3 quick and easy Christmas cookie recipes

FOR those moms looking to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with their families this festive season, here’s three quick and easy Christmas cookie recipes that will leave a lasting impression on all your loved ones.

Walnut Crescent Cookies

These cookies look like a snow-covered crescent moons.

Ingredients: 1 c. walnuts 3/4 tsp. ground cardamom 3/4 c. plus s 1⁄4 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 c. cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (2 sticks) 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 2 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

Method: In food processor, pulse walnuts, cardamom and 3⁄4 cup confectioners’ sugar until walnuts are finely ground. Add butter and process until smooth. Mix in vanilla. Add flour and salt and pulse to combine. Shape into 1-inch-diameter logs, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 1⁄2 hours. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut off 1-inch-thick piece dough and roll into 3 1⁄2-inch log with tapered ends, then bend into crescent shape. Repeat. Place crescents 1 1⁄2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Freeze until firm, about 20 min. Heat oven to 180°C. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are set and just barely turning golden brown around edges, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool completely on baking sheets. In bowl, combine cinnamon and remaining 1⁄4 cup confectioners’ sugar. Liberally dust cookies with cinnamon sugar before serving.

Nutritional information: (per cookie): About 75 calories, 5 g fat (2.5 g saturated), 1 g protein, 20 mg sodium, 7 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber.

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Traditional cutouts

These traditional cutouts are the perfect base for all your Christmas cookies this holiday season. Keep them simple or make them magnificent by putting your own twist on these butter-based beauties.

Ingredients: 2¼ c. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ¾ c. butter ¾ c. sugar ½ tsp. salt 1 large egg yolk 2 tbsp. light corn syrup 1½ tsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. almond extract Ornamental Frosting

Method: Preheat oven to 190°C. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and baking soda; set aside. With mixer on medium high speed, beat butter, sugar and salt until creamy; beat in egg yolk, corn syrup and extracts. With mixer on medium-low speed, beat in flour mixture until just combined. On large sheet parchment paper, lightly flour half of dough. Roll to 1/4-inch thickness. Using 2-inch cookie cutters, cut shapes into dough; gently remove excess dough from around cutters. Slide parchment with cookies onto cookie sheet; place in freezer. Reroll scraps once on another sheet parchment, then cut shapes; to same sheet in freezer, add cookies. Freeze until stiff, about 30 minutes. Arrange cookies 2 inches apart on 1 sheet parchment; place on cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden around edges. Slide parchment with baked cookies onto wire rack; cool completely. With remaining dough, repeat rolling, baking and cooling. Decorate cooled cookies with Ornamental Frosting, as desired.  

Gingerbread Magic Cookies Source: A Tracey creation

Cinnamon chips, gooey condensed milk and white chocolate get loaded onto a gingerbread cookie crust.

Ingredients:  1/2 c. butter, softened 1 1/2 c. gingersnap crumbs* 1/2 c. flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 c. flaked coconut 1 c. cinnamon chips 1 c. white chocolate chips 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 1 c. chopped pecans

Method:   Cream butter with an electric mixer; stir in gingersnap crumbs, flour, and baking powder. Press evenly into the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish coated with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle coconut evenly over gingersnap crust; repeat with cinnamon chips and white chocolate chips. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly on top. Sprinkle chopped pecans evenly over the condensed milk. Bake at  160°C for about 30 minutes. Let cool completely in the baking dish. Cut into small squares. *Process gingersnap cookies in a food processor, or crush in a zip-top bag with a meat mallet.

For more quick and easy Christmas recipes, visit https://www.goodhousekeeping.com