These are excellent and quite pretty on a plate. Alexa *********************************************************** Holly Berry Cookies Servings: 12 Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter, chilled 1 egg 1/4 cup milk 2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam 2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup cinnamon red hot candies 4 drops green food coloring Directions: 1. In a large bowl combine the flour, white sugar, ground cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl beat the egg and 1/4 cup of milk. Add this to the crumb mixture until the dough is moistened. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 3. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut with a 2 inch round cookie cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheets. 4. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Once cool spread jam on half of the cookies then top each with another cookie. 5. To Make Glaze: Combine the confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla until smooth. Spread glaze over the cookie and decorate with red cinnamon candy before the glaze is set. Let dry. Using a small new paintbrush and green food coloring, paint holly leaves on cookies.

Shortbread is one of my favorite cookies to make and one of the most popular that I gift friends with. Rich, but not overly sweet, and as long as you keep them in a cool place (so the butter doesn't turn), they can stay good for weeks and weeks. I use the recipe from the Fannie Farmer baking book and my food processor. 2 sticks butter (1 cup) 2/3 c powdered sugar 1 t vanilla 2 c flour 1/4 t salt Process the butter, sugar and vanilla until it's smooth and then add the flour and salt. Process again until mixed. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/2 inch, and then cut into whatever shapes you favor. Place the cookies an inch apart on ungreased (yay!) cookie sheets and bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. You want them to barely color around the edges, not go brown at all. Cool them on a rack. Now, for my additions/alterations to the recipe... I like to brush the cookies with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven...heck, I'm eating shortbread anyway, and that extra splash of butter flavor is so wickedly good. Also, I get creative with my shortbread. It's a wonderfully flexible cookie, a good base for all kinds of flavorful additions. I toast pecans, process them into crumbs and knead them into the dough. Grate Meyer lemon zest into the dough, and add some juice to the melted butter wash. Crushed candy canes are a fun Christmas time addition (be judicious with these, as too much can make the cookies stick to the sheet). A good quality cocoa powder makes for chocolate shortbread. Finely minced dried fruits (cranberry or apricot are my favorites). Toasted coconut...put some of the sweetened coconut you get in the baking section of the grocery store into a heavy fry pan over a med-high heat and stir it 'round until it starts browning and the aroma rises wonderfully. Then mince it and work it into the dough. Gosh, I haven't made shortbread cookies for a while, and have been wondering what to make as little gifts for my clients...I think I've just decided!

I have quite a few refrigerator cookie recipes that I found for last Xmas when I needed so many at various times throughout the season. Black-and-White Cookies Makes about 5 dozen cookies. These cookies are known as icebox, or refrigerator, cookies. This type of cookie is made by forming dough into a log or rectangular block and chilling it thoroughly. You can also use different types of dough togethervanilla and chocolate, peanut butter and chocolateÂto make patterned cookies. Cookies are then sliced off the log or block and baked. When slicing the dough, give the log or block a quarter turn after every half dozen or so slices to keep the cookies perfectly square or round. 2 cups all-purpose flour 1?2 cup sugar Pinch of salt 16 Tbs. (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut  into small pieces 1 whole egg plus 1 egg yolk 1?2 tsp. vanilla extract 3 Tbs. unsweetened Dutch process  cocoa powder In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Add the butter pieces in 2 additions, pulsing after each addition, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and pulse until the dough holds together. Divide the dough in half. Transfer one-half to a lightly floured work surface and knead in the cocoa until incorporated. Lightly dust the work surface and a rolling pin with flour. Roll out each dough half into a 3-by-9-inch rectangle, 1?2 to 3?4 inch thick; trim the edges to even out. Place each rectangle on a large baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat the whole egg until blended. Set aside. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Using a sharp knife, cut each rectangle into 4 strips about 3?4 inch wide (you should have 4 strips of each color). Arrange 2 chocolate strips and 2 plain strips in a checkerboard pattern, brushing the beaten egg between the strips and gently pressing them together. Repeat with the remaining dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and use a knife to square off the edges of each block. