Moylan Christmas Cookies

My mother is one of five sisters and, every year, as far back as I can remember, we have Christmas cookies that they each make in bulk (1 cookie type, 5 batches- one per family) and then trade.

It's a fun tradition, and a delicious one, that everyone looks forward to reaping the benefits of once all the sisters swap cookies. I was considering doing one post per cookie but, then I realized, I'd have to wait 7 weeks for all my holiday goodies to be posted! I mean, really, that is MUCH too much time. So, here we have listed below all 6 holiday cookie recipes and then the infamous recipe for Moylan family fudge. Which means a short blog post but a HUGE collection of holiday recipes. All of which are extremely worthwhile.

Make and enjoy :)

Resess Cup Cookies:

-1/2 c butter

-1/2 c brown sugar

-1/2 c sugar

-1/2 cup peanut butter

Mix and add

-1 egg

-½ tsp vanilla

-¾ tsp baking soda

-½ tsp salt

Put into mini muffin tins sprayed with Pam. Bake 8-10 mins at 350. Press peanut butter cup into cookie and let sit at least 10 min.

Toffee Squares:

-1 c brown sugar

-1 c margarine

-1 egg yolk

-1 tsp vanilla

-2 c flour

-6 hershey bars

-Nuts

Cream butter, sugar, add eggs, flour, and vanilla. Spread on a greased sheet, bake at 350 for 20 mins. Spread hershey bars on hot toffee, smear. Tops with nuts while warm and cut (usually we just use a pizza cutter) while warm.

Basic spritz cookies:

for 6-7 dozen.

1/2 cup butter softened

1/4 cup crisco shortening

3/4 cup sugar

1 large egg

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

green food dye for tree shape

Mix butter and shortening in large bowl. Cream together on medium high speed.

Add the sugar gradually. Beat till light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Add egg and vanilla, mix well using medium speed.

ADD THE GREEN FOOD DYE NOW. BEFORE YOU ADD THE FLOUR.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, THEN add to green butter/sugar mixture in 3 additions,

mixing well after each addition. Dough will be stiff.

Fill your cookie press. Press cookies on ungreased uncoated baking sheet (I never use uncoated, but may try this, would help them

not to stick to the cookie press)

Bake at 375 for 10 to 12 minutes, or until LIGHTLY browned around the edges. Do not overbake (The recipe said that, not me)

Did I mention you need to add the green dye before the flour? Yeah, you will make the mistake once, and then try to add it after the flour, and it will take you about an hour to try to get the color consistent, and by the time you are done you will have green fingers because you got so frustrated trying to mix it, you started using your hands......

Hopefully this will only happen to you once. I was not so lucky, but it was not written in the recipe, so I was supposed to remember,

yeah, right.....

Almond Butter Cookies (Crescents or Snowballs):

2 cups butter

¾ c sugar

1 ½ c finely chopped almonds

3 ½ tsp vanilla

3 ½ c flour

Mix, bake at 350 9-10 min. Roll into balls (as shown above) or crescent shapes. Ungreased pan. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Pecan Tassies:

-1/2 c butter

-1/2 c margarine

-6 oz cream cheese

-2 cups flour

Mix and chill for 1 hour. Form into approx 48 balls, press into mini-muffin tins.

For filling:

-2 eggs

-1 1/2 c brown sugar

-2 tbls melted butter

-1 1/2 c chopped pecans

-1 tsp vanilla

-Dash of salt

Bake 25-30 min @ 350. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Christmas Thumbprint Cookies:

-3 c soft butter (6 sticks)

1 ½ c brown sugar

6 egg yolks – save the whites

3 tsp vanilla

6 c flour, ½ tsp salt

Mix all except flour/salt. Combine flour/salt together and blend into dough. Roll into balls. Dip in slightly beaten egg whites. Roll in chopped nuts. Bake 5 min, remove and press centers. Bake 8 mins more. Let cool, place jelly in middle.

And last but not least!!!

Moylan Family Fudge:

-2 qt saucepan

-1 stick butter/15 lg marshmallows

(melt together)

-add 2/3 c evaporated milk (5 oz can)

-2 cups sugar

-A sprinkle of salt

Cook on med heat until at a boil. When it bubbles, stir for 5 min. Remove immediately.

Add 1 cup semi sweet chips, 1 tsp vanilla, & 1 cup walnuts.

8X8 greased, let it cool