Parchment paper vs. Greased Cookie Sheet

Thanks Lara. I don’t make sugar cookies but I decorate gingerbreads and don’t normally put icing on the entire thing; usually only as coloured glue to add candy and decorations. Sometimes I do entire ones though.

They look beautiful.
 

Keesha said:
Oh and they’re gluten free cool. I’ll find my recipes for cookies and share my gf macaroon cookies. They are melt in your mouth type.
Thanks
I would never have thought of mixing peanut butter and coconut together. That’s interesting.
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I don't buy the creamy PB, only the extra crunchy type. I doubt it would make a difference, right? Yes, please share your gf macaroon cookies, I like to try 2-3 recipes of anything and then choose my favorite(s).
 

PVC said:
I don't buy the creamy PB, only the extra crunchy type. I doubt it would make a difference, right? Yes, please share your gf macaroon cookies, I like to try 2-3 recipes of anything and then choose my favorite(s).
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Ok here it is:

4 egg whites
A pinch of cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. Salt

1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

1/. Beat egg whites until fluffy
2/. Gradually add sugar
3/. Add vanilla
4/. Fold in coconut manually
5/. Spoon onto lightly greased cookie sheet

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minute

Let cool !
Store quickly.

Note: I use insulated cookie trays
These might need parchment paper.
 
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Gluten free Pralines

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup rice flour
3/4 cup soy flour
1/2 cup pecans

1/. Mix butter, sugar until creamy
2/. Add egg
3/. Add flours
4/. Add nuts

Chill in fridge for an hour

Roll into 1” balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes
Remove to cooling rack shortly after baking.

Makes 4 dozen
 
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Gluten free Shortbread

3/4 cup butter
1 cup rice flour
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch, arrowroot starch, tapioca starch or potato starch.

1/. Mix together.
2/. Roll into balls
3/. Chill for one hour
4/. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten with fork dipped in starch

Bake at 300 to 325 for approximately 20 minutes.
 
Keesha said:
What? 4500 to 5000 cookies? 😳
That’s a LOT of cookies but good for you.
I thought I baked a lot of cookies at Christmas but I’m still in the hundreds. Well my hats off to you.
Are these all for family or do you do professional baking?

I had to look up a couple of things before replying to your post like rugelach - rolled pastry and pignoli - pink nuts

You ARE a professional baker if you are baking that many and that assortment. That’s crazy 🤪 but in the best possibly way.

What are snickerdoodles?

The gas oven is something I’d love to have someday and it’s good you listened to your daughter. Having things at eye level is so important, not only for the cookie assembly line but for viewing purposes alone. Who wants to bend or knee down to see how something’s doing. Good choice.

Christmas at your house must be a real treat. 🥰

Thank you for the explanation. I love biscottis.
Orange / Almond were my favourite.
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Like most traditions, this one evolved. It started off with making a few different Christmas cookies plus some sugar cookies for my kids to decorate. When they were in HS they had friends who'd never decorated Christmas cookies. so we invited them to join in.

I had to feed them, right? So I'd make the cookies and frostings ahead of time and set up our (4X9) glass dining room table with decorating supplies and make pizza while they were decorating. I'd send them home with the cookies they'd made plus whatever others I'd been baking.

We're up to 4-5 parties each Christmastime, each following that template. 30-35 people per party. I make pizza all night (usually 24 large pies) while our guests eat, drink, visit, and decorate cookies. When they leave we send each single or couple home with a tray of about 50 cookies plus the ones they decorated. Some take pizza, too, if there's any left. (You'd be surprised how much people consume over the course of several hours...)

I also ship cookies to far away family and friends who were former pizza/cookie party members but have moved away. I know who favors which cookies and give extras accordingly.

Not a professional baker.... just do it for the love of the season, the love of my family and friends, and the love of baking endlessly for a few weeks, STARTING TODAY! Yay!!!!

p.s. Snickerdoodles are a favorite of my younger son. It's a tangy cookie made with cream of tartar. Very addictive.
 
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StarSong said:
Like most traditions, this one evolved. It started off with making a few different Christmas cookies plus some sugar cookies for my kids to decorate. When they were in HS they had friends who'd never decorated Christmas cookies. so we invited them to join in.

I had to feed them, right? So I'd make the cookies and frostings ahead of time and set up our (4X9) glass dining room table with decorating supplies and make pizza while they were decorating. I'd send them home with the cookies they'd made plus whatever others I'd been baking.

We're up to 4-5 parties each Christmastime, each following that template. 30-35 people per party. I make pizza all night (usually 24 large pies) while our guests eat, drink, visit, and decorate cookies. When they leave we send each single or couple home with a tray of about 50 cookies plus the ones they decorated. Some take pizza, too, if there's any left. (You'd be surprised how much people consume over the course of several hours...)

I also ship cookies to far away family and friends who were former pizza/cookie party members but have moved away. I know who favors which cookies and give extras accordingly.

