Pinwheel Cookies

This is a favorite cookie to make. I love folding down the pinwheel and I love baking and eating them too. You can make them with a cookie cutter which punches out four-armed shapes. Just dab with jam in the center, flip the ends, and bake! It's quick, easy, and impressive! You can also make them without a cookie cutter if your good at cutting straight line. If not Amazon has some that are dishwasher-safe plastic. If you buy the cutters from Amazon it includes instructions and recipes.

My favorite filling to put in the center is chocolate or vanilla doughnut filling but I know that most people put jam in the middle before folding the sides down. With me I like to fold the pinwheel first, bake, then add the doughnut filling to the center. You have to wait until the pinwheels have completely cooled because cream filled doughnut filling is made with lots and lots of crisco and powdered sugar so it will melt if you don't.

I kid you NOT these cookies are delicious and they look soooooo beautiful in a big bowl; pilled up real high. Give as a gift on National Make a Gift Day which is celebrated on December 3rd.

Serve these during National Cookie Cutter Week the 1st week in December (we blogged it here), National Cookie Month in October and National Cookie Day too.
Note: There is a flat spiral cookie that's called a pinwheel as well.
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Buy from Amazon

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg, separated
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder

Directions

  Beat butter, cream cheese, and egg yolk until smooth. Stir in flour and baking powder. Mix until stiff dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Lightly beat egg white and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

On lightly floured surface, roll dough, 1/2 at a time, into a 15 by 9-inch rectangle. With sharp knife, cut dough into 3-inch squares. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush with egg white.

With sharp knife, cut the dough diagonally from each corner to within 1/2-inch of center of each square. Place small amount of jam in center. Fold alternate corners of the square to the center to form pinwheel, overlapping the dough at the center pushing down gently to seal in center.




Bake until set, about 9 to 12 minutes. Using spatula, immediately remove from cookie sheets.

Cookie Cutter Fudge Gift

It's Christmas, everyone is expecting fun food and everyone is always looking for new gifting ideas too. Well I found this great idea for gifting fudge from Betty Crocker. This is a fabulous idea and Oh so easy too! Happy Cookie Cutter Week everyone! This is one idea I'm going to do myself.

Source: bettycrocker.com via Jacqui on Pinterest

Betty Crocker says "Here's a sweet gift for someone with everything. Place cookie cutters & fudge into cellophane gift bags, & tie with ribbons." Well I think that's a fabulous idea. I think it would also be fun to place a dozen of them in a flat box, you know like a candy box. How fun would that be to open a box of 12 different cookie cutters filled with homemade fudge! You could even use the cutters for brownies or cookies too.Wow I would love for someone to give me this as a gift myself. Really...

If you know someone who collects cookie cutter; this would be a great gift idea for them.

• Follow this link for recipe and instructions. 

For A Dinner Dessert Idea:  Try serving your after dinner dessert in a over sized cookie cutter and let your guests eat it out of the cutter with a spoon. Then tell the guests they get to keep the cookie cutter as a parting gift. Great idea right! :) I love it!

• Related recipe link for white fudge

This post is in honor of National Cookie Cutter Week which is celebrated the 1st week of December. We Blogged it here-

National Cookie Cutter Week

National Cookie Cutter Week is celebrated the first week in December. This holiday is for honoring and enjoying the fun use of cookie cutters all week long. There's nothing as fun as decorating a cookie! Let today be the day you buy a new cookie cutter and enjoy using it by baking homemade cookies just in time for all those food gifts for Christmas. 

Source: bhg.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Let's face it. Homemade cookies are everywhere during the holiday season and everyone tries to come up with the latest & greatest looking cookie right! It's that way at my house too. I love to bake & decorate cookies and I usually always have a bowl full sitting on my table all throughout December.  In fact you'll see more cookies at my house then you'll see Christmas cakes or pies.  And.... I have to tell you -I've even made my own cookie cutters too!  How's that for being crafty? lol- 

I know I know, I have to much time on my hands but I didn't have any children to run around after so I had a bit more play time than most. Anyway, I had a hard time finding cookie cutter letters for a project I was doing so I just made my own. Well you can make your own too! In honor of National Cookie Cutter week I'll be posting some neat cookie ideas that I know you'll love. To start out with I've found a great link that shows you how to make your own cookie cutters. This is how I made mine too. See bottom of post for link-

Let this week be the week you sit down with your kids or grand kids and have some cookie decorating fun. Memories last a lifetime so make some cookie memories for your family. Let today be the day you sit down with a tall cold glass of milk or hot coffee, a large plate of fresh cookies, and have no guilt at eating them all up.

