guest talking and mingling.

- Trim the tree. Have all your tree decorations out and let your guest trim your tree.

- Christmas caroling. Take the party outside and sing carols for your neighbors.

- Decorate cookies. Prepare a table with cookie icings and sprinkles and let your guest decorate the cookies. They get to take their decorated cookies home.

- Exchange gifts. Either secret Santa or grab bag style. Be sure to include this on your invitations along with a spending limit.

Ya'll Come - Send the Invitations

Now that the party plans are in place, it's time to send out the invitations. Remember, three weeks notice (or more) is best so get those out ASAP!

It's the Thought that Counts - Party Favors

This is not always necessary but it is nice to give each guest some small token of thanks for their attendance. This can be as simple as a slice of cake to-go to a beautifully wrapped party favor gift. Again the watch cry is...budget!

Count Down - Final Steps

Shop for decor and party accessory items 2 weeks before. This will give you time to find any items that prove hard to locate. If you plan to order Christmas party games or other party supplies online, shop three to four weeks before the party.

Buy Food items and beverages the night before the party. Also, prepare any food that can be prepared ahead of time the night before. This will give you time to decorate, prepare food and get ready for your guest.

There you have it, plans for a event full of Christmas party games and merriment! Have fun and remember, no matter what the budget or theme your guest will appreciate the time spent sharing the season's joys with family and friends Above all else, keep it fun and you can't go wrong!

Christmas Party Games - Plan a Merry Event!

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Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes - Poinsettia Cookies

These baked flower cookies are almost too pretty to eat.

1 cup butter, softened

Cookies

1 cup confectioners' sugar

Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes - Poinsettia Cookies

1 egg

2 to 3 drops red food coloring

2 1/3 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup finely crushed red hot candies

Cookie Frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat in the egg and food coloring.

In another bowl, combine the flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the red hot candies.

Divide the dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough into a a 12x10-inch rectangle. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 2-inch squares. Place 1-inch apart on prepared baking sheets.

Cut through the dough from the corner of each square to within 1/2-inch of the center. Fold the alternating points of the square to form a pinwheel (one corner folded in, the other left sticking out); pinch gently at the center to seal. Repeat with remaining dough.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Let cool.

Cookie Frosting

1 cup confectioners' sugar

4 teaspoons milk

Additional red hot candies

Directions

In a bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar and milk. Pipe 1/2 teaspoon of frosting into the center of each cookie; top with a red hot candy.

Makes 60 cookies.

=> Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes: Mocha Cookie Pretzel Cookies

These cookies look like chocolate covered pretzels.

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups cake flour

Cookie Glaze

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.

In a small bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg. Beat in the melted chocolate and vanilla.

In another bowl, combine the flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until the dough is easy to handle.

Divide the dough into four parts. Divide each portion into 12 pieces. Shape each piece into a 6-inch rope. Twist into a pretzel shape. Place 1-inch apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until set. Cool completely.

Cookie Glaze

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon shortening

1 teaspoon light corn syrup

1 cup confectioners' sugar

3 to 5 tablespoons hot brewed coffee

2 squares white baking chocolate, chopped

Green colored sugar, optional

Directions

In the microwave, melt the semisweet chips, shortening and corn syrup; stir until smooth. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and enough coffee to achieve a glaze consistency. Dip cookies into the glaze; let excess drip off. Place on waxed paper and let set.

Melt the white chocolate, stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Decorate with green sugar. Let stand until set.

Makes 48 cookies.

=> Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes: Chocolate Filled Poppy Seed Cookies

A truly unique cookie featuring poppy seeds and a dollop of chocolate in the middle.

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

3 tablespoons poppy seeds

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla.

In another bowl, combine the flour, poppy seeds and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2-inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately make an indentation in the center again. Cool slightly and fill with melted chocolate.

Makes 78 cookies.

Unusual Christmas Cookie Recipes - Poinsettia Cookies

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Never-Fail Shortbread Cookies

This recipe gives you crumbling, melt in your mouth shortbread cookies. It requires that you make a dough and refrigerate it at least one hour before baking, so allow for enough time to bake these cookies.

First, prepare the dough. Ingredients you will need:

Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter (not margarine), softened to room temperature

Never-Fail Shortbread Cookies

½ cup powdered (confectioners) sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup cornstarch

¼ teaspoon salt

Whisk flour, cornstarch and salt in a separate bowl and set aside. In a bowl, cream butter about one minute with an electric or hand mixer. Add the sugar and beat until smooth, about 1.5 to 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract, then gently stir in flour mixture until incorporated. Do not over mix. Flatten the dough into a disk shape, wrap in plastic. Chill dough for 1 to 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray lightly with cooking spray.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to ¼ inch thick. Cut into rounds or into shapes with lightly floured cookie cutters. Place on the prepared baking sheets and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.

(If you find that your cookies lose their shape during baking, try placing the entire baking sheet with cut dough in the refrigerator for fifteen minutes before baking. This will ensure the cookies keep their shape while baking.)

Cool on a wire rack and store in airtight containers. Cookies can also be frozen.

There are many choices for topping shortbread cookies. Some popular choices include powdered sugar, sugar sprinkles, or even dipping the ends in melted chocolate.

The great thing about shortbread dough is that it is delicious plain or with added flavors. Try adding chocolate chips, espresso powder, cinnamon or finely chopped orange or lemon zest. Each of these can add a good accompaniment to the flavor of plain shortbread.

