Are You Baking Christmas Cookies?

[dem in texas]

I am running behind on my Christmas baking schedule but I've made a shopping list and will be going to the grocery store tomorrow. I need to mail a box of cookies to my grandson in New York, so gotta get to baking.

I am going make cut-out sugar cookies and ginger bread pigs for kids, angel slices (from Joy of Cooking), gum drop cookies (old recipe from King Arthur Flour). Also talked with my granddaughter who is away at college last night and she put in a request for chow mien noodle cookies. And of course Aunt Gail's Lemon Bars. Probably a few more recipes.

One recipe that is always on the top of the list is Orange Chocolate Chippers. This is the hands down favorite by all generations in our family. It was my mother's recipe. I am posting the recipe below, give it a try.

Orange Chocolate Chippers

The original recipe called for a 3-oz package of cream cheese and only made 3 dozen cookies. Many grocery stores no longer carry the 3-oz package of cream cheese and this recipe is so good that 3 dozen cookies is never enough, so I adjusted the recipe to use an 8-oz package of cream cheese and make 6 dozen cookies. This is truly the Queen of cookies – the best cookie recipe hands down. I am always asked for the recipe.

2 cups shortening (do not use butter)
2 cups sugar
1 8-oz. Package cream cheese
4 eggs
5 or 6 tablespoons finely chopped orange peel, use mirco plane zester for fine peel
4 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 12-oz bags semi sweet or milk chocolate chips (1 of each is best)

Cream shortening, sugar and cream cheese together. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Add orange peel and vanilla. Mix well.

(Note: I grate the orange peel with a micro planner, it is a very fine grate. This gives the cookie a more intense orange flavor)

Sift flour and salt together. Add to creamed mixture. Add the chocolate chips and mix well.

Drop by teaspoon full, 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet or sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until edge of cookies just start to brown. Remove from oven and cool on cookie sheet a minute then move to cake rack to cool.

Watch closely as these cookies burn easily. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper for best results when baking these cookies.

[Lugnut]

1. Yep.

It wouldn't be Christmas without ricotta cookies so I'll be making those. Pizzelles are on my list and, if I have time, the gang would love some chocolate chips.

[Phentex]

2. Those sound good! I will be baking but I discovered...

a cheat. I like a mint chocolate cookie and I just discovered a Pepperidge Farm version. Chewy, chocolatey with a hint of mint. Just may take the work out of the ones I make!

I love orange and chocolate together so I will definitely try your recipe.

I used to make a gum drop cookie but I haven't made those in years. I like pinwheels, checkerboards, Italian sugar cookies and the chocolate mint cookies for the holidays.

[dem in texas]

3. Started my cookie baking yesterday

I baked oatmeal crispies and Mexican Powder cookies last night. Cut up the gum drops for gum drop cookies which I will make today. Will make dough for sugar cookies cut-outs and gingerbread pigs, the dough needs to chill so will probably make these cookies tomorrow. Also need to dig out my cookie cutters.

[Dalai_1]

4. These look yummy!

I copied your recipe and definitely will make these.
Thank you for sharing!

[dem in texas]

5. Made lots of cookies this past week

Aunt Gail's Lemon Bars, Oatmeal Crispies, Double chocolate with peppermint cookies, Sugar cookie cut outs, gingerbread boys and gingerbread pigs, gum drop cookies, mincemeat short bread and Mexican powder cookies. Having one final cookie baking day at my daughter's house next Monday (my 3 granddaughters will be there to join in on the cookie making fun) and we will be making angel slices, chow mein noodle cookies and another batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Then putting the cookies in tins to give away for Christmas. We've also made 2 batches of the orange chocolate chippers and ate them all.

[Luminous Animal]

6. My husband used to bake 3000-4000 cooked… 12 -15 different varieties.

I assisted but mostly it was his endeavor.

He did this for about 15 years. It was a highlight of the season for everyone we knew and people we hardly knew.

3 years ago, he stopped. Which is a good thing.

Your recipe sounds delicious.

[SheilaT]

7. That does sound like a great recipe.

I've never baked special Christmas cookies, and I'm beginning to sort of wish I had. It's just that I tend to think of Christmas cookies as some sort of frosted sugar cookie cut out in Christmas shapes, and I've always stuck with drop cookies.

Maybe someday I'll have grandchildren and I can start a new tradition with them.

[pscot]

8. Lebkuchen

I make about a hundred of them every year. There's a good recipe at King Arthur Flour's website. They keep really well. We generally finish them off in February. I'll make some spritz cookies this week. They're pretty easy and with a cookie press you get the holiday shapes. They disappear in a hurry.

[dem in texas]

10. Lebkuchen - Yum, Yum

My next door neighbor is from Germany and she gives us a box of these cookies every year, so tasty.

[pscot]

11. We used to get them

at a German deli but living in the boondocks requires resourcefulness. Lebkuchen make great trail food

[spinbaby]

9. Not many this year

Too many carbs, so we don't eat them, but I did bake a few dozen for when family comes over for Christmas.

[bif]

12. Had our annual cookiefest yesterday

We made a shload of cookies in about 3 hours.

[dem in texas]

13. All My Christmas Cookies are gone

I put them all in containers last night along with a few peppermint canes. We took some to our neighbors this morning and the others were given away at our family gathering this afternoon. Had a good time baking and hope all like my treats.

[Nay]

14. In the directions you say "add vanilla," but I don't see vanilla listed in the

ingredients. How much vanilla do we use? Thanks! I want to make these cookies and I want to do it right.

[dem in texas]

15. Whoops, sorry I left the vanilla out

Two teaspoons. You will love these cookies. During the lead up to Christmas, we made several batches of them. My grandson in New York said his wife had made a batch for them. Everyone in my family makes these cookies.

[Nay]

16. Thank you so much. nt