Christmas Cookies

Our family has a cookie tradition.
We bake the same ones each year, and to us they signify the holiday season.
I am sharing my absolute favorite cookie recipe with you today,
in case you are looking for something special.
Don't let the coconut fool you. I don't like coconut, yet I looovvvee these cookies!
I hope you enjoy them too!

Coconut Cranberry Chews

(The cookies on the left)

About 1 ½ cups of butter, at room temperature

2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

2 teaspoons Vanilla

3 ¼ cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups dried cranberries (I only put in about a cup)

1 ½ cups sweetened dried coconut flakes (I only put in about a cup)

In a large bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat 1 ½ cups butter, sugar, orange peel and Vanilla until smooth.

In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter mixture, stir to mix, and then beat on low speed until dough comes together, about five minutes. Mix in cranberries. (The mixture will look dry until it comes together as dough, if it is too crumbly to form into balls, the dough needs to be mixed longer. It should be a smooth mass.)

Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on a buttered 12x15inch baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees until cookie edges just begin to brown, about 8-11 minutes. A shorter cooking time will make chewier cookies, a longer baking time will yield a crispier cookie. Let cool 5 minutes.

This recipe was developed by Nancy Jamison, Woodside California. I believe I found this years ago in a Sunset magazine (not sure though…). 

Hugs,

Terri