Christmas Cookies for Two Recipe

Kayleigh here. Yes, I know the holidays have come and gone, but I am sure most of you are still wrapped in the warm blanket of good will and kindness that the season brings every year. Along with that fuzzy feeling, I'm sure you're still craving the tastes and scents of all that delicious holiday food that countered the cold, blustery weather so well. So, what to do when you do not want to roast an entire ham, or wait weeks for that fruitcake to soak? Well, why not take the quicker route, and bake some Christmas cookies?

Really, these cookies are quite lovely any time of the year, but I have some strong sentimental feelings from baking dozens of them towards the beginning of December, and riding out that sugary tide all the way into the start of the new year. But if you are like Jason and I are, and prefer a little variety from week to week, then maybe that thought of piles of cookies does not sound all that appealing. Why not reduce the recipe, and just whip a couple up when you get that craving?

The recipe below makes two each of Snowball cookies and Christmas Wreath cookies, since the base for each is the same. Really, you could alter this recipe pretty easily to just make one or the other- just double the extra ingredients for that cookie, and omit what is only needed for the other. But if you are like me, then these two go together like peanut butter and nutella, and I could not dream of having one without the other!

Christmas Cookies- Snowball and Christmas Wreath

Makes two of each cookie (4 total)

Ingredients:
For both:
2 TB butter, softened
1/4 Cup White Rice Flour
1/4 Cup Corn Starch
1 Cup Ice Cold Water (you will not use all of this)

For the Snowballs:
1 ts Granulated White Sugar
1-2 drops Almond Extract
2 TB crushed up Walnuts (very small pieces)
1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

For the Christmas Wreaths:
1 TB Brown Sugar
1-2 drops Vanilla Extract
1/2 Egg, beaten
2 heaping TB of Crushed Walnuts
2 TB shredded Coconut
2 heaping TB jelly or preserves of your choice (I usually use Raspberry or Strawberry)

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350. Combined butter and flour in a bowl, until it forms a crumbly dough. Add water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until the mixture JUST forms a ball. You want these cookies to hold their shape when baked, so do not make it too wet.

2) Divide dough into two bowls now. In the first, add the Sugar and Almond Extract, then mix in the walnuts. Form the dough into two balls, then place onto cookie sheet.
3)  In the second bowl, mix in Brown Sugar and Vanilla Extract. Roll the dough into two balls, then squish slightly to make a fat disk.

4) Beat the egg, then roll the two disks until coated. Sprinkle on Walnuts and Shredded Coconut, then place on cookie sheet. Using your thumbs, make an indent in the center of each one for the jelly to go in later.

5) Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cookies are just starting to brown. Take the snowball cookies (the round ones) immediately off the sheet and roll them in powdered sugar. The sugar sticks better when they are hot, but be careful!
6) After the cookies have mostly cooled ( about 10 minutes), place a heaping tablespoon of jam into the center of each wreath cookie. Plate them up all pretty, and serve!

Jason here. These cookies definitely remind me of Christmas. They have that super crumbly texture that I associate with Christmas cookies. Unfortunately I do not like coconut, so I made mine without. Make sure you have a nice glass of milk to wash the cookies down with. I found my mouth getting dry after just a cookie, and then they are no fun. For that Christmas cookie taste, definitely try out these cookies, especially if you are just looking for a small batch cookie recipe.