Celebrate National Bake Cookies Day!

I don’t know what it is about Christmas, but it always puts me in a baking mood. When I was at college, I couldn’t wait to get home over winter break and hit the kitchen. I would spend hours baking and decorating cookies, and then grab a huge plate of them to enjoy by the tree. Each year, I would look for new recipes to try, but a few tried-and-true ones have always remained on the list. It seems I am not the only one who enjoys baking cookies, though. December 18 is National Bake Cookies Day, which makes sense since Christmas is only one week away (get shopping!). To celebrate, I am going to share some of my favorite cookie recipes with you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

My addiction with these cookies started back in high school. It took several years to find a recipe that even comes close to how they taste fresh from Mrs. Fields, but these are near perfect!

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

2 large eggs

3 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 bag white chocolate chips

1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

Directions:

Set your oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl. Next, melt the butter in the microwave. Beat sugars together in a separate bowl and add the melted butter. Mix on low until it looks like a paste. In a small bowl, whisk your eggs and vanilla flavoring. Add the egg mixture to the sugar paste and beat until smooth. Slowly add in the flour mixture. Fold in the white chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded spoonful’s onto an ungreased cookie sheet (I use parchment paper to reduce sticking) and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

 If you’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at Maggiano’s, I hope you’ve tried their Vera’s Lemon Cookies; they are a little slice of heaven! They remind me of Lay’s potato chips, because you can’t simply eat just one.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temp.

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large egg yolks

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp kosher salt

2 cups flour

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tsp grated lemon zest

Directions:

Set your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Next, add the egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Gradually mix in the flour. Once combined, divide the dough in half and shape into logs. Wrap in wax paper (or plastic wrap) and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Roll out the logs until they resemble a thick rope. Pinch off a piece and shape into a crescent. If this is too much, simply roll the dough into small balls and flatten to make round cookies, instead. Place cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and back for about 16 to 20 minutes (they should be golden on the edges). While the cookies bake, whisk together the confectioner’s sugar, lemon juice and zest. Cool the cookies completely before topping with the icing mixture.

Before you start thinking that baking cookies takes too much work or time, check out this next recipe. It only requires three ingredients and is super simple to make.

Pillsbury.com has a ton of great cookie recipes, especially around the holidays. For those moments when you want to bring something to a party or just need something sweet to eat, nothing beats this yummy cookie!

Ingredients:

1 package of Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookie dough

24 turtle candies

Coarse sea salt (optional)

Directions:

Set your over to 350 degrees. Next, line cookie sheets with parchment paper and cut the dough into rounds. Place on the cookie sheet about two inches apart. Bake for 12 to 16 minutes. While the cookies are still warm, push a turtle into each one and let cool. Sprinkle with salt, if desired.

If you want to try some other delicious cookie recipes, check out the 10 Creative Holiday Cookie Recipes from Her Campus. I know I will be adding some of these to my baking list this year!