Christmas Cookies (part 2)

For those of you who like to bake for Christmas, I am posting some different cookie recipes for you to try. 

Moravian Christmas Cookies

From the kitchen of Robin Alario (book: Festive Cookies of Christmas)

Ingredients

1 cup dark molasses
1 1/3 cups brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons lard or shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons soda
2 Tablespoons hot water
1 Tablespoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon mace
4 to 5 cups flour

Directions

Combine molasses, sugar, lard, and soda dissolved in 2 Tablespoons hot water over low heat. Melt and cool. Add orange extract. Gradually add flour, sifted with spices. Dough should be firm. Mix and knead thoroughly. Cover well and set in cool place to ripen. Roll small amounts of dough to paper thinness on well-floured, cloth-covered board. Cut into shapes with floured cookie cutters. Place on greased tins, smoothing out air bubbles. Bake 350 degrees until light brown. Watch carefully. Store in airtight container.

Biscotti

From the kitchen of Anonymous

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon aniseed
3/4 cup coarsely chopped almonds
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds
3 Tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour cookie sheet. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in bowl. Beat butter and sugar in mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add dry ingredients until blended, then aniseed, almonds, and water. Divide dough in half. Place on cookie sheet. Shape each half into 14 inch rope. Flatten slightly, to 3/4 inch thick. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully transfer strips to cutting surface. With serrated knife, cut into 1/2 inch slices. Place cut side down on clean cookie sheet, return to oven. Turn off oven, let cookies dry one hour. Cool on cookie sheet.

Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies

From the kitchen of Anonymous

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mint flavored semi-sweet chocolate morsels
6 Tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
Confectioners sugar

Directions

In bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Over hot water, melt 1 cup mint morsels, stirring until smooth. In bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add melted morsels and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in remaining morsels. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; freeze until firm. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; coat with confectioners sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, until tops appear cracked. Let stand 5 minutes on cookie sheet. Cool completely.