New Years Eve Sweets Buffet
December 27, 2011Holiday Sweets Buffet
As some of you may know by now, traditions are extremely important to me, and to my family, especially around the holidays! We love to celebrate the season by creating new memories around old traditions.
Years ago, when my husband and I first began dating, we started to discuss the various Christmas traditions that our families each celebrated. We decided that we wanted to blend together the traditions that we had each grown up with, so that both of our families could continue with traditions of the past, but also look forward to new ideas and activities to share together.
Growing up, my family always began Christmas morning by opening up stockings and a few gifts, and then paused for a large breakfast, consisting of croissants, bacon, eggs, a fruit platter, and more! My husbandʼs family had a similar way of beginning this special day, but they also had a unique candy buffet to snack on during gift opening.
In past years, I have put together my version of a candy buffet, by filling neat goblets and bowls with a nice assortment of candy and chocolates. This year I decided to switch things up a bit by making a ʻSweets Buffetʼ, consisting of a variety of baked cookies with a multitude of flavors.
Choose any recipes you like, but here are three tasty and easy recipes for delicious homemade cookies that will please any sweets lover!
Classic Shortbread
Ingredients
2 C. butter (room temperature)
1 C. white sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 C. flour
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream butter & sugar until fluffy.
3. Stir in vanilla.
4. Add flour and mix together well. It may look crumbly, but keep mixing together so that
the butter melts and combines the dough together.
5. Use your hands to grab a bunch of the dough and form a ball.
6. Coat a cutting board & rolling pin with flour, and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch
thick. Use cookie cutters to cut any shape you like.
7. Leave plain, or sprinkle on some brightly colored sugar sprinkles before baking.
8. Place on parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes, and then let cool on a wire rack.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
1 1/4 C. butter (room temperature)
2 C. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 C. flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 C. cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C. chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate chips)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together the butter & sugar.
3. Beat the eggs and add to butter mixture.
4. Add vanilla and mix.
5. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients.
6. Mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and combine well.
7. Add in the chocolate chips and stir together.
8. Use a small ice cream/dough scooper to scoop out 1 inch round balls and place on
parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet.
9. Bake 8-9 minutes, and then let cool on wire rack.
Sparkly Lemon Cookies
(adapted from the December 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living)
Ingredients
2 C. all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick (1/2 C.) plus 2 1/2 Tbsp butter (room temperature)
1/2 C. plus 2 Tbsp white granulated sugar
3 lemons, zested and juiced (1/3 C. juice)
2 large eggs
1/4 C. whole milk (I used skim)
2 3/4 C. confectionersʼ sugar
Star shaped edible glitter (optional – can be purchased at Michaelʼs craft stores)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Whisk together flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl.
3. Beat butter, sugar, and lemon zest with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy,
about 10 minutes.***
4. Beat in eggs, reduce speed to low, and gradually beat in flour mixture.
5. Slowly add milk, and beat on medium speed for 5 minutes.
6. Use a small ice cream/dough scooper to scoop out 1 inch round balls and place on
parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet.
7. Bake until bottoms are pale gold, 16-18 minutes.
8. Let cool on wire racks.
9. Whisk together confectionersʼ sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth.
10. Brush glaze onto cookies and sprinkle with edible glitter.
***I do not own a mixer, and was able to complete this recipe by using good olʼ fashioned strength, a spatula, and spoon***
Set up a fun sweets buffet by arranging the baked items, and any other candies or chocolates of your choice, into unique bowls, goblets, or even clear glass canning jars.
ʻWowʼ your family and friends by serving it during Christmas day gift opening, or any other holiday gatherings! Have fun creating a new tradition with your loved ones during this special time!
Happy holidays!
And always remember, ʻIn Work & Play, to Savor the everydayʼ!
Corinne Johnson
www.iheartmondays.blogspot.com
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