Hopes Cookies

There are so many Christmas cookie recipes around the time, but often so little to cook for the holiday season.

The solution? A great tasting basic cookie recipe quickly and easily turns into such a variety of easy to make Christmas treats, friends and family think you've paid plus all your favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

Let's start with the basics:

Recipe basic cookie dough

1 / 2 cup (or 1 stick) butter (or margarine) at room temperature
1 / 2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 tablespoons sugar
1 / 2 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1 / 2 cups all purpose flour

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except flour. Beat with an electric mixer, scraping sides of bowl several times, until the mixture is light and fluffy. With mixer at low speed, add flour gradually, beating until everything is well mixed.

Place the mixture on a baking sheet using a tablespoon measure and press down with a spoon to flatten a bit. Or deployment of our and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 12-15 minutes, until golden.

This basic cookie mix is also the basis for the following cookie recipes (all baked in an oven preheated to 350 º F).

Orange Cookies
(Makes about 32)

Add 1 tablespoon grated orange zest to the recipe. Form a log that is on 1 1 / 2 inches in diameter and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Slice dough 1 / 4 "thick. Place on a baking sheet. Cookies can be decorated with candies, rolled in colored sugar, or cut into pretty holiday shapes before baking. Bake in preheated oven for 12 - 15 minutes, until lightly browned.

Squares Cherry Chocolate Coconut
(Yields about 54 seats)

In addition to the basic dough you will need:
1 / 4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1 1 / 2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 / 2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups shredded coconut
1 / 2 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and coarsely chopped

Line 13 "x9" pan with foil.

Stir in cocoa powder mixture of the base paste. Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crust looks dry.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, almond extract and baking powder and mix well. Stir in coconut and cherries. Pour over baked crust.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until top just begins to brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack. The rise on a cutting board with the movie ends and cut into 1 1 / 2 "square. Squares can be stored in an airtight container for up to three weeks.

Pineapple Coconut Cookies
(Makes about 36)

In addition to the basic dough you will need:
1 1 / 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 / 3 cup pineapple preserves (use raspberry or apricot if you prefer)

Add 1 cup of shredded coconut to the mixture of base paste and mix well. Shape dough into 1 1 / 2 "balls and roll in remaining coconut to coat. Place the balls 1" apart on lightly greased cookie sheets on. Make a deep cut in the center of each cookie with your finger.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookie is firm and the coconut is lightly toasted. Once cooled, fill each hole in the center of cookies with the preserves.

You can change this basic dough to make a variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon. Add chopped dried fruits like apricots or dates. Or cook them plain.