Christmas Cookies: Peppermint Meltaways

Taste of Home came through again! These cookies really do melt in your mouth!

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch

FROSTING:
2 tbsp butter, softened
1-1/2 cups confectioners sugar
2 tbsp milk
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
2 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Shape into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, extract and food coloring if desired; beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies.

Cake Mix Cookies

Another goodie from Erin at C'est La Vie. She swears they're the easiest cookies you'll ever make!

1 package cake mix in any desired flavor
2 tablespoons flour (high altitude adjustment)
1/2 cup oil or applesauce
2 eggs
1 tablespoon water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

Mix all ingredients well, drop onto cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

**can add chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, etc to spice up the cookies**

Grammie's Soft Sugar Cookies

Cream Together:
1 cup Crisco
2 cups Sugar
3 eggs
4 tbsp vanilla

Sift Together:
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
Add 1 cup buttermilk or sour cream

Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle cookies with cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake for 10 minutes at 400- degrees

Cherry Pie Bars

2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond flavoring
1 can cherry pie filling

Beat together margarine and sugar. Add eggs, beat well.

Stir in flour, vanilla, and almond flavoring.

Spread half of dough in greased 9x13 baking pan. Spread cherry pie filling on top. Drop by spoonfuls the rest of the dough on top.

Bake at 350-degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Cut into bars and serve.

Perfect Chocolate-Chip Cookies

2 and 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 sticks of butter
3/4 cup of granulated sugar
3/4 cup of packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
package of chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add eggs; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, mix well. Stir in chocolate chips, and nuts if desired.

Drop by rounded teaspoons on greased cookie sheet.

Bake 8-10 minutes at 375-degrees, or until lightly browned. Remove to wire rack to cool.