Christmas cookies event- recipes/ ideas please!

[jenn]

My ladies club partners with a nearby girls' home (teenagers). I plan for the November activity I orchestrate with them to be making Xmas cookies.  Please send me your advice/ recipes/ tricks- both for cookies and for, say, cookie platters for teachers etc. (And why did I just downsize my cookie tin collection?)

[Melissa]

No-Bakes are fun and easy.

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/peanut-butter-chocolate-no-bake-cookies-recipe-2015085

You can leave out the peanut butter.

I would stick to 3-4 different types and include sugar cookies with icing and colored sprinkles because they make the plate look festive. I used to make up gifts for teachers and neighbors and just used disposable plates wrapped with saran wrap and a bow on top. Cheap and easy.

[Maura]

My aunt used to make a sugar cookie dough and color half of it green (or red). She would cut strips and wrap the green dough and regular dough. She would make canes from them. Very festive and not difficult.

Scottish shortbread can be rolled out and cut with cookie cutters. I think it is a better taste than a basic sugar cookie, but simple to make.

[jenn]

I experimented with pumpkin flavored sugar cookies- since I volunteered for the pumpkin desserts for a thanksgiving meal my club brought food for tonight- and it needed more sugar and spices but the frosting made up for it. I took a lot of them- pumpkin shaped from sliced roll of dough and maple leaves from a cookie cutter- to the girls' home event. Also made sugar cookies from a Betty Crocker mix- maple leaves. We only decorated a few of them but the girls kept some and let me take some pretty ones to the other event, and I did boring orange frosting on the rest for that. Next year my pumpkin sugar cookies will be even better.

[grannyg]

Special "K" Cookies

1 cup Karo (light)

1 cup sugar

Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) peanut

butter. Mix until smooth. Add 3 cups of Special K cereal. Mix well and

drop by TBSP onto wax paper. Let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Love these cookies. Corn flakes can also be used. Bet you can't eat just one !

You can also spray an 8x8 pan and put the cereal mixture in it and let it cool,

then cut into squares. So easy, and so good.

I love to make these cookies with Corn Flakes...use 4 cups.....I put a heaping TBSP in muffin tins, make perfect cookies, and so easy to use. Spray the muffin pan first with Pam. These cookies will be so creamy and so peanut buttery ! I have made several batches this week...you can't eat just one !

[grannyg]

Graham Cracker Cookies

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 sticks oleo

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup coconut

1 TBSP Vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and bring to a boil. Spoon over graham crackers lined up

in a rimmed cookie sheet.(about 24 graham crackers) Bake 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cut into squares while still warm. So easy, and so good. Make great gifts. I sometimes

omit the coconut. and add extra nuts.