Molasses Cookies

Its December and I am trying out a lot of different recipes to compare and see which ones are keepers. Funny thing is that it seems I always come back to my old recipes that have been handed down from my family members.

This recipe came from my mom and I think someone gave it to her when she was teaching school. I remember I brought these cookies to a swim meet during the holidays and one of the officials said that it was his favorite cookie and he hadn't had one that tasted like his grandmothers for a long time and that this one really hit the mark!

I have so many versions I am posting this one so I don't forget again which one is my favorite.

3/4 C unsalted butter

1 C brown sugar

1/4 C molasses

Beat this together for 2 min. at med. high speed until well incorporated.

1 lg egg

Add egg and beat well.

2 C flour

1 t baking soda

3/4 t ground ginger

1 t cinnamon

1/8 t ground cloves

1/2 t salt

Mix together the dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients and beat until combined on stir. Or low.

Refrigerate a bit then roll into 1" balls or slightly larger but not 2". Place on cookie sheet and then flatten slightly with a sugared bottom of a glass. Then sprinkle with a bit of sugar and bake for 8 min. at 375 degrees. Let cook a couple of min. then place on a wooden surface to cool completely.

Mini Pecan Pies

I remember my Mom making these during the Christmas holidays but I make them all year round now. I think the ratio of filling to pastry is just perfect and not too sweet like a regular Pecan pie can be sometimes.They are the perfect size for a party and super simple to make!

Pastry
1C flour
1/4t salt
1/2C butter
41/2 oz. cream cheese
Beat together with mixer and chill

Filling
1 lg slightly beaten
3/4C brown sugar
1t vanilla
1T melted butter
1t bourbon
1C chopped pecans
Mix egg and br. sugar then add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Roll the dough into inch balls and then pat the balls into a shell in the mini muffin tins. Using a teaspoon add the filling 3/4 the way up the shell.
Bake at 425 for 10 min. Or until the dough is a golden brown. Cool slightly then remove to a wire rack to cool.

Christmas Muffins

There muffins can be made big or small but men and boys alike seem to love the mini muffins best. I have fond memeories of my brother popping theses things in his mouth by the dozens. They are yummy muffins rolled in melted butter and then in a sugar and cinnamon mixture. Even though I make these during the holidays they are delicious any time of year. I literally have men beg me to make theses things for them.
The muffins make great give away treats during the holidays as well as a yummy party treat. Don't ever bother making a single recipe or you will regret it!

1/3C butter
1/2C sugar
1 lg egg
1 1/2C all purpose flour
1 1/2t baking powder
1/2t salt
1/4t nutmeg (freshly grated)
1/2C milk
1t vanilla

Topping
6T melted unsalted butter
1/2C sugar
2t cinnamon

Grease and flour either regular muffin tins or mini muffin tins. 18 large or about 36 mini.
Mix together the butter sugar and egg. Mix the dry ingredients and add alternately with milk. Add vanilla.
Fill muffin tins 2/3 full with batter.
Bake at 350 for 15 min. for mini muffins and 20-25 min. for regular sized muffins.
Melt butter. Mix cinnamon and sugar together. You can add more cinnamon it should look like the sand at south padre island.
Remove from pans immediately and roll in melted butter then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Cool on racks or serve warm.

Eggnog Pound Cake

Ok so this cake is the quintessential Christmas cake because if Christmas had a taste this would be it! The moment you bite into it I swear you hear Christmas carols. It's a pretty cake too with a swirl that you can see when you cut it.

I found this recipe a long time  ago and I think it was in some kind of southern living magazine or cookbook that I came across and no longer have. This is the cake I make every year that looks adorable on my cake stand and is a real crowd pleaser. In fact, Scarlet, my youngest, called for the recipe the other night to take her work Christmas party. Now it will be here and all my girls can access it!

1C unsalted butter

3C sugar

6 lg. eggs

3C flour

3/4t baking powder

1/2t salt

1C eggnog

2t vanilla

2T brandy

1t cinnamon

3/4t nutmeg

1/2t allspice

1/4t cloves

Grease and flour bunt pan.

Beat butter and sugar 5-7 min. add eggs one at a time beating after each. Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Do not add the spices now. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the eggnog beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.beat at low speed. Stir in the vanilla and brandy.

Pour half the batter in to the bundt pan and add the spices to the remaining batter and pour evenly on top of the batter in the pan. Take a butter knife and swirl in the top batter.

Bake at 350 for 50-55 min. or until a wooden toothpick comes out almost clean with a few crumbs attached but not wet.

Let the cake cool on wire rack for 10 min. Then invert on a plate.

1C powdered sugar

2T plus 1t cream

Mix together and drizzle over warm cake.