The 12 Cookies of Christmas

December is a month steeped in tradition and one of ours is the 12 Cookies of Christmas. Throughout the month I bake -- excessively, and we eat -- excessively. I do some of this at a friend’s cookie exchange each year, where we gather with our cookie dough, bake, eat, have tea and talk! If you’re having or attending a cookie exchange this year, or even if you just bake at home, this column will give you a couple of new ideas. The cookies I bake aren’t always sweet, some are savory and I’m giving you one of each to satisfy all the taste buds. So this month, let’s have “Dessert @ 6”, with each of the treats having 6 or less ingredients, which will help us wedge in some baking between all that shopping and wrapping!

Cheese Crisps

½ lb. extra sharp cheddar cheese
2 sticks butter
2 c. all purpose flour
2 c. Rice Krispies
¼ t. salt
½ - 1 t. cayenne pepper (depending on tastes)

Grate cheese into large bowl. Place sticks of butter in bowl with cheese. Let stand at room temperature until both are soft. Cream together butter and cheese very well; add flour, salt and cayenne pepper. Mix will; stir in Rice Krispies. Roll about 1 tablespoon of mixture into a ball. Place on cookie sheet and press with the tines of a fork. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes, watching carefully after 15 minutes to make sure they don’t overcook. These will not brown, but should be crispy, not soft.

Now for the sweet! These remind me of the date nut roll my grandmother used to make and they are so deliciously different, yet extremely quick and easy to make. They will also help use up the rest of the box of Rice Krispies you bought to make the Cheese Crisps. The great thing about the next recipe is that it’s all done on the stovetop – no baking!

Date Crisps

1 stick butter
2 c. Rice Krispies
1 (8 oz.) pkg. chopped dates
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. chopped pecans
Powdered sugar

In a medium saucepan, place butter, brown sugar and dates. Cook over medium heat until butter and sugar melt. Add Rice Krispies and chopped pecans, stirring to combine. Cool until mixture is warm enough to touch. Form mixture into 1” balls and roll in powdered sugar.

I'd love to collect a few more recipes from some of you. I invite you to email me at lwhite_bloomingdalegazette.com and share your favorite Christmas cookie.

Also, I'll be posting a few more treats this month that your family is sure to love, so check back often.

Happy baking!