Christmas Baking

Traditionally we enjoy baking lots of goodies around this time of year.  My Mom has shared that my Grandma Wille, my Dad's Mom, always made lots of cookies and candy, and it is something that she started doing when she married my Dad.  Growing up, I remember having a huge variety of cookies and goodies around the house.

This year one of my daughters emailed me asking about a couple recipes she was looking for.  I decided the easiest way to get them to her would be to post them on my blog.  That way you get to enjoy them too! ;-) I do not have the original source for either of these recipes.  One was passed to my by a friend, but I believe it came from the Taste of Home magazine, and the other I cut out of a magazine but have no idea which one.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Triangles

1 cup unsalted butter, (2 sticks) softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cinnamon red hots, (crushed)

1. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy and smooth, (2 min.).  Beat in egg and salt.  On low speed gradually beat in flour until well blended.  Stir in crushed red-hot candies.  Divide dough into 4 equal disks.  Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

2. Pre-heat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheet with non-stick foil or regular foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Place 1 disk of chilled dough on lightly-floured surface; place a piece of waxed paper on top. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness.  Cut into about 22 cookies, (triangle shaped, about 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 by 2).  Place on baking sheets.  Re-roll; cut out scraps.  Repeat with remaining dough.

4.  Bake in 375 F oven for 6 minutes, or until edges are golden.  Let stand on sheets 2 minutes.  Transfer to rack; let cool complete, then store in an air tight container.

Makes about 7 dozen.

Mocha Bars

2 eggs
1 cup oil
1 cup of cold coffee, (the stronger the better ;)
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips (mini ones work great, but regular ones are fine, too.)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Beat eggs, oil, coffee, and vanilla.  Combine flour, brown sugar, salt and baking soda, then add to coffee mixture.  Beat until smooth.  Pour into a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan.  Bake at 375 F. for 30 to 35 minutes.  When you take them out, sprinkle with chips and nuts.  Let cool and cut into bars.  The texture of this is very "cakey", but very good!  I have sometimes just served it like a sheet cake instead of cutting into bars.

*note, I started sprinkling the nuts and chocolate chips on before baking.  That way you don't have so many "rolling off" your bars when you try to eat them! ;)