Try These Christmas Cookie Recipes

The holidays are a time for sweet treats, especially on Christmas Eve. Say "Thank you" to Santa by leaving him some of these cookies.

Peanut Butter Blossoms
Adapted from Hershey's Kitchens. Makes about four dozen cookies.

Ingredients

• Hershey's Kisses or miniature Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (one for each cookie you intend to make) with wrappers removed
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• Extra granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in a large bowl until well blended. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar, and beat the mixture until it's fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla as you continue to beat the dough.
3. Mix flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the peanut butter mixture.
4. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place dough balls on ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake cookies 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and immediately press one candy in the center of each cookie. It will crack around the edges.
6. Place cookies on a wire rack to cool.

Chocolate chip cookies
Makes about four dozen.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or your favorite combination of chips)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
3. Bake for about 10-12 minutes in the preheated oven or until edges are nicely browned.