Tablle of Contents Welcome to Easy Kids Christmas Cookies Recipes! 3 1. Chocolate Crinkles... 5 Just 4 Ingredients 2. Chocolate Mint Layer Bars. 7 Two Favorite Flavors - Together 3. Christmas Cookie Pizza. 9 Everybody Loves Pizza! 4. Coconut Snowballs.. 11 Easy No-Bake Christmas Cookie Recipe 5. Easy Thumbprint Cookies.. 13 A Simple Variation of the Original 6. No-Bake Holly Cookies 15 They Look Like the Real Thing 7. Peanut Butter Krispie Balls 17 A Fun Version of Jingle Bells 8. Red Velvet Chip Cookies. 19 A Holiday Variation of Chocolate Chip Cookies
Wellcome tto Easy Kiids Chrriisttmas Cookiies Reciipes!! Baking cookies at Christmas is fun for kids of all ages! Can there be a sweeter way to celebrate the holiday? Smells and tastes from the kitchen reflect the warmth and love of Christmas. Family and friends spend time together. Baking cookies is a wonderful way to build memories, especially during the holidays. Plus baking cookies need not be complicated. In fact the best kids Christmas cookie recipes are simple to make. What Makes These Cookie Recipes Great for Kids The recipes in this collection are especially fun for kids and families because They re easy. The Cookie Elf is on a mission to help everyone have fun baking cookies. Easy cookie recipes are a big part of that! One of the best-kept secrets about baking homemade cookies is that the process can be incredibly simple. The cookie recipes here are easy enough for anyone to use. They re festive. The cookie recipes in this collection are colorful (green, red, and white), traditional (thumbprints and crinkles), or symbolize the Christmas season (holly and snow). They re varied. Bar cookies, molded cookies, drop cookies, no-bake cookies this collection includes all different types. What Makes These Cookie Recipes Easy The recipes here are simpler than usual cookie recipes because they use Simple Ingredients. A recipe with fewer ingredients or a recipe with premixed ingredients means less measuring. Simple Steps. Simpler, basic baking steps mean less mess. Yet don t make the mistake in thinking that an easy cookie recipe makes boring cookies. An easy cookie recipe can be colorful and fun! 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 3
More Reasons to Use This Collection The recipes are also helpful for both grown ups and kids alike when You need to make homemade cookies quickly for an event Guests are coming and you ve run out of time You want to give homemade gifts You want to save money during the holidays (simple recipes, for the most part, are less expensive to make than more complicated ones.) If You re Younger than a Grown Up If you re a kid, The Elf is especially excited that you are getting ready to use these recipes! Just make sure you have your parent s permission to work in the kitchen before you start baking cookies. Please be extra careful as you use baking gear and the oven. What You Need to Know Before You Get Started The recipes in this collection are arranged in alphabetical order so you can find them easily. Each follows basic baking principles for measuring ingredients and combining them together. If you are not sure how to follow any of the instructions, look for tutorials on The Cookie Elf website under Baking Cookies How-Tos (www.cookie-elf.com). Have Fun Baking With These Easy Cookie Recipes! Enjoy using these cookie recipes in your kitchen as you build memories during the holiday season. Please drop by www.cookie-elf.com to tell The Cookie Elf about your experience and maybe get more easy cookie recipes, too. Happy Baking and Merry Christmas! 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 4
1.. Chocollate Criinklles Chocolate Crinkles are a variation of standard chocolate cookies. They have just 4 ingredients! These rich, sweet cookies are super-easy to put together from a cake mix. They are rolled in powdered sugar for a touch of added sweetness and to add contrast to the darkcolored dough. The surface of the cookie crinkles during baking, giving the cookies their name. Prep time: 15 minutes Bake time: 7-10 minutes Makes about 4 dozen cookies Ingredients 1 box (16 ounces) devil s food or chocolate cake mix ½ cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 cup powdered sugar 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 5
