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| Cherry Winks Cookies |
Indulge yourself this holiday season with some terrific goodies
Our consumption of cookies and cocktails goes up this time of year. The holiday season just inspires us to munch and sip.
So this week, we’ve collected some past recipes – for cookies and cocktails, of course – that we think you’ll find seasonally appropriate.
We’re ready for a holiday break, too, so this will be our last post of the year. But these recipes should warm the hearth until we see you again in 2017.
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| Pfeffernüsse Cookies |
Holiday Cookie Recipes
- Cherry Winks. These cornflake-fueled goodies are a blast from the 50s.
- Pfeffernüsse Cookies. A German cookie, their name can be translated as “pepper nuts.” This is a family recipe that dates back to the 19th century. Pfeffernüsse are good when freshly made, but even better after they age a couple of weeks.
- Coconut Kisses (Macaroons). Easier to make than traditional macaroons. Kids (of all ages) love these.
- Anise Drop Cookies. When I was growing up, my mother always baked at least a dozen varieties of cookies at Christmastime, and this was a regular.
- Crunch Drop Cookies. These are made with Rice Krispies® and quick-cooking oats. So they’re appropriate for breakfast, yes?
- Thumbprint Cookies. AKA Thimble Cookies. Fill these with your favorite jellies and jams. Best way we know to enjoy peanut butter and jelly.
- Peanut Butter Cookies. A classic that everyone seems to love.
- Double Orange Dark Chocolate Cookies. Chocolate and orange pair perfectly. And oranges are in season right now – just in time for making this cookie.
- Best Chocolate Drop Cookie Ever. A recipe from my great-grandmother. And it really is the best.
- Chocolate Pepper Cookies. Black pepper in cookies? Yup. Kids like these; grownups love them.
- Almond Sugar Cookies. Because you can’t celebrate the December holidays without baking sugar cookies.
- Lemon-Almond Glazed Cookies. Delicious. And fun to decorate with sprinkles or decorating/sanding sugar.
- Chocolate Almond Sesame Bars. Another one for almond lovers. Sesame seeds kick the flavor up a notch.
- Wedding Cookies. AKA Russian Tea Cakes. Addictive no matter what you call them.
- Rum-Frosted Pecan Shortbread Cookies. The name says it all. Santa will love these.
- Christmas Stollen. OK, not a cookie. But homemade stollen is perfect for breakfast on Christmas morning.
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| Grasshopper Cocktail |
Holiday Cocktail Recipes
- Frostbite Cocktail. A great tequila-based drink. Hints of chocolate add holiday cheer.
- Brandy Alexander Cocktail. Another chocolate lover’s delight.
- Milk Punch Cocktail. What Santa really wants you to leave out for him.
- Eggnog. A winter classic. Make this now and let it age a bit for Christmas. Or New Year’s Eve.
- Grasshopper Cocktail. Great green color, and tastes like an after-dinner chocolate mint.
- Stinger Cocktail. Crème de menthe puts the tingle in this 1920s society favorite.
- Classic Champagne Cocktail. Because bubbly. Need we say more?
- Kir Royale Cocktail. Because more bubbly. A colorful, festive-looking drink.
- French 75 Cocktail. Still more bubbly! Plus, the gin and lemon pack some firepower.
- White Russian Cocktail. Like liquid ice cream.
- Smith and Curran Cocktail. Tastes like a boozy chocolate egg cream.
- Cranberry Shrub Cocktail with Bourbon. Gorgeous and tasty. Plus, you can make a kid-friendly version of this holiday drink.
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| Milk Punch Cocktail |
Happy Holidays!
We truly appreciate everyone who drops by and reads our blog. Thank you.
We wish each of you a wonderful holiday season. See you next year.
Santa will be very happy visiting you, John. So many goodness, I love esp. those Pfeffernüsse.
ReplyDeleteHi Angie, Pfeffernüsse are great, aren't they? Such a tasty cookie. :-) Thanks for the comment.
DeleteAmazing recipes:)
ReplyDeleteHi Natalia, thanks!
