'Tis the Season for Delicious
Crisco Cookies
Featured recipes:
Classic Sugar Cookies
Caramel Pecan Turtle Cookies
Peppermint Cookies
Frosted Holiday Cut-Outs
Snickerdoodles
Berlinerkranser (or Little Wreaths)
Brown Sugar Cookies
Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies
Pistachio and White Chocolate Cookies
Holidays are a special time for parents and children to enjoy together, so we're presenting three fun Crisco® recipes that you can make with your children that are fun to prepare — and eat. And chances are, there's a classroom or office that would appreciate them, so why not turn baking time into quality time?
Whip up a batch of Classic Sugar Cookies, prepare some frosting, and supply your children with the right decorative tools, such as food coloring, sprinkles, crushed candies, colored sugar, and other tasty additions.
Your kids can also help you assemble Caramel Pecan Turtle Cookies. Once you've cooled a tray, allow them to heap the caramel and chocolate toppings onto the cookies and add the pecans.
Hand your child a rolling pin to help make Peppermint Cookies. He or she can use this to crush the peppermint sticks. You can both roll the dough for baking.
Frosting and Sprinkles
Start with a tasty holiday recipe, such as Frosted Holiday Cut-Outs. Create an easy-to-reach workstation with sprinkles and decorations for the kids, and let their imaginations loose. Be sure everyone waits until the cookies are completely cooled to start decorating, and use waxed paper to keep counters clean and make cleanup easier. Have your children personalize cookies for family members by writing their names or initials with icing.
Snickerdoodles can also be decorated, either before or after baking. Buy a selection of small candies, such as cinnamon drops or candy-coated chocolate pieces and let the family decorate the cookies before they are baked. These tiny additions taste great and are less messy than sprinkles and icing. Or try Berlinerkranser (or Little Wreaths) a Norwegian holiday favorite.
Other Delectable Treats
If you're preparing cookie care packages or a selection for a holiday event, you'll want to include some variety. Brown Sugar Cookies and Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies are tried-and-true crowd pleasers. You can also try something different for those with adventurous taste buds. Pistachio and White Chocolate Cookies are delicious winter sweets.
Storage and Freezing
Store soft and crisp cookies separately at room temperature to prevent changes in texture and flavor. Keep soft cookies in airtight containers. If they begin to dry out, add a piece of apple or a slice of bread to the container; this will help the cookies retain moisture. Crisp cookies should be stored in containers with loose-fitting lids to prevent moisture buildup. And cookies with sticky glazes, fragile decorations, and icing should be stored in single layers between sheets of waxed paper. You can freeze baked cookies in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to six months. Thaw cookies unwrapped at room temperature.
Tips
- Store brown sugar in a sealed plastic bag. It stays moist, measures easily, and can be packed into a cup in the bag, which means no more sticky hands.
- Little hands are just the right size for shaping dough into balls. Place the dough on a countertop that your children can reach. Show them how much dough to use to make a cookie, and let them roll the dough into balls and place the balls on the cookie sheets.
- Have paper towels, cloths, or sponges ready to wipe up spills. Clean a little as you go to save a large cleanup job at the end.
- Set the mood with holiday music and hot chocolate, and don't forget to decorate the kitchen for the holidays.
- Baking large batches of cookies for the holidays can be a tiring process. Try making all your dough one weekend and freezing it. Use the next weekend for baking and decorating.