Pretty, Pretty Christmas Cookies

Aren't they lovely?

'Tis the season for baking.  Especially Christmas baking.  Especially Christmas cookies.  And I made the most BEAUTIFUL Christmas cookies yesterday.  I can't help it.  I love the way these look.  And taste, of course.

They are very simple, as simple as peanut blossoms.  Actually, they were inspired by peanut blossoms, but instead of chocolate kisses, they are made with peppermint kisses.  And since peanut butter and mint are just weird together, I had to use a different cookie.  We used snickerdoodles last year, and they were very good.  But this year I was flipping through my Taste of Home cookbooks and came across the recipe for Chocolate Crackle cookies.  Perfect!  They are nice and chocolatey, and easy to make.  Excellent compliment to the peppermint kisses.  And this combination is not only great for eating, it is also very pleasing to the eye.  At least, I think they are.  So without further ado, I give you my Pretty Peppermint Kiss Cookies.

Pretty Peppermint Kiss Cookies
Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar6 Tablespoons oil (I used coconut)2 eggs6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon saltpowdered sugar36 Peppermint kisses

In a large bowl, beat sugar, cocoa, and oil until blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until chilled - at least 2 hours or overnight.  I didn't take it out until right before scooping and I didn't have any trouble.


Shape dough into 1-in. balls - I used my small cookie scoop, so about 1 Tablespoon size. Roll in powdered sugar. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks. Immediately press one peppermint kiss in each cookie. They do tend to puddle a little, but if you don't jostle them and have the kitchen cool enough, they should hold their shape. Makes about 3 dozen.

Here's the original Chocolate Crackle Cookie recipe: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Old-Fashioned-Crackle-Cookies 

Unmasking Girl Scouts

    For most of us, the first thing we probably think when we hear “Girl Scouts” is “COOKIES!”  After all, who can resist those yummy thin mints?  Of course, over the years you have probably noticed how the cookies - and boxes - get smaller every year, even as the price goes up.  After all, it’s for the community, right?  Sure, the cookies aren’t as good as you remembered (or as big.) Sure you know they are full of non-nutritious yumminess. So we shell out, to feed our yearly craving, telling ourselves we are supporting our communities and the girls.  

    Because of the feminist agenda I know Girl Scouts supports, I don’t support their cause, but I admit to buying the cookies from friends and family when they come around every year.  But no more.  After reading through a site set up by two brave young women, I don’t think I will ever be able to stomach another girl scout cookie unless I have made it myself (more on that in a moment.)

    SpeakNowGirlScouts.com is a site set up by two Texas teens, both longtime scouts.  They quit the organization after discovering that what the Girl Scout organization supported, they could not.  They took a stand, and are now sharing what they have found with others.  

    I think it is important to note that the problem with Girl Scouts, as with many organizations, does not necessarily lie in the troupes, rather it is a problem with corporate.  Unfortunately, the negatives will undoubtably trickle down, and supporting one means supporting the other.  Which brings us back to the cookies.  

    If you hold the same views that I do, that it is better for women to be feminine than feminist, and that it is impossible for the world see find women equal to men when all they want to do is appear the same as men - in other words, a women’s role in the world is as important as a man’s, and that makes her equal, not her ability to fulfill his role - if you agree, you may realize that you can no longer stomach shelling out exorbitant amounts of money for an increasingly poor, yet nonetheless addicting box of cookies.  Never fear, there is a homemade and evermore delicious option available!!!  And you don’t have to wait for the next cookie season!  

    Sorry, I don’t have my own recipe for any girl scout cookies, but I have tested the Homemade and All-natural Thin Mint Recipe from 101 Cookbooks.  Everyone who tried them, loved them. They were sweet, crispy, chocolatey, minty, deliciousness.  I did coat them with chocolate chips - generally not considered good quality semi-sweet chocolate, but will work in a pinch. I think better chocolate would have added a lot, possibly something just a little sweeter.  I made these for Christmas, and the hidden tin in the fridge stayed fresh nicely.  Another note- they break easily, so do not try to cut them with a fun note-shaped cookie cutter!  

I plan on testing some other “girl scout” cookie recipes soon, and will be sure to share the results!  One site in particular that looks good is Baking Bites blog.  There is even a recipe for tagalongs!  Can’t wait to get baking!  The thin mint recipe are slice and bake, so I will definitely have to try those as well.  If you have your own recipe, or if you try one of these, let me know!  I'd love to compare notes  :)