DeleteGreat cookies, love that Cherry Winks. I'm all done with cookies, made close to 700, now I can enjoy them! And the Grasshopper, the perfect delicious colorful cocktail for the season! Way to go, John and thanks for all the past recipes!
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, 700 cookies is a lot! The Grasshopper is a wonderful holiday drink, isn't it? Looks -- and tastes! -- just perfect for the season. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteSorry, somehow I missed about your holiday break. Enjoy it and Happy Holidays, John! Looking forward to more great posts in 2017! 😊
DeleteHi Pam, don't worry about that! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season! :-)
DeleteYour list of cookies and drinks makes me hungry and thirsty for more It's time to have some fun. It's breakfast time for me and I am nibbling on some Stollen that my German girlfriend gave me. Yummy ! Happy Holidays to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteHi Gerlinde, Stollen is such good stuff, isn't it? Love its flavor! Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteMunch and sip - such a great idea! Love that grasshopper - so pretty and all the treats sound delicious! Have a very Merry Christmas and look forward to hearing from you next year!
ReplyDeleteHi Tricia, 'tis the season for munching and sipping. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Merry Christmas. And Happy New Year's!
DeleteHave a great Christmas with lots of green and red cocktails!
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae, we will, we will. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteYou have such a wonderful collection of cookies - such a lovely variety! I could only imagine a cookie buffet at your house - I would be in heaven :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sashi, and we have about twice as many cookies that we haven't posted. We need to get busy. :-) Thanks for the comment.
DeleteSo many great cookie recipes! And yes, stollen is the perfect Christmas breakfast.
ReplyDeleteHI Laura, we just LOVE stollen! So nice. :-) Thanks for the comment.
DeleteYou've certainly given us wonderful choices for last minute Christmas baking. I hope the two of you enjoy your break, Merry Christmas and all the best in the coming New Year.
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, holiday baking is so much fun, isn't it? Thanks for the comment and holiday greetings, and Merry Christmas!
DeleteNice to see a summary of all the goodies you've posted this past year- reminds me that I need to try making your Grasshopper cocktail- it looks so refreshing! Happy holidays and I look forward to your return soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Fran, the grasshopper is a fun drink! It's been some time since we've had one -- need to enjoy one this season. Thanks for the comment and Happy Holidays!
DeleteWhat a delicious round-up John! You got me really curious with the Pfeffernüsse Cookies! And I will take a look at the coctail list for inspiration. A big Happy Holidays to you and the Misses!
ReplyDeleteHi Evelyne, Pfeffernüsse are really worth making! This recipe is better than any store bought one I've ever had. Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteThat's a massive list of holiday treats and drinks! It'll probably take some time for me to digest all that sweets you shared. Thanks for sharing John and wish you a happy holiday season!
ReplyDeleteHi Yi, we wanted to post this well before Christmas so you'd have time to make them all. :D Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteThis is a great post with a whole lotta Christmas goodies in one spot. Good stuff. I went to a 50's party last year and they had Grasshopper cocktails, it was kinda like a liquid boiled lolly with a bang, still not sure if I liked it, but it sure does look pretty here.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, I like the Grasshopper as a dessert drink. It IS rather like a liquid lolly! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteHave an awesome holiday break, I'll miss you :)
ReplyDeleteHi Marta, thanks, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteIt is the season to indulge and your round-up is impressive! My mom made Pfeffernüsse too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great holiday cookie! Happy Holidays John!
Hi Deb, Pfeffernüsse are SO good, aren't they? Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteOh wow, John, this is an amazing list of good things for Christmas. Thank you to you both and best wishes for bountiful season's eatings xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Liz, always good to sip and munch at this time of the year, isn't it? Although we'll regret it in January! Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteI think we'd like the cherry drop cookies. They look like fun, as do all the cocktails. Wishing all the holiday best to you and Mrs K R :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia, those are a really good cookie! Pretty, too. Thanks for the comment, and hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
DeleteWell why not ! Of course we must have cookies and cocktails. Who needs to eat little dainty food on a tooth pick anyways when you can pick up a cookie with your hands and balance it on the side of your cocktail glass. It is the new hip Tapas! Great round up! Wishing you and Mrs. Riffs a safe and happy holiday season. See you in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteHi Bobbi, definitely the new hip tapas! :D Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteAwesome round-up John...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones...see you in 2017!
