Oatmeal cookies

Yield: 2 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter or stick margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup regular oats
• 1/2 cup raisins
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Beat first 6 ingredients at medium speed of a mixer until light and fluffy. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Add flour and oats to egg mixture; beat until blended. Stir in raisins. Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 15 or until golden brown. Cool on pan for 3 minutes. Remove cookies from pan; cool on wire racks.

* to make reindeer place cookie dough in a ball and squeeze middle. Place 1 red M&M near bottom. Use 2 chocolate chips for the eyes. place 2 small pretzels at top for antlers.

* mix in M&Ms or chocolate chips as an alternative to raisins

Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies - by James

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 350º F.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chunks. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set but still soft. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

verybestbaking.com

Snickerdoodles - Melissa T

	1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 2 3/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose or unbleached flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1. Heat oven to 400ºF.
2. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs in large bowl. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.
3. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

bettycrocker.com

Peppermint Snow Balls - contributed by Kelly

Peppermint Snow Balls

1/4	cup finely crushed peppermint candies (12 candies)
1/4	cup powdered sugar
1	cup butter, softened
1/3	cup powdered sugar
1/4	cup finely crushed peppermint candies (12 candies)
1	teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/4	teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 325ºF. Mix 1/4 cup crushed candies and 1/4 cup powdered sugar; reserve. Mix butter, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup crushed candies and the vanilla in medium bowl. Stir in flour and salt.
2. Shape dough by level measuring tablespoonfuls into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; roll in reserved candy mixture. Cool completely on wire rack. Roll in candy mixture again.

bettycrocker.com

Gooey Butter Cookies - contributed by Sarah

Gooey Butter Cookies

* 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 egg
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
* 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Stir in the egg and vanilla. Add cake mix, and stir until well blended. Roll into 1inch balls and roll the balls in the confectioners' sugar. Place 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.