The secret to this cookie recipe is the cornstarch. In any cookie recipe, you can replace a portion of flour with cornstarch to make the cookie have a crumbly texture. If you're looking for more of a crunchy texture, replace ¼ cup of flour with rice flour. Also, be sure to purchase pure vanilla extract, instead of imitation vanilla (which is made from synthetic vanilla and tastes more bitter). Believe me, you can taste the difference!

Particularly with cookies, using higher quality ingredients will give you a better tasting product in the end. Look for high quality butter (Grade AA is the highest grade of butter, and therefore, the highest quality).

Never-Fail Shortbread Cookies

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Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/spidergirl so stop by and read for a while.

Recipe for Traditional Swedish Christmas Cookies or Pepparkakor

In any traditional Swedish home, the smell of these home baked cookies will be found wafting throughout the home at Christmas time. The Swedes really love cooking for the holiday season and the Christmas Eve celebration is the highlight of the year.

Don't be worried by the literal translation of Pepparkakor, which means pepper cookies, it may have been that in olden times there was a little pepper in the recipe, but now there's just a tasty mix of spices.

Cookies

Christmas Spice Cookies or Pepparkakor

Recipe for Traditional Swedish Christmas Cookies or Pepparkakor

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

1. 8 ounces (2 sticks) butter
2. 1 1/2 cups sugar
3. 1 egg
4. 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
5. 1/4 cup orange juice
6. 2 teaspoons orange zest
7. 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
8. 2 teaspoons baking soda
9. 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
10. 2 teaspoons ground ginger
11. 2 teaspoons ground cloves

1. Preheat oven to 400˚ F.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Stir in egg, corn syrup, orange juice, and orange zest.

3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Stir flour mixture into the creamed butter until combined.

4. Roll dough out to 1/8 inch and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the oven. Cool cookies on wire racks.

These are a wonderful cookie recipe for children to make and taste even better when cut out with all manner of shape of cookie cutters!

Enjoy making and eating this traditional Swedish cookie recipe.

Recipe for Traditional Swedish Christmas Cookies or Pepparkakor

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Holiday Cookies - Recipe For Mincemeat Cookies

Mincemeat in olden times was contained in a crust and known as Christmas pie. The Puritans associated the pie with Catholics and thus, they were banned. But the concoction survived and can be found pre-made in jars around Christmas time.

Made up of apples and other fruits, it did indeed contain meat at one time. Nowadays the only meat in mincemeat is the beef suet or fat found around the kidneys of cows, sheep or pigs. Read the label. You can buy it vegetarian style as well. The suet is usually substituted with palm oil. I make it without any oil at all.

Cookies

Because of the spices and the brandy contained in most recipes, mincemeat is better if the fruit is allowed to absorb these flavors over several days. Some recommend three days, while others feel two weeks is better. Just put it together and refrigerate it ahead of time, so you can make the cookies later.

Holiday Cookies - Recipe For Mincemeat Cookies

Double the following mincemeat recipe if you are making a pie. I prefer these bite-sized holiday cookies of stuffed pastry myself. It is a little work, because you have to roll the dough, but then you would roll the dough for a pie as well.

Peal, core and dice up a Granny Smith apple. Chop up and add ½ cup raisins and ¼ cup figs. Stir in ¼ cup of brown sugar, ½ teaspoon orange peel, 2 teaspoon ginger, ½ teaspoon nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon cloves. Add 2 tablespoons of brandy. You may also add ground walnuts if you like. I wait to see what the consistency is going to be and thicken with the nuts if necessary or thin with a little orange juice. You can add cranberries or dates also for variety. To blend or chop more finely (you will be using ½ teaspoons of this filling for the cookies) pulse everything in a food processor.

For the pastry, and trust me it is worth the effort, cream 6 ounces of softened cream cheese with 1 cup of softened real butter. (A less or low fat version of butter does not harden well enough to roll.) Cut in 2 cups of unbleached flour and 2 teaspoons of grated lemon or orange peel. You can use bleached flour, but it tends to be stickier when you roll it out. The dough will be crumbly; knead it until a smooth ball forms. Shape it into a rectangle, cover and refrigerate it until it is firm. An hour should do it. Flatten it more and it will not take as long to firm up.

Roll it out into a 17½ by 12½-inch rectangle and cut it into about 35, 2.5-inch squares. Roll it out on parchment paper for ease in transferring them to a cookie sheet. A pizza cutter works very well. Spoon a ½ teaspoon of the mincemeat into the center of each square. Fold the pastry over it to form a small rectangle and seal the 3 open edges firmly with a fork. If it is not firm enough, they will open while baking. Sprinkling with powdered sugar after they cool makes them look a bit more festive.

Bake these at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 14 to 16 minutes or until the edges are golden. Grease your cookie sheet or use parchment paper. You are going to love these. Do not forget to put a few of them aside as a reward for all your hard work. They melt in your mouth, and you will regret that you did not double the recipe. But then, you should have enough mincemeat to do just that.

Holiday Cookies - Recipe For Mincemeat Cookies

Copyright 2011 by Linda K. Murdock. Linda is the author of A Busy Cook's Guide to Flavor-Packed Cookies & Bars. This book includes 63 different flavors with a cookie and bar recipe for each flavor, including Eggnog Cookies, Lime (like key lime pie), Root Beer, Curry Pecan and others. Smaller recipes, easy instructions and readily available ingredients attract busy bakers, who prefer more flavor and less sugar in their desserts. To learn more go to http://bellwetherbooks.com