Virtual cookie exchange, my day!

Hello Everyone,

Have you been following along this week on the Virtual cookie blog hop? It's one of my favorite hops of the year. So many yummy recipes being shared, lovely quilted items being shown, and family traditions being told. Thank you Carol for hosting this wonderful hop every year!

For a few years now I've shared my family's favorite holiday cookie, the Chocolate gingerbread cookie. So this year I wanted to share my personal favorite seasonal cookie. And I only make it around Christmas, as I tend to eat more than my share of the batch ;)

It's the gingersnap. 

I love mine nice and crunchy, served with a hot cup of coffee, just perfect. 

There are many, many recipes out there. Some are crunchy, some are soft. I use the recipe out of this recipe book: Golde's homemade cookies.



It's an older book, published in 1984. I'm sure you can find it on some used book sites though, if you wanted.  It has a lot of great cookie recipes in it. Here is the recipe.

3/4 C vegetable shortening (I use butter)
1 C granulated sugar, plus some for dipping
1 egg
1/4 C molasses
2 C all purpose flour (I use whole wheat)
1 tsp each: Baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger

In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, sugar, egg and molasses until well blended.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and spices together. Add to the creamed mixture. Mix well.

Wrap and refrigerate dough for 1/2 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Roll dough into balls about half-tsp size (or as large as you like). Dip each ball in granulated sugar, rolling around getting it all sugary. Place on cookie sheets (do not flatten), bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Enjoy with your favorite hot (or cold) beverage.

This year I want to get back into making some homemade candies too. Growing up, my Mom (and I think my Grandmom too) made Divinity. A yummy confection of sugar and eggs, whipped up like meringue, mint flavor added. Or vanilla with walnut chunks in it. Yummy! I haven't made any myself before, so this will be a first.

In the past I've also made batches of peanut brittle. Again, another of my personal favorites. And we can't forget the fudge! My dd and I make chocolate fudge and peanut butter fudge every year. A family favorite and one of our traditions.

Getting in the kitchen, cooking and baking with my dd, is always a treat. The holidays make it that much more special though. 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing my favorite cookie. I hope you pop in and visit with my fellow bloggers today. You can go to Carol's site to see a full list of hoppers for the week, so you don't miss out on all the yummy treats.

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