ReplyDeleteHi Juliana, thanks, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteI'm bookmarking all of these--I haven't heard of half of them, but they look wonderful! Happy holidays to you and the Mrs., John!
ReplyDeleteHi Ala, a lot of good cookies for you to try! Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
Deletethis is the proper way to celebrate such a festive time of the year. Happy Holidays to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Denise, lot of fun choices. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteOh no ... and I was trying to give up on some sweets this Christmas :P :)
ReplyDeleteHi Agness, OK, you can give up "some" sweets, but not all sweets. :D Thanks for the comment.
DeleteOh wow! I love this Christmas Round Up. So many delicious things to try.
ReplyDeleteHi Peachy, so many to try, and only so many days in the month! A good problem to have. :-) Thanks for the comment.
DeleteJeez John. I thought I was done with my baking but now I see I have so much more to go. Perhaps I should just start on the drinking! Have a great holiday. All my best to you and Mrs. Riffs!
ReplyDeleteHi Abbe, we always find that drinking and baking go together. :D Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteWow, that's an impressive collection of both cookies and cocktails. Look like you'll be having a sweet Christmas, John.
ReplyDeleteHi Frank, sweet indeed! Thanks for the comment, and I hope you have a terrific holiday season!
DeleteWow, you've got so many fabulous recipes for both treats and drinks, John. Definitely time to enjoy both. Happy holidays to you and the Mrs!
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn, we love making and enjoying cookies and cocktails at this time of the year! Always look forward to this. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteGreat collection! Merry Christmas, John!
ReplyDeleteHi Pam, three are some goodies here! :-) Thanks for the comment, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
DeleteOh man, I want to eat ALL the cookies! ALL of them!
ReplyDeleteHi GiGi, don't we all? And when I was a kid, I tried! :-) Thanks for the comment.
DeleteCookies and Cocktails!! How can you go wrong there? :) Hum...a grasshopper with wedding cookies. YUM! Have a wonderful holiday John and see you next year!
ReplyDeleteHi MJ, a grasshopper with wedding cookies sounds like a terrific combo! Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteYOu guys have the most exotic recipes... such unique names. :) Speaking of cookies, I just made the dough for chocolate chip cookies and they are so fatty. I don't think I've ever used so much fat in my life. :(
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays to you too, John!
Hi Nisha, fat tastes good! Particularly if you use butter in your chocolate chip cookies, which we always do. Lots of it. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteHappy Holidays John and Mrs. Riffs! great send off for the holidays, love the cookies and the drinks!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheri, we're having cookies and cocktails tonight! :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteI'll take one of each! (cocktail and cookie!) Hey, it is the season to indulge, right? Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn, we're having cookies and cocktails tonight! :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteUh...you read my mind! I was just about to scour your site to find a Christmas cocktail, and you did all the prep for me. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff, happy to oblige! :D Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI can't wait to start going through your christmas cookie links. Cherry Winks! I had completely forgotten about those, and I love them. By the way, that's hands-down the most dramatic photo of mexican wedding cakes i've ever seen; it's beautiful. :) happy holidays to you and Mrs.KR!
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon, cherry winks are a blast from the past, aren't they? Really good cookie. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteWhat a nice roundup! lots of good cookies in there
ReplyDeleteHi Raymund, loads of good cookies. And we're trying to eat them all! :D Thanks for the comment.
DeleteA festive collection, I like all of those cookies and I need lots of time to try them all :). Happy holidays to you too John.
