New addition to my Christmas Cookie Tray

Every year since I married my husband (1984), I have made trays of cookies to give away at Christmas time.  Heck, I have even made cookie trays for graduation parties and a few weddings. 

For several years instead of trying to do all the baking myself I went to a cookie exchange party.   I did not host the party but the just of it is:  Everyone brings 6 dozen cookies of one kind of cookie.  You can serve appetizers and drinks and play games or even bake extra cookies for sampling and awarding prizes during the party.  The big TADA  is when the hostess tells you how many of each cookie you can take.   the equation 6x12 divided by the number in attendance.  Of course the lower number in attendance the more of one kind of cookie you get.   Sometimes the party I went to, numbers were so large we only got 3 of each kind of cookie.   But no matter the number of who was in attendance you went with 6 dozen of one particular cookie and you came home with six dozen of a variety of cookies. At this time we would all gather up our large trays or cookie tins and form a line around the trays, boxes and tins of cookies displayed for exchanging.  We would then start choosing our allotted number of cookies from each tray until we made it full circle.  Then we would cover up our treasures and head home to enjoy the spoils. 

I haven't gone to a cookie exchange party in a few years. However, each year I still manage to make up a few trays to hand out.  The past several  years I have gotten together with friends to either bake and exchange in their home or mine.   It is always a good time and makes for a busy and fund day. 

This year I decided to try out a new recipe to add to my tray, Raspberry Almond Tarts.   These cookies are made in the mini muffin tin.   I love how anything made in the mini muffin tin is just the right size, one bite for some and two bites for others.  This allows  you room to have another or simply to just taste something altogether different.   I have found a few cookie recipes to use in the mini muffin tin as well, this one of course, Pecan Tassie's, Peanut Butter Cookie Cups, Cherry Almond Delights and Fudge Puddles.  I have also found that the dough in this recipe can be used in several cookie recipes.  I have also used it in making Kolacky's, Italian Fudge Roll Cookies and Rugelach, Italian Nut Horns, Hungarian Walnut Rolls, Hamantaschen Cookies, Cream Cheese Crescents and even thumbprints at times.   All of these make great additions to any cookie tray. 

Cookies are delicious anytime of year but Christmas seems the most popular holiday with having to leaving cookies for Santa.    Yet another reason to bake cookies.   Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and hoping you have your fill of delicious Christmas Cookies during the season and all the year through.

Raspberry Almond Tarts

Here is the recipe for Raspberry Almond Tarts.....

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Cookies for Christmas

At Christmas time I get together with family and friends and we bake cookies and make candy treats to load onto cookie trays to give as gifts or use at family gatherings.  Lots and lots of treats and cookies.   We have been doing it for years.   It is a fun, tiring, messy, and delicious day.  Sometimes it is a couple of us other times it is a group.   We make several of the old stand byes and often try out a new recipe or two.  By the end of the day we have made dozens and dozens of delicious, delectable tasting cookies and other goodies.

One of my favorites to make is a called the Italian Fudge Roll.   It was a recipe I received from my mother in law over 33 years ago and who knows how long she had it.  

The recipe is very simple and easy to follow.  It uses ingredients that you can get at your local grocery store, if they aren't in your pantry and fridge already.    

The dough comes together nicely and is easy to work with. The fudge center is simple to make and after making it you well learn that you can use it to make many different kinds of fudge.  

If you have never had the chance to taste it, yes, it tastes like a rich creamy chocolate fudge wrapped in a delicate pastry making it easy to eat.     Once you have tried it you will be seeking it out on the next tray of cookies.   

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From the bottom of my heart..............