Christmas Cookies and Holiday Luv

Christmas is a time when calories don’t count. It is a time for sweet thoughts and deeds and memories—and Christmas cookies.

Below is an easy cookie recipe that I started making with my mom and my sisters when I was barely tall enough to steal a few samples off the baking pan cooling on the kitchen counter.

It is also a time for romance, and right now my Kindle is filled with holiday romance. My Holiday Luv Bundle: Four Christmas Romances is now on sale for 99¢ until the end of the month.

Holiday Luv

 

Wishing you a merry and bright holiday season filled with love—and cookies!

Christmas Almond Crescents

Makes about 40 small cookies

Christmas Cookies

Christmas nut crescent cookies on festive background

  • 1 cup (1/2 lb) butter
  • 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp brandy (optional)
  • 2 tsp cold water
  • 1 cup chopped almonds
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light. Mix in the vanilla, brandy and water. Add in the almonds and flour, Mix well.
  3. Shape into small crescents and bake on ungreased baking sheet for 12-15 minutes. When cookies are still warm, dust with confectioner’s sugar. Store in closed container. Cookies will keep for 5-7 days.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies #Recipe by @Donna_Fasano

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut CookiesNow that I’ve been fully vaccinated, life is opening up a bit. My son, his wife, and my granddaughter recently came for a 4-day visit. It was so nice to spend time with them. I baked White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies for the event. I had never baked these cookies before because white chocolate never appealed to me and macadamia nuts are so darned expensive. But I decided to give them a try and they were delicious! Here’s my recipe:

White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 11 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup vegetable shortening
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 12 ounces white chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cup macadamia nuts

(Note: coarsely chop 1 cup of the nuts and leave 1/2 cup whole)

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 375° F. Cream the sugars, butter, and shortening together. Once they’re fully incorporated, mix in the eggs and the vanilla.
  2. Add flour, soda, salt. Stir to combine.
  3. Add white chocolate chips and nuts.
  4. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls (I use a cookie scoop) about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet (I use a non-stick baking mat). Bake until light brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet.
  5. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

June is the month to celebrate brides!

I have several books that feature weddings and brides and grooms. Please check them out:

The Wedding Planner's Son

Return of the Runaway Bride

An Almost Perfect Christmas

If you love Marriage of Convenience stories, try these:

An Accidental Family

A Beautiful Stranger

Do you have a funny or unusual wedding story to share? Please leave a comment. I love hearing from you!