Directions for Chocolate Crinkles 1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. 2. Place cake mix, oil, and eggs in a medium mixing bowl. Use a large spoon to combine the ingredients by hand, scraping the bowl regularly. Mix until dough is well blended, the cake mix has been absorbed, and the dough forms a large ball. 3. Place the powdered sugar in a shallow dish or on a plate. 4. Form the dough into round, scant 1-inch balls in a consistent size, using an ice cream scoop, kitchen teaspoon, or a measuring teaspoon. Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Be sure each ball is not just coated with sugar, but that it is nearly caked on. (Oil absorbs powdered sugar easily.) Place cookies on prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart. 5. Bake cookies for 7-10 minutes, one baking sheet at a time, until cookies are set. Cookie surfaces will appear crinkled. Do not over bake. 6. Remove cookie sheets from the oven. Allow cookies to sit for a few minutes before using a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack. Cool completely. 7. Store cookies in an airtight container using waxed paper or parchment paper to separate layers. Special Tips for Chocolate Crinkles You can use any chocolate cake mix brand when making these cookies, but The Elf has had best success with Betty Crocker Super Moist brand. Form all balls first before rolling in powdered sugar. This allows the oil to absorb into the dough before applying the sugar. This way the sugar coating does not disappear as readily when baking. Apply powdered sugar thickly for best results. If cookies flatten too much while baking, use these tips: Try baking at 375º F so cookies set quicker. Be careful not to add more oil than called for by the recipe, as oil encourages spreading. Roll cookies slightly larger than 1 even up to 1 ½ inches in diameter. Increase baking temperature 1-2 minutes. 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 6
2.. Chocollate Miint Layer Bars Chocolate Mint Layer Bars bring together the luscious combination of chocolate and mint. These cookies look pretty with green and white of the Christmas season. As bar cookies, they are also very easy to make. Assemble the bars, bake them, and then cut them! Prep time: 15 minutes Bake time: 25-30 minutes Makes 24-36 bars Ingredients ¼ cup (½ stick) butter or margarine 2 cups (about 24-30) crème-filled chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos) 1 ½ cups chopped nuts 1 cup sweet flaked coconut 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1 2/3 cups (10-ounce bag) dark chocolate and mint morsels 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 7
Directions for Chocolate Mint Layer Bars 1. Preheat oven to 350º F (325º F for a glass dish). 2. Place the chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor. Using a steel blade, pulse the cookies until they are finely ground. Or place the cookies in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush them. 3. Spray the sides of a 13 x 9 baking pan with baking spray. (This will prevent bars from sticking to the sides of the pan.) Cut margarine into the pan. Set the pan in the heated oven to melt. 4. Remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle the cookie crumbs over melted margarine. With a spoon, combine margarine and crumbs until they are well mixed. Use the back of the spoon to press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. 5. Sprinkle chopped nuts and coconut evenly over crust. 6. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over bars. Sprinkle with morsels. 7. Bake bars 25-30 minutes until coconut is lightly browned. Remove the pan from the oven. Allow bars to cool completely on a wire rack. Chill if desired. Cut into bars. 8. Store bars loosely covered at room temperature. Special Baking Tips for Chocolate Mint Layer Bars Dark chocolate and mint morsels are often only available seasonally in stores. Buy an extra bag or two to keep in the freezer to use in Chocolate Mint Layer Bars and other recipes during the year. 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 8
3.. Chriistmas Cookiie Piizza Who doesn t love pizza? Cookie Pizza is a fun and easy holiday cookie recipe variation of what you order at the pizza parlor. Another reason this recipe is so much fun to make is the opportunity it gives you to be creative. You can choose sprinkles, candies, or other decorations to suit the occasion or holiday. Prep time: 10-15 minutes, divided Bake time: 15 minutes Cooling Time: 60 minutes Makes 8-20 wedges, depending how you slice them Ingredients 20-ounce roll of refrigerated sugar cookie dough (such as Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough) 8 ounces vanilla candy melts or candy coating, such as CandiQuick or Wilton CandyMelts Assorted sprinkles, colored sugar, or assorted decorative candies 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 9
