Cocoa Caramel Blossoms

This is the last of the holiday cookie recipes I have to share with you. My ten recipes for our Blogger Recipe Challenge group were supposed to be done on 12/31, but since we had the awful ice storm that caused myself and another one of my Michigan pals to lose power for many days, we extended our cookie month by a few days.

I must say, this cookie may actually be my favorite of the whole month. Or at least be very close to the top.

Delicious chocolate cookie dough, rolled in sugar then baked, then each cookie topped with a decadent Caramel Kiss. These are truly little gems.

Vanilla Wafers

Who doesn't love vanilla wafers? I know I certainly do. I love to eat them plain or dunk them in milk. And, of course, I love using them in banana pudding. YUM!

Over the holiday break I decided to try my hand at making my own vanilla wafers. I must say, they are very simple to make and are absolutely delicious. They may not look exactly like the ones you get from the box, but they taste just as good and I love that I made them myself.

Orange Coconut Oat Drops

It's been such an crazy few weeks. Between the holidays and the horrible ice storm we suffered here in Michigan, causing our family to lose power for 5 days and retreating to my parents to stay, I can't keep my head on straight.

So here I am sitting in Panera, sipping on an iced green tea, waiting for my son to get out of basketball practice. And I've been staring at the computer screen for at least 15 minutes, trying to figure out what to write. Has this happened to you before?

Apparently I have writers block. I'm sure it has something to do with the million and one things running through my mind at this very moment. But nonetheless, I've got nothin'.

So instead of telling a story or trying to say something witty, I'm just going to leave you with cookies. Orange Coconut Orange Drop cookies. These cookies are sweet and sticky and nutty and delicious. 

My pictures aren't so good but I promise the cookies are delish. Go ahead, give them a try.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies just might be my new favorite cookie. I love the traditional chocolate chips, but adding cocoa and mint morsels really makes it feel like the holidays. 

These are the perfect winter cookies, and I find they go best with a cup of hot cocoa, or even some coffee. Of course they can be dunked in a big glass of milk too.

Double Chocolate Toffee Cookies

I made the most amazing cookies last weekend. Double chocolate toffee cookies to be exact. I had a bag of toffee baking bits sitting on the counter and my son had been begging me to make something with them. You see, he loves toffee. Just like his mama.

So I went to work and created this delicious cookie. It's crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and has lovely little bits of chocolate chips and toffee bits throughout. They truly are divine.

Espresso Cocoa Drops

Hi, my name is Sarah and I'm a coffee addict. This really is not something new to you. I've admitted my coffee addiction before.

I let me coffee lust spill over to my baking. I've done it before, but recently I came up with a fabulous little cookie. An espresso cocoa drop is what I like to call it.

These cookies are like tiny cakes. Super soft and fluffy and perfectly paired with a cup of joe. Or even some hot cocoa.

Try to eat just one. I tripe dog dare ya. ;-)

Chocolate Cookies with Peppermint Drizzle

One of my favorite holiday flavors is peppermint. Combine it with chocolate, and you've just taken it over the top. I love it when the coffee shops start carrying their Peppermint Mocha drinks during the winter. Those are the best!

Well here I created a cookie that reminds me of those yummy drinks. These chocolate cookies are soft and chewy and chocolaty, with a delicious pop of peppermint. And I bet you can't eat just one. I know I certainly can't.

Rich Cinnamon Cookies

Happy Friday! I'm back with more delicious cookies for you! And today we're talking about rich cinnamon cookies. Yum.

These cookies are crazy simple to make, with just a few ingredients that you should already have in your pantry.

Crispy on the outside, soft in the inside, and rich in flavor. I guarantee your friends and family will love them.

Well, unless your peeps don't like cinnamon. Then we have a problem. But if they like cinnamon, these cookies are for you!

Grandma Jane's Orange Cookies

I recently went digging through my mom's recipe box on a search for some of my grandmothers recipes. Can we talk about recipe boxes for a minute? Does anyone even hand write on recipe cards anymore? I don't have a recipe box, just lots of binders with recipes stuffed inside, plus a library full of cookbooks. Oh and of course all the recipes on my blog.

I love that mostly all of my grandmothers and moms recipes are hand written. It's awesome to see my grandmas writing on those cards and reminds me of cooking in the kitchen with her. They are both here with me in spirit when I'm in the kitchen!

So this holiday season I decided to pull out a bunch of cookie recipes that my grandmas passed on to us and make them. I changed a few ingredients out here and there, but so far each one that I've made has tasted just like it did when they made them, so many years ago. I hope you will enjoy this first recipe, my Grandma Jane's Orange Cookies, as much as we do!

Gingersnap Cookies

It's time for cookies!! You have no idea how excited I am that the theme for our Blogger Recipe Challenge group for December is COOKIES! 

Seriously, I have SO many favorites to share with you. Several are family faves, recipes handed down to me by my grandmothers and my mom. Others are ones that I myself created and have been baking for my kids.

My mom's favorite cookie is the Gingersnap, and I was inspired by one of my grandma's old cookbooks to make these. This cookbook is so old, they used Oleo as the fat. You'd be surprised at how many of both of my grandma's recipes call for Oleo or shortening.  So of course I tweaked all of their recipes just a bit. 

The best part about these Gingersnaps is cutting them into different shapes.  The traditional shape is a circle, but I also used rectangle cutters and a snowflake too. Have fun with this, and cut out any shape you'd like!