Basic Christmas Cookie Dough
I have had this long time passion for making Christmas cookies.... and I usually start the day after Thanksgiving. By the time Christmas comes around, my family is overdosed with cookies and do not wish to eat anymore. So... I had to do something to fulfill my passion for a variety of cookies without having a ton of cookies leftover.
I decided to make a universal cookie dough, adding variations to it to make a wide variety of cookies I yearn to make. With this easy dough, it is possible. You can also make large amounts, wrapping the extra tight and keep it in the freezer. This is good in case you need a quick gift or someone that is stopping by for a cup of coffee and a chat.
Prepared dough usually lasts up to one week in the fridge or roughly a month in the freezer.
Gluten free and Low Carb For a gluten free/low carb version, just replace the flour with 2 cups almond flour and use 1 egg yoke instead of the whole egg.
This is what you need:
2 sticks butter unsalted
2/3 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla extract
a pinch of salt
Lemon peel from 1/2 a lemon
1 egg
1 cup almonds, ground or you can use almond flour
2 cups of flower, plus extra for dusting your work surface or if the dough is too thin(the dough should be sticky)
Mix all of the ingredients and let the dough rest for about 1 hour in the fridge, then have fun adding and decorating to your hearts content.
Bake for about 10 to 15 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit, or until golden brown
Here are some examples of what is possible:
Push a whole in the center, fill it with different kinds of jam or jelly. Bake and when done, sprinkle with powdered sugar. In Germany we call these "Angel Dimples".
Roll the dough into a ball , bake it until golden brown, while still hot, add a Hershey kiss to the top. Vary the Hershey kisses for different looks (white chocolate, dark, peppermint, etc).
For this one I worked Heath toffee bits into the dough and baked the cookies. After they cooled, drizzle white chocolate to the top, sprinkled some more Heath toffee bits on and drizzle more white chocolate on top of that.
Adding Lemon or Lime zests to the dough gives this version a very fresh and tangy flavor. After baking, glaze the rings with confectioners sugar and lemon juice.
These half moons have unsweetened coconut and cranberries worked into the dough, after they are done baking and are cool, drizzle a bit of chocolate over top.
Seriously, you can add anything your heart desires. Have fun experimenting!