Not a professional baker.... just do it for the love of the season, the love of my family and friends, and the love of baking endlessly for a few weeks, STARTING TODAY! Yay!!!!

p.s. Snickerdoodles are a favorite of my younger son. It's a tangy cookie made with cream of tartar. Very addictive.
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We will adopt me? Lol
This is nothing short of incredible.
You really are a very generous person who goes all out for everyone.

On the other holidays you are catering to restricted diets within your family

This is an insane amount of work and I sincerely hope these people appreciate it.

I’ve got a real soft spot for cookie bakers who share. There’s something very special about people who bake homemade cookies for others.

It’s a perfect way to acknowledge those in our life who really matter in a sweet and personal way.
God Bless❤️
 
Thank you for your kind words, what a very sweet thing to say, Keesha. We love hosting parties and this season is the golden opportunity.

As for catering to special diets, I've never understood people who don't go out of their way for their kids and loved ones. So many times I hear things like, "I live my children so much that I'd throw myself in front of a bus to save them."

Ok, maybe you would and maybe you wouldn't, but chances are slim that you'll be put to the test.

On the other hand, you will be given ample opportunities to do small kindnesses.

How about doing their laundry when they're in their teens? Will you quietly throw theirs in with yours, or self-righteously announce,"I'm not anyone's maid. We all do our own laundry in this house!"
Or maybe they don't like onions in their food - are you willing to pull some aside during the prep time and NOT put onions in it, simply because you know they don't like it? Or are you going to hide behind, "I'm not a short order cook. If you want something else you know where the kitchen is!"?
Or maybe they've decided to try gluten free eating or keto. Will you support their adventure in the world of attempting to eat better, or belittle it?
Or maybe you know they're a little short that week so you slip them a $50 or a $100, with just a squeeze of the hand, but no comment or expectation of being repaid?

There are a thousand small ways to show people that we love them. Most of them take us out of our way a little bit.... Lend a car when theirs is in the shop, make food the way they like it, include their friends when you're having people over, pick them up at the airport, watch their dogs or kids so they can go to see a movie, etc.

Truly, my husband and I are the lucky ones to still have so many friends and family members who are eager and willing to trade a precious holiday weekend evening to come play at our home.

p.s. If you lived nearby, I would invite you to a party. No question.
p.p.s. What I described above are some of the many kindnesses my mother showed me and I mirrored back to my own children. Whatever grace and gentleness there is in me I learned from her.
 
I've been a busy little elf the past couple of weeks, but wanted to send a photo of what my first round of cookies looked like (roughly 1500 of them). Most were eaten or given away at the first party. 2nd party is this Friday and I'm nearly ready with the next go-round of cookies. :cool: 👩‍🍳
 

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And then the night of the parties I make pizzas all evening. Today I'll start 24 doughs that'll do a slow rise in my extra fridge so that they're way yummy by Friday evening.

I LOVE doing this!!! It is so, so, so fun to bake, to host the parties, to watch everyone frost, sprinkle, create and compare their cookies (did I mention that I have 48 different food colors and literally about 100 different sprinkles?). With my vast collection of cookie cutters, I don't limit myself to Christmas shapes. There are also dinosaurs, zombies, hearts, you name it.

For the pizza we have over 24 hot sauces for people to choose from (if they're so inclined). As with the cookie cutters and the sprinkles, many of these have been gifts through the years from our many repeat guests. ♥
 

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StarSong said:
I've been a busy little elf the past couple of weeks, but wanted to send a photo of what my first round of cookies looked like (roughly 1500 of them). Most were eaten or given away at the first party. 2nd party is this Friday and I'm nearly ready with the next go-round of cookies. :cool: 👩‍🍳
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Are those biscotti in the middle of the table? I'm gonna make some today, got the cravings now.
 
Catlady said:
Are those biscotti in the middle of the table? I'm gonna make some today, got the cravings now.
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I make two versions of biscotti - with and without dried cranberries. One of my sons prefers his biscotti cranberry-free so those are special for him. Love my three kids!!!! :love::love::love:

The big trays toward the back of the table are biscotti with cranberries.
 
StarSong said:
I make two versions of biscotti - with and without dried cranberries. One of my sons prefers his biscotti cranberry-free so those are special for him. Love my three kids!!!! :love::love::love:

The big trays toward the back of the table are biscotti with cranberries.
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Cranberries! I never thought of that, I have some in my fridge. Mine just have sliced almonds and cut up walnuts and I use anise seeds. Very simple. Do you toast the biscotti? I don't, this way I take them from the freezer and pop them in the toaster when ready to eat and they're hot and toasted.
 
Catlady said:
Cranberries! I never thought of that, I have some in my fridge. Mine just have sliced almonds and cut up walnuts and I use anise seeds. Very simple. Do you toast the biscotti? I don't, this way I take them from the freezer and pop them in the toaster when ready to eat and they're hot and toasted.
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Depends on the specific batch. Sometimes I toast it, sometimes it doesn't need it. I use slivered almonds (that I toast in a frying pan) and anise extract. No anise seeds or walnuts in my biscotti.
 

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