Origin of this Holiday?

"National Cookie Cutter Week was started in the mid 1990's by Paula Mullins from KY.  It was started for the members of the Cookie Cutter Collector's Club.  Paula registered it and designed a cutter for it each year.  Lyn Linder took it over around 2007 when Mullins decided she no longer wanted to do it."  Lyn Linder emailed us and said "Check out the National Cookie Cutter Collector Club's Musuem in the Joplin, MO Musuem Complex.  It, as well as the rest of the musuem is a pleasant surprise...great experience...thanks ,lyn"

What is a Cookie Cutter?

A cookie cutter is a tool to cut out cookie dough in a particular shape.

Types & Variations

• Cutouts: Usually made out of Copper, Tin, Stainless Steel, Aluminum or Plastic. Cut outs are the most simplist of cookie cutters and only "cut out" the shape in the dough.

• Detail Imprint: Commonly Made out of Copper & Tin or Plastic. Detail Imprints not only cut out the dough they also leave an imprint in the dough that will last through baking.

• Cookie Molds: Usually made out of wood or ceramic or plastic. Springerle molds are the most ancient of examples (can be traced back to the 14th century) and perhaps the beginning of cookie & cracker shaping.

• Cookie press: Automated or hand operated press used to make large batches of cookies quickly

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happyfind.typepad.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Here Ya go! Snip, Snip, Snip. Click on this link and it will take you to an instruction page on how to make your very own cookie cutters. It starts out talking about Halloween cookie cutters but don't let that through you. Homemade cookie cutters are for all seasons that's for sure.

If you can't find the cookie shape your looking for at the cookie cutter store then don't fret. Make your own! It's fun!

Happy National Cookie Cutter Week ya'll! 
May your week be filled with wonderful cookies. Pam

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Sources: gone-ta-pott.com / bhg.com / happyfind.typepad.com  / amazon/cookie cutter store /
make/diy-cookie-cutters/

Holiday Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe

Holiday Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Recipe
Originally uploaded by Pillsbury.com

Celebration Food:  I'm posting this fun cookie recipe by Pillsbury in honor of National Candy Day which is celebrated on November 4th- but I think this would be a great recipe to remember for leftover Halloween candy or Christmas stocking candy too. What a great cookie for a children's party! Every kid will want one. :)

INGREDIENTS:

1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies
1 cup miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits, fall colored (yellow, orange, brown, green, red)
1/2 cup salted peanuts
24 miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, unwrapped

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir or knead in baking bits and peanuts until well blended.

2. Onto ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by 24 heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart; flatten each slightly with fingers.

3. Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately top each cookie with 1 peanut butter cup; press lightly into dough. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Let cookies stand until peanut butter cups are set before storing, about 3 hours.
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Citrus-Kissed Fig Thumbprints Recipe

Citrus-Kissed Fig Thumbprints Recipe
Originally uploaded by Betty Crocker Recipes

Hey guys National Fig Week is always the first 7 days of November so here's another fig recipe in it's honor. This time I've picked thumbprint cookies from Betty Crocker. These cookies look great in a gift tin and sure would be a nice gift for that family your going to eat turkey dinner with. Check out the yellow and orange speckles in the cookies. Can you see the lemon and orange peal? Nice! Remember this recipe for National Cookie Month too.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
• 3 tablespoons Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup fig preserves
• 1 teaspoon coarse sugar, if desired

INGREDIENTS:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, flour, melted butter, lemon peel, orange peel, vanilla and egg until soft dough forms.

2. Roll dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Using thumb or handle of wooden spoon, make indentation in center of each cookie. Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon preserves into each indentation.

3. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. If desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar. Cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature
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Oh and... don't skip on the coarse sugar that's sprinkled on top unless your trying to cut down on the sugar. It really makes the cookies sparkle! :)  Pam

Candy Corn Cookies Recipe

Celebration Food: Now here's a recipe that's not just for National Cookie Day & National Cookie Month, but it's perfect for all Autumn celebrations like Halloween and Thanksgiving too. We also think this recipe is a must make for National Candy Corn Day which is celebrated every year on October 30th. So thanks to Betty Crocker you can have some candy corn cookie fun with your family.

Candy Corn Cookies Recipe
Originally uploaded by Betty Crocker Recipes

DIRECTIONS:

• 1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 egg
• Orange paste food color
• 2 oz semisweet chocolate, melted, cooled

INGREDIENTS:

1. Line 8x4-inch loaf pan with waxed paper, extending paper over sides of pan. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms.

2. On work surface, place 3/4 cup dough. Knead desired amount of food color into dough until color is uniform. Press dough evenly in bottom of pan.