Directions for Cookie Pizza 1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare a 12-inch round pizza pan by greasing or spraying its bottom and sides with vegetable spray. 2. Remove cookie dough roll from packaging and place it on a cutting surface. Use a serrated knife to cut dough into 1/4 inch thick slices. Arrange slices on the bottom of the pizza pan. Press cookie dough until it evenly covers the bottom and up ¼ inch sides of the pan. 3. Bake the pizza for 15-20 minutes. Do not over bake. Remove pizza from the oven and allow it to cool completely. 4. Place candy melts or candy coating in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high for 45-60 minutes, stirring once, until smooth. Remove from the microwave. Spread the pizza sauce candy coating onto the pizza. Sprinkle pizza with toppings sprinkles, candy pieces, or colored sugar. Allow coating to harden, about 30 minutes. 5. Use a pizza wheel or a serrated knife to cut pizza into wedges. Remove pizza wedges from the pan with a metal spatula. 6. Store wedges loosely covered at room temperature. Special Baking Tips for Cookie Pizza You can substitute your favorite sugar cookie recipe for the refrigerated cookie dough. Do not over bake the cookie base or pizza wedges will be crisp and difficult to remove from the pan. You can substitute vanilla candy melts with any flavor to vary the pizza sauce. Or you may choose to use vanilla but add 2-3 drops of gel food coloring to tint the sauce to suit the occasion. Melt the candy coating completely before adding food coloring. Be sure to use an oil-based or powdered-base food coloring (not water-based). 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 10
4.. Coconut Snowballlls Coconut Snowballs are easy to make. But what makes this no bake Christmas cookie recipe so much fun is rolling snowballs with the dough. Your fingers don t get cold and when you re done, you get to eat these yummy no-bake cookies. Prep time: 20-30 minutes Chilling time: 30 minutes Makes about 4 dozen balls Ingredients 3 cups crushed vanilla crème sandwich cookies (about 30 cookies or 12 ounces) 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 3 ½ cups flaked coconut, divided 2 teaspoons coconut extract 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 11
Directions for Coconut Snowballs 1. Line a baking sheet line with waxed paper. Set aside. 2. Using a food processor with a steel blade, crush the vanilla crème sandwich cookies until finely ground. 3. Slice cream cheese into the food processor bowl. Pulse the cream cheese with cookie crumbs until well combined. Turn the food processor on to a low speed and add ½ cup shredded coconut and the coconut extract to the cookie dough, pulsing about 10-15 times to incorporate. The mixture will be thick. (You will use the remaining coconut to cover dough balls.) 4. Set out a piece of waxed paper on the work surface. Place the bowl of dough and the remaining shredded coconut within easy reach. 5. Now comes the fun part: roll the cookie dough into snowballs! Working over the covered surface, place 1-2 tablespoons of coconut in the palm of your hand. With the other hand, break off a small piece of cookie dough, about the size of a kitchen teaspoon. Set the dough into your palm full of coconut. Sprinkle the top of the piece of dough with another 1-2 tablespoons of coconut. Squeeze the cookie dough and the coconut together and roll the dough into a ball, allowing the coconut to coat its exterior. The excess coconut (snow) will fall on the waxed paper surface. Set the coconut snowball on the prepared baking sheet. 6. Repeat rolling snowballs until you have used all the snow (cookie dough). 7. Chill balls in the refrigerator until firm, about 30 minutes. 8. Store balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator with waxed paper between layers. Special Baking Tips for Coconut Snowballs Making the Snowballs can be messy. Protect yourself and your kitchen by wearing aprons or smocks. Have extra coconut on hand for rolling snowballs If cookie dough is too loose or sticky before rolling it into snowballs, set it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. The dough will become stiffer and easier to roll. 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 12
