If You’re Behind on Cookie Baking…

If you’re behind on holiday niceties like cookie baking because the holidays crept up on you, you’re not alone. Even though the calendar has not changed, each year holidays sneakily attack and leave you with no gifts bought, no cookies baked, boxes of decorations that have yet to be artfully placed, and packages unsent.

That’s why I’m giving you links to my favorite Christmas cookie recipes. They’re all pretty easy and quite beloved by my family and friends.

I’ll start with my personal lemon favorites:

These Lemon Cheesecake Squares on the left are my absolute favorites. They’re positively addictive, not hard to make and worth every calorie. Just make sure you whip the lemon filling with a beater before adding it so the eggs are thoroughly mixed. Here’s a link: Lemon Cheesecake Squares

Next are Lemon Ricotta Cookies pictured on the right. I just made these this week and instead of dropping them, I rolled them, so they’re smoother and slightly better looking. Either way works fine, and they’re moist and delicious. Here’s that link: Lemon Ricotta Cookies.

This next cookie, below left, is the closest thing to a healthy Christmas cookie I know; Granola Cluster Cookies. They’re delicious and filled with yummy nuts, pepitas and coconut, very little sugar and egg whites. And you can trash them up with a little chocolate ganache drizzle in a moment of weakness. Here’s that link: Granola Cluster Cookies

This next one is for you bakers who want something fast and easy. It’s a box mix. (Horrors, I know!) But Betty Crocker’s Original Supreme Brownies are pretty good if you add 1cup of chocolate chips, then smother them in chocolate ganache. Here’s how you do it: Easy Delicious Brownies with Chocolate Ganache.

These Seven Layer Cookies, pictured on the left and perfected by Mrs. Spratt when I was in college, are a perennial family favorite because when they’re warm and you bite into one, you get as close to heaven as you ever will, while alive. Here’s the link: Mrs. Spratt’s Seven Layer Cookies

And it’s not Christmas without these Russian Teacakes on your right. They’re small enough to fit nicely into your mouth and melt like butter with coffee or tea. I love them. Here’s the recipe link: Russian Teacake Cookies

This one is the Hazelnut Nutella Thumbprint. The hardest part is finding the hazelnuts. I found shelled, toasted hazelnuts at Trader Joes in the past, but they’ve been hard to find lately (gee, what a surprise). These are delicious and you simply cannot stop eating them. Here’s the link: Hazelnut Nutella Thumbprints.

OK, just one more. This one is great, but you have to have ripe persimmons to make them. They’re delicious. Here’s the link: Persimmon Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Happy Baking and try not to drive yourself too crazy. People will still love you even if you don’t bake everything this year. And, as I’ve said before, perfection in decorating is overrated. This tree from my childhood, below, is proof because I thought it was beautiful.

As they say in Pittsburgh, love yinz! Have fun decorating and, if you’re a follower, get a friend or relative to follow me too. Just click on the follow link above right.