3. Divide remaining dough in half. Gently press one half of remaining dough into pan on top of orange dough. On work surface, knead chocolate into remaining dough until color is uniform. Press over plain dough in pan, pressing gently to edge of pan. Refrigerate 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until firm.

4. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove dough from pan. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut each slice into 5 wedges. On ungreased cookie sheet, place wedges 1 inch apart.

5. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are set and edges are very light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely. Store in tightly covered container.
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Joke: A Dying Man's Cookies

Today I'm going to lighten it up a bit and pass on a cookie joke in honor of National Cookie Month (celebrated the month of October) and Create A Great Funeral Day. (celebrated October 30)

Ok... here we go....
An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen. 

Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: there, spread out upon newspapers on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man? 

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table, landing on his knees in a rumpled posture. His parched lips parted; the wondrous taste of the cookie was already in his mouth; seemingly bringing him back to life. The aged and withered hand, shockingly made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table......................., when it was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife. 

'Stay out of those,' she said, 'they're for the funeral.'

photo: chocolate_chip_cookies_on_glass_plate.jpg
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Cookie Baking Store at Amazon.com

Chocolate Chip Coffee Cookies Recipe

Cookies and Coffee
Originally uploaded by lristau

I'm bringing this recipe to a Cookbook Party

hosted by Louise of Months of Edible Celebrations. Louise is celebrating her Blogoversary by throwing a Cookbook Party, and October being the National Cookbook Month! There's a whole list of food celebrations just for the month of October! I'm submitting this cookie recipe in honor of "National Cookie Month" straight from "Paula Deen Celebrates! Best Dishes and Best Wishes for the Best Times of Your Life"

Paula Deen says  "these are just down right delicious!"
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee, powdered or freeze-dried
One 6-ounce bag chocolate chips (1 cup)
1/2 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted

1. Preheat the over to 375F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer,cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and, using a spatula, stir together until they are completely blended. Stir in the instant coffee, chocolate chips, and pecans.
3. Drop by tablespoonfuls, 1 inch apart, onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake in batches for 11 minutes, until crisp on the bottom. (Reuse parchment paper for each batch.)
4. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool undisturbed for about 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rach to cool completely before storing in airtight tins or freezer bags.

Pecan Pie Cookies

Pecan Pie Cookies
Originally uploaded by Shutterfool

This recipe is in honor of National Cookie Month & National Cookbook Month which is celebrated every October. These little pecan pie cookies pack the sweet flavors of traditional pecan pie into bit-size jewels. It's perfect for special parties and holiday gatherings. You got-ta stick this one in your holiday cookie recipe collection!


Shout Out: Months of Edible Celebrations (blog) is having a cookbook party and we joined in on the fun! Happy Blogaversary!


Southern Living 2000 Annual Recipes Cookbook
We found many versions of this recipe on the Internet but the one I decided to share was found in Southern Living 2000 Annual Recipes. If you have the cookbook it on page 290. It's a favorite cookie that I make for food gifts during the holiday season and for special family gatherings.


Pecan Pie Cookie Recipe

Prep: 30 minutes
Chill: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Bake: 16 minutes per batch

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
2 large eggs, separated
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons dark corn syrup
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Beat 1 cup butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add 1/2 cup corn syrup and egg yolks, beating well. Gradually stir in flour; cover and chill 1 hour.
Melt 1/4 cup butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat; stir in powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons corn syrup.
Cook, stirring often, until mixture boils. Remove from heat. Stir in pecans; chill 30 minutes.
Shape pecan mixture by 1/2 teaspoonfuls into 1/4-inch balls; set aside.
Shape cookie dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Beat egg whites until foamy; brush on dough balls.
Bake at 375degrees for 6 minutes. Remove from oven; place pecan balls in center of each cookie. Bake 8 to 10 more minutes or until lightly browned. Cool cookies 5 minutes on baking sheets; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Freeze up to 1 month, if desired. Yield: 4 1/2 dozen
Patty Vann- Birmingham, Alabama


Personal Note: 
I love this recipe and I also love walnuts. Try making it with walnuts it's just as good. I'v also added cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg sometimes just to change it up. It all works- :)
Also... these cookies look beautiful on a serving platter I kid you not!
Happy National Cookie Month & National Cookbook Month- and remember.... mark your calendars for these holidays plus others like it. (National Cookie Day, celebrated on December 4th) (National Sugar Cookie Day is on July 9).

Pecan Pie Cookie Recipe

Cookies - Pecan Pie SB0003
Originally uploaded by Eudaemonius