5.. Easy Thumbpriint Cookiies These Easy Thumbprint Cookies are a simplified version of the traditional classic small rolled cookies with wells pressed in the center, filled with a scrumptious topping, usually jam. It is fun to roll the dough into balls and press a finger or thumb in the middle. The process gives the cookies their name. Thumbprint cookies have also been dubbed elsewhere as Bird s Nest Cookies, Butter Balls, Polish Tea Cakes, and in Swedish Hallongrotta (which means Raspberry Cave ). Prep time: 20-30 minutes Bake time: 10-12 minutes Makes about 3-4 dozen cookies Ingredients 1 cup butter, room temperature ½ cup packed brown sugar 2 egg yolks ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract 2 cups cup all-purpose flour ½ - 1 cup jam of your choice (such as strawberry or raspberry) 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 13
Directions for Easy Thumbprint Cookies 1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. 2. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl continually, about 1-2 minutes. 3. Add egg yolks and extract. Beat until smooth. 4. Reduce speed to low. Gradually stir flour mixture into creamed mixture a bit at a time until well blended, scraping the bowl constantly. Dough will be thick. If dough is too sticky to work with, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes until chilled. 5. Scoop dough into large, marble-sized balls about 1 inch in diameter. Roll balls in between the palms of your hands until smooth. Set the balls onto prepared baking pan, about 2 inches apart. 6. Dip your thumb or your knuckle into a bit of water until it is damp, but not dripping wet. Press your thumb or knuckle in the center of each ball, leaving a small well. Spoon ¼ teaspoon of jam into the well. 7. Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they are set but have not begun to brown. Remove baking sheets from the oven. 8. Let cookies cool for a minute on baking sheets before using a spatula to remove them from the sheet to a cooling rack. Allow cookies to cool completely. Store in an airtight container with waxed paper in between layers. Special Baking Tips for Easy Thumbprint Cookies Save the egg whites to make meringues or to use in scrambled eggs. Cookies are prettiest when you roll balls no larger than 1 inch in diameter. Allow cookies to cool completely before you eat them. Otherwise, hot jam may burn your mouth. You can freeze Easy Thumbprint Cookies. To do so, prepare cookies with wells but do not fill with jam. Bake as directed. Freeze cookies. After you thaw them, spoon jam into wells and serve. 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 14
6.. No-Bake Holllly Cookiies No-Bake Holly Cookies are an easy Christmas cookie recipe for kids and a colorful addition to a Christmas cookie tray. They are fun to make and set quickly, too, so they are ready fast. The cookies are a variation of traditional Rice Krispie Treats. This recipe substitutes corn flakes for rice cereal. The corn flakes imitate the leaves on a holly branch. Cinnamon candies mimic holly berries. Prep time: 15 minutes Setting time: 20-30 minutes Makes about 30 cookies Ingredients 1/3 cup butter or margarine 30 large marshmallows 1 teaspoon green food coloring (about 30-40 drops) 3 cups corn flakes 2 tablespoons small red cinnamon candies 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 15
Directions for No-Bake Holly Cookies 1. Measure out 3 cups of corn flakes. Set aside. 2. Set a large saucepan on the stove top. Place butter and marshmallows in the pan. Turn heat onto low. Cook butter and marshmallows together, stirring continually, until melted and smooth, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in food coloring. Or place butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high at 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until the mixture is melted and smooth when stirred, about 2 minutes, and then add food coloring. 3. Remove the mixture from the heat (or from microwave.) Use a wooden spoon to add corn flakes in 2-4 additions, turning over the cereal quickly to coat surfaces completely with each addition before the mixture gets too sticky. Make sure all cereal is coated completely or some holly leaves won t be green. 4. Use vegetable spray to coat surfaces of a small ice cream scoop, cookie scoop, or kitchen teaspoon. Scoop rounded tablespoonfuls of the cookie mixture onto the prepared baking sheets. Press 2 or 3 cinnamon candies into the center of each cookie, mounding each one slightly. 5. Allow the cookies to set either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Cut into bars. Store cookies loosely in an airtight container with waxed paper in between layers. Special Baking Tips for No-Bake Holly Cookies While a teaspoon of food coloring may seem like a large amount, don t skimp on it. The green marshmallow mixture appears intense in the pan, but that color covers the yellow corn flakes. A lighter green marshmallow mixture, colored with less than 20 drops of food coloring, loses its intensity when combined with cereal and produces less-festive, brownish-greenish holly leaves. Expect No- Bake Holly Cookies to be different shapes. They look natural that way! 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 16