ReplyDeleteHi Amira, you definitely need to try them all. Although not all at one time! :-) Way too many for that. Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteNow I want a cookie. And a drink (but only tea at this hour :-)
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Hi Amalia, a bit early for a drink, isn't it? Cookies anytime, however! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteThe cookie round up sounds amazing especially the German cookies...these old recipes that have passed the tests of years are such a treasure. Thanks for sharing. I hope I get to try a few of them :)
ReplyDeleteHi Taruna, we do know some good cookie recipes! hanks for the comment.
DeleteI've already made the Pfeffernüsse cookies and Nicholas is making the Christmas Stollen when he comes home this week. Your cookie list is a family treasure. Thank you for posting the entire yummy list!
ReplyDeleteHi Dani, we have more recipes we really need to put up. We haven't made stollen this year -- should probably do that. Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteThere are the makings of a great Christmas party here! I read over the eggnog recipe and you've solved a mystery there for me—why eggnog doesn't go bad, and in fact can "age" without spoiling the eggs. Of course, it's the spirits... I guess I should have known. Anyway, you've inspired me to go out and make a batch today!
ReplyDeleteHi Frank, it's interesting how/why eggnog doesn't go bad, isn't it? And that's a good recipe! :-) Thanks for the comment. And Happy Holidays!
DeleteGosh, who would need anything else but this list for the holidays? Who needs ham and turkey???
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you both!
Hi Maureen, yup, cookies and cocktails are enough for us! :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteGreat round up! Plenty of things to try!
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline, we like having lots of choices! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI would have a great Christmas time with all these cocktails! Happy Christmas and Joy in your hearts!
ReplyDeleteHi Katerina, those are a lot of cocktails! And cookies. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteI thought I was done baking cookies and then those pfeffernusse cookies and chocolate-orange cookies (love that combo) called out to me. The Brandy Alexander cocktail is a blast from my past. Such a fun round-up. Happy holidays and all the best in 2017.
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia, those cookies are both worth making! Really good. :-) Thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteHi John and Mrs. K.R. Merry Christmas and a very Happy, Safe and Healthy New Year to you both!!!
ReplyDeleteYou sure have served up some delicious sounding cookies and cocktails John. I'd take any one or all at any given time. Thank you so much for sharing such a delightful spread.
It has been wonderful dropping by for a nibble and a sip these past years John. Thank you for opening your blog to us and making us feel at home. Those loving banters between you and Mrs. K.R. when closing really added that cozy firendly feeling. Thank you for that too:)
I'm glad we are connected on Facebook. I plan on trying to learn how to use it better in the future. In the meantime, I can keep up with your yummy posts! Thanks again John.
Enjoy your break, Merry Christmas!!! Stay well my friend...Louise:)
Hi Louise, sorry you're going to stop blogging, but your reasons make SO much sense! And really glad we've met. Virtually speaking. :-) Thanks for the comment and Merry Christmas. And Happy New Year's!
DeleteGreat cookie and cocktail recipes. Wishing a wonderful Holiday Season. See you in 2017!
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn, thanks for the comment, and Happy Holidays!
DeleteHope you had a Merry Christmas too! Great roundup, and looking forward to more posts in 2017.
ReplyDeleteHi Beth, we had a great Christmas. And are looking forward to a Happy New Year's. :-) Thanks for the comment.
DeleteTwo great lists! Hope you're having a wonderful holiday season.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa, a lot of good eats and drinks! :-) We're having a wonderful holiday -- hope you are, too. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteWhat a delicious collection!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
Julie
Gourmetgetaways
Hi Julie, loads of nice choices, don't you think? :-) Thanks for the comment.
DeleteYummmm. A good excuse to indulge is the holidays.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2017!
Hi Lux, Happy 2017! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteWhite Russians are this family's favorite cocktail (though the hubby would say a coffee nudge is a close second). I wanted to let you know that I've decided to put blogging aside for awhile. My paying job is taking priority, so I'll be watching you cook up and mix up delicious drinks and dishes from the sidelines. I wish you a wonderful 2017. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Kristi, the White Russian is wonderful, isn't it? Such a fun drink! Sorry to hear you won't be blogging for awhile, but you certainly have good reason! Thanks for the comment, and Happy New Year!
Delete