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 30 minutes. Preheat an oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line them with parchment paper. Remove the blocks from the refrigerator, unwrap and cut each crosswise into slices 1?4 inch thick. Place them 1 1?2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies feel firm when lightly pressed, about 15 minutes. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then use a spatula to transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. Holiday Ginger Cookies 1 1/4 c. sugar 1 c. butter softened 1 egg 3 T. molasses 1 t. vanilla 3 c. flour 2 t. cinnamon 1 t. ginger 1/2 t. baking soda 1/4 t. salt Frosting 3 c. powdered sugar 1/3 c. butter softened 1 t. vanilla 1 to 2 T. milk Combine first five cookie ingredients in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add all remaining cookie ingredients. Beat until well mixed. Divide dough in half; wrap in plastic food wrap. Refrigerate until firm (1 to 2 hours). Roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness and cut out cookies. (I do not like to roll and cut cookies, so I just rolled them in nice loaves and sliced 1/8 inch cookies. Also do not use the frosting.) Bake 6-9 minutes at 375 degree oven. Quick to make and a mild ginger taste. Land O Lakes Soft Baking Butter box. White Chocolate Raspberry Slices Cynthia Monroe, Manchester, CA Cynthia Monroe won a blue ribbon at the Mendocino County fair for these pretty, easy-to-make cookies. PREP AND COOK TIME: About 45 minutes, plus about 1 hour to cool MAKES: 3 dozen cookies About 1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, at room temperature 1/4 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla About 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup raspberry jam 2 ounces white chocolate, chopped 1. In a large bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat 1/2 cup butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in 1 1/4 cups flour, then beat until dough comes together. 2. Divide dough into thirds. On a floured surface, with the palms of your hands, roll each portion into a 9-inch-long rope about 1 inch thick. Place ropes 3 inches apart on a buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheet. Press your finger into dough to make 1/2-inch-wide indentations at 1-inch intervals along each rope. Spoon 1/4 teaspoon jam into each indentation. 3. Bake ropes in a 350° regular or convection oven until edges are lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet. 4. Place white chocolate in a plastic sandwich bag, pushing to one corner; secure bag just above chocolate with a twist-tie or knot. Immerse corner of bag in a cup of hot water until chocolate is melted. Dry bag, then, with scissors, cut off the tip of the corner. Squeeze bag to drizzle white chocolate decoratively across ropes. Chill until chocolate is firm to touch, about 1 hour, then cut each rope diagonally into 12 slices. SANTA'S WHISKERS This slice and bake cookie filled with cherries and pecans is rolled in coconut. The cookie's name has been passed through generations of bakers. Preparation 40 min.  Chilling 1 hrs.  Baking 12 min.  Ingredients: *  1 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened* *  1/2 cup sugar *  1/2 cup powdered sugar *  1 egg *  1 teaspoon vanilla *  2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour *  1 1/2 cups red and/or green candied cherries, halved *  1 tablespoon all-purpose flour *  1 cup coarsely chopped pecans *  3 cups sweetened flaked coconut Instructions: Combine butter, sugar, powdered sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add 2 1/4 cups flour. Continue beating until well mixed. Combine cherries and 1 tablespoon flour in small bowl; toss to coat. Stir in cherry mixture and pecans by hand; mix well. Shape dough into 3 (10x1 1/2-inch) rolls on plastic food wrap. Roll each in 1 cup coconut. Wrap tightly. Refrigerate until firm (1 hour). Heat oven to 350°F. Cut rolls into 1/4-inch slices with sharp knife. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. *Substitute LAND O LAKES® Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil right from the refrigerator. Yield:  10 dozen cookies SLICE & BAKE SHORTBREAD COOKIES Form the refrigerated cookie dough roll into a variety of geometric shapes: circles, squares or triangles. Preparation 40 min.  Chilling 2 hrs.  Baking 7 min.  Ingredients: *  1 cup LAND O LAKES? Butter, softened* *  1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar *  1 teaspoon vanilla *  2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour *  1/2 cup sugar *  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Instructions: Combine butter, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour. Beat, scraping bowl often, until mixture leaves side of bowl and forms a smooth, soft dough. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a 6x2-inch round log. Wrap each log in plastic food wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours. Heat oven to 375°F. Cut logs into 1/4-inch slices with sharp knife. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned on edges. Let stand 5 minutes before removing from cookie sheets. Combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Roll warm cookies in cinnamon-sugar mixture. VARIATION: Marbled Slice & Bake Shortbread Cookies: Melt 2 (1-ounce) squares semi-sweet baking chocolate** in 1-quart saucepan over low heat; cool 5 minutes. Prepare dough as directed above. Remove half of dough from bowl; set aside. To remaining dough in bowl, add cooled melted chocolate. Beat at low speed just until mixed. Divide white and chocolate doughs into 2 pieces each. Shape each piece into a 6-inch log. Press and mold together 1 white and 1 chocolate log to create marbled effect. Shape marbled dough into 6-inch log. Repeat with remaining 2 pieces of dough. Wrap each log in plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours). Slice and bake as directed above. Roll warm cookies in 1/2 cup sugar. *Substitute LAND O LAKES® Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil right from the refrigerator. **Substitute 1/3 cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled. Yield:  3 1/2 dozen cookies Vanilla Nut Ice Box Cookies 1/2 c. shortening 1/4 c. Br sugar (firmly packed) 1 c. sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 t. b. powder 2 c. flour 1/8 t. salt 1 c. chopped nuts 1 1/2 t. vanilla Cream sugar, shortening, eggs. Add rest of ingredients and mix well. Pour out on board and roll to shape of log and chill. Slice. Bake 425 degrees for approx. 10 minutes. Makes 3 1/2 doz. If wrapped in waxed paper, dough will keep several days. WALNUT BUTTER COOKIES The dough for these simple cookies can be done ahead and refrigerated for up to two days before being sliced and baked. 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar 1 large egg 3/4 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped Powdered sugar Sift flour and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl until light. Beat in egg. Add flour mixture and beat until well blended. Stir in walnuts. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into 8-inch-long, 1 1/2-inch-wide log. Wrap each log in waxed paper and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes, or refrigerate up to 2 days. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut dough logs crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds 1 inch apart on 2 ungreased baking sheets. Bake until cookies are light golden around edges, about 15 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool 10 minutes. Place powdered sugar in shallow dish. Turn cookies in powdered sugar to coat completely. Cool on racks. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Store in airtight container.) Makes about 4 dozen.  Bon Appétit November 1998 Rugelah Dough 8 oz. small curd cottage cheese 8 oz. softened sweet (unsalted) butter 2 cups flour Mix butter and cottage cheese. Add flour. Mix like for pastry using cutter or forks. Form into 6-7" flat square. Refrigerate overnight or at least several hours. Cut chilled dough square into 3 equal sections. (Re-refrig. other 2 sections.) Roll out the section between an 18 inch length of wax paper folded in half lengthwise. Rolling the dough the length only brings the dough to about 4" wide by about 14" long and 1/8th inch thick. (Keep chilled, handles easier.) Filling 8 oz. seedless raspberry jam 8 oz. raisins 8 oz. walnuts Chop raisins and walnuts together in food processor (or grind together in meat grinder.) Spread each rolled-out dough with 2 heaping tsps. of the jam. Spread 1/3rd of the nut/raisin mixture evenly over dough. Using the wax paper to help, roll-up dough jellyroll style - about a 1 1/2 roll - @. page 1 of 2 page 2 of 2 Topping 1 tsp. cinnamon 3 Tblsp. sugar Mix together and sprinkle generously over top of each log. Roll the log up in the self-same wax paper and refrigerate for at least one hour. Baking Preheat oven to 375º F. Remove one log from frig.; unroll and cut log into one inch pieces; place on parchment covered cookie sheet so turned-under part is down and "roll" is standing upright - @ . Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely . Repeat for other 2 logs. Makes about 45 cookies from 3 logs. Hope these help

here's the recipe i used: 3 c. flour 6 eggs 1 c. sugar 1 c. melted shortening(crisco) rind of 2 oranges, chopped fine 4 tsp. of baking pwdr combine flour and baking pwdr mix eggs, sugar, shortening and orange rind together - i used hand mixer make circle with 1/2 the flour mixture put wet ingredients and other 1/2 of flour mixture in middle and knead all together. dough is sticky, keep your hands floured and i found that i had to add flour to be able to work the dough. round or oblong the dough, then cut into about 1 inch strip, then cut the strips into about 1 inch pieces. roll the pieces into balls and then into about 4 1/2 long pieces and then put pieces together to form a circle. heat oven to 400 degrees. i used 375 convection. cook until tops are browned alittle and bottom is slightly browned. i halved the recipe and got about 50 cookies. it makes alot. i think next time i will use a little more sugar - maybe about 2 tbsps or so, but they were good. they are a soft, plain cookie, good with coffe and tea. you can ice them if you wish and decorate for the holiday. i think you can put all ingredients in stand mixer, but we didnt have that growing up, so it was all done by hand. if use stand mixer, let me know how it worked out. good luck, i hope you enjoy them!! any questions, email me.. .. e.