7.. Peanut Butter Kriispiie Balllls Peanut Butter Krispie Balls are a no-bake cookie variation made with crisp rice cereal, marshmallows, and melted butter. This recipe also includes peanut butter. The mixture is shaped into balls and rolled in colored sprinkles. It is an easy cookie recipe is perfect for kids to make. As an added bonus, the cookies are gluten-free! Mixing time: about 10 minutes Shaping time: 15-30 minutes Makes about 36-48 balls Ingredients 3 ½ cups crisp rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies ) 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 3 ½ cups miniature marshmallows (about 5-6 ounces) 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter Rainbow sprinkles 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 17
Directions for Peanut Butter Krispie Balls 1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Set aside. 2. Measure rice cereal into a mixing bowl. Set aside. 3. Pour sprinkles into a small bowl. Set aside. 4. Set butter, marshmallows, and peanut butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl from the oven and stir. Return bowl to the oven. Repeat. Stir the marshmallow mixture until it is smooth. 5. Pour marshmallow mixture into rice cereal. Mix thoroughly to coat cereal. Allow mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes until it is cool to the touch so you can handle it. 6. With wet fingers, shape cookie mixture into 1-inch balls, squeezing together each one firmly. Roll formed balls in between your hands until the surfaces are smooth. Transfer each cookie to the bowl filled with sprinkles. Coat each cookie with sprinkles and set it on lined cookie tray. Allow cookies to set until completely cool, about 30 minutes. 7. Store cookies in an airtight container with waxed paper in between layers. Special Baking Tips for Peanut Butter Krispie Balls You can substitute 5-6 ounces of regular marshmallows for miniature marshmallows. For best results, use fresh marshmallows. If you do not wish to use the microwave, you can melt butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan on the stove top at low heat, stirring continually, until they are melted and smooth. Peanut Butter Krispie Balls will keep for 2 days at room temperature or 5 days in the refrigerator (if they last that long.) The cookies will be even more festive and appropriate for Christmas when you use red, green, and white sprinkles. 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 18
8.. Red Vellvet Chiip Cookiies Red Velvet Chip Cookies are a double variation. First, the cookies are one version of American red velvet cake, a chocolate-flavored classic with a unique deep red or red-brown color. These cookies are also a chocolate chip cookie recipe variation. The cookie dough is chocolate-flavored, with added white chocolate chips. Prep time: 15 minutes Bake time: 7-10 minutes Makes about 3 dozen cookies Ingredients 1 box (16 ounces) red velvet cake mix ½ cup vegetable oil 2 tablespoons water 2 eggs 2 cups (12 ounce bag) white chocolate chips 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 19
Directions for Red Velvet Chip Cookies 1. Preheat oven to 375º F. 2. Place cake mix, oil, water, and eggs in a medium mixing bowl. Use a large spoon to combine the ingredients by hand, scraping the bowl regularly. Mix until dough is well blended and the cake mix has been absorbed. 3. Stir white chocolate chips into the dough. 4. Form the dough into round, scant 1-inch balls in a consistent size, using a tiny scoop, small kitchen teaspoon, or a measuring teaspoon. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart. 5. Bake cookies for 7-10 minutes, one baking sheet at a time, until cookies are set. Do not over bake. 6. Remove cookie sheets from the oven. Allow cookies to sit for 1 minute before using a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack. Cool completely. 7. Store cookies in an airtight container using waxed paper or parchment paper to separate layers. Special Baking Tips for Red Velvet Chip Cookies You can use any brand of Red Velvet cake mix to make Red Velvet Chip Cookies. For softer, chewier cookies, bake on the low side of the recommended time. For crisper cookies, bake a few minutes longer. 2014 The Cookie Elf www.cookie-elf.com 20