Holiday Goodies Part 2

I must say the cookies and fudge were a huge success. I must also say that my good friend Melissa makes the best peanut butter cookies I have ever put my mouth on. She is charge of those forever and ever.


Chocolate Pile-Up Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup finely chopped nuts ---I used pecans
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Directions

1.Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

2.Beat the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar together in a bowl with an electric mixer until soft and creamy, then beat in the eggs, and vanilla extract. Gradually beat the flour mixture into the butter-sugar mixture until well combined. Stir in the nuts and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed through the dough. Drop by rounded teaspoons, about 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheets.

3.Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are slightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield 60

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients


• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 cups peanut butter
• 2 cups butter
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1 (10-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs


Directions


1.Mix sugars, peanut butter, and butter. Add baking soda to the hot water. Add to mixture. Stir well.

2.Stir in the eggs. Add the flour. Add the chips. Roll dough into balls.

3.Place balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Press with fork dipped in water to make criss-cross design. Bake at 350 - 375 degrees F (175 - 190 degrees C) for about 8-10 minutes.

Yield 36



Basic Buttercream Frosting

• 3 3/4 cup - (1 lb. box) Confectioners’ Sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon - salt
• 1/4 cup - milk
• 1 teaspoon - vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup - butter or margarine (2/3 stick), softened

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer or with heavy spoon until smooth and creamy; scrape bowl often. If too stiff to spread easily, beat in a few drops of milk.