This last Saturday was my final baking day before Christmas. I spent eleven hours baking and baking, until I had enough cookies to fill a plate for many of our close friends–and then some! It was very tiring, but I always enjoy the process of creating homemade gifts. It feels like you’re offering your loved ones a little piece of yourself!
Here are the cookies we gave out this season. I always like to include a few personal favorites, a couple new recipes I’ve collected from friends and/or magazines, and some NEW experimental recipes–just to mix things up!
My new favorite cookie recipe this season is one I’ve been working on for a while, Chai Latte Cookies. These little chai sandwich cookies are ultra tender with a creamy spice flavor and a dollop of cardamom vanilla frosting inside. Mmmmmmmmm.
Hopefully one of these will become YOUR new favorite cookie. Peace on Earth and Goodwill to ALL!
Recipe: Chai Latte Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 lb. unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar + extra for rolling
- 1/2 cup instant chai latte powder
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- Recipe for Spiced Frosting
- Powdered Sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Baking your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter, sugar, and instant chai together until fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg, mix well. In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add it to the sugar mixture until beaten smooth.
- Add 1/4 cup of sugar to a small bowl. Roll tiny 1/2 inch balls of dough and place them in the sugar. Roll them around to coat and move them to a baking sheet, about an inch apart.
- Using the bottom of a glass, press the dough balls until they are slightly flattened out, but not thin.
- Bake for approximately 8 minutes.
- Once cooled, pipe a small mound of spiced frosting onto half of the cookies (bottom-side-up). Top each cookie with another cookie. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Preparation time: 25 minute(s)
Cooking time: 8 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 30 – 40 sandwich cookies
(my all-time favorite)
Wow, I can't believe you made all these cookies! I wish I was one of the lucky recipients. I thought I did a lot of baking with just a few cookies and a couple brownies.
wow what a cookie baking marathon you just did. i bet your house smelled heavenly all throughout the day! my fave would be Chai Latte Sandwich Cookie! what a surprise it would be if ill get that in the mail tomorrow haha..
merry christmas!
malou
So many beautiful and yummy treats!!
Merry Christmas!!
I really do not know which one to choose. They all look fantastic. Especially the double chocolate and the stars are beautiful.
I gained 5 pounds looking at the pix!
And thanks so much for picking me!!
Just sent my address.
Cheers and Merry Christmas.
What a line up! I don't know which one to eat first.
Lots of varied recipes, and they all look great! I made those chocolate peppermint cookies this past weekend- TO DIE FOR! Have a lovely holiday!
Thanks for sharing such a diverse and delicious looking line up of Christmas cookies. I enjoyed it immensely! Merry Christmas:-)
That's quite a line-up and a marathon! You do have stamina. I love those coconut ginger macaroons. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Sommer.
Excellent lineup! I'll have one of each, please! Have a very Merry Christmas!
Hi Sommer, I did get your message and I left mine under your Coffee Machine Giveaway.
(Angie's Recipes said… Sommer, thanks for the message! I am so glad to know that you enjoyed the cookies too. I actually baked some more today as the first two batches were all gone. And sure you can use the cookie photos from my blog.
) Thanks again.
)
Just tweeted your giveaway
December 20, 2010 12:03 PM )
THANK YOU, Sommer!
Angie
All of those cookies look so delicious. If you need any last minute ideas, you should check out the fun creations I've been making this week. The Nutella with sea salt sounds particularly delicious to me this morning. Mmmm. I love sea salt, it makes just about anything better!
What a line up with great cookies for Christmas! Now, what will I make,…I wonder,…!!
I would die for those dulce de leche and nutella thumbprints! Or, I would move close to you so I could get some. Happy holidays Sommer!
Argh, I so wanted that coffee maker! Ah well, I shall survive. I'd be happy with one or two (or ten) of your cookies!
What lovely treats. They all look beautiful and sound delicious. Have a wonderful day. Blessings…MAry
congrats to the winner
delicious cookies happy holidays
The rosemary walnut shortbread sounds delicious!
wow your cookies look great
We do the same cookie baking marathon approach…I guess I feel like as long as we are making a mess in the kitchen, we may as well make a really big mess all at once. Besides, that way you have all of your favorite cookies on one plate to sample the week before Christmas.
I love the cayenne in the caramel corn!
Merry Christmas~
All the cookies look fantastic, but the doggie ones still are what put the biggest smile on my face.
Great recipes- yum!
If you happen to have time to respond to this- do you have a good brining recipe? You're the only person I know that brines. I am thinking of attempting that for Christmas- yikes.
First step- thawing the bird. Wish me luck.
-Christine
Hey Christine~ Could you email me what you're planning to brine? I use different mixtures depending on what's getting a soak!
babyhummers (at) gmail (dot) com
Dear Summer,
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas.
All of your cookies look wonderful. Who eats all of them?
Greetings from Colorado.
Kirsten
Hi Sommer
what an incredible assortment of cookies!! And the caramel corn is calling to me!!
Congrats to the winner of your giveaway.
Have a very Merry Christmas my friend!
Dennis
Hey Sommer, this all looks so good, especially since my stomach is empty;-)! Probably shouldn't look at the cookies too long. Those stars are calling out to me…
Hope you have a relaxing and happy holiday, Sommer!
great cookies, I love them all and I am sure anyone receivieng such treats will be thrilled!!
sweetlife
happyholidays!!
Holy Christmas Cookies Sommer! I'm sure you've made some people very happy baking those gems! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
wow amazing cookies so talented
Merry Christmas Summer
hugs Rebecca
wonderful roundup sommers ! wishing u a very merry christmas ! Hope u have a great year ahead !!
"Chai Latte Sandwich Cookies"….[Daffy Duck] DROOL, DRRRROOOOL!!![/Daffy Duck]
I am making those!
Such delicious holiday treats! I am going to be sad when the cookie season is officially over. I hope you and your family have a bright and joyful Christmas. I’m thankful that I found you…your recipes, words and sweet comments bring me so much joy. Many blessings!
Oh my word I'm in cookie heaven just looking at all of your delicious and beautiful cookies! The Chai Latte Sandwiches Cookies are calling my name and so are the Coconut Ginger Macaroons. I MUST make both of these cookies!
I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
I'm going to need to get on your holiday gift list next year
Happy & merry!
You definitely look like you've been busy baking! And I thought I baked a ton!
WHat delicious and delectable fun! I so wanted to participate – and I have many many posts with my gorgeous Christmas cookies – but didn't make ONE or anything this year. I haven't been well – the first year, ever!!!
And, there is always next year!
I have so many more to post, and I love this idea!!!
Valerie
What an at array of lovely cookies out there.Missed out the post and could not bake these for Christmas. Shall do it for the new year.
Happy 2011 to you!
Thank you, I have recently been searching for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I have discovered so far.