Twelve Days of Christmas Treats: In the beginning…

I LOVE the holidays and baking!  Most of my Christmas gifts to our co-workers are little bundles of different holiday cookies and candy.  I know that I am copying the Food Network (“Twelve Days of Cookies”) and I am sure a couple of other blogs with the “Twelve Days of Christmas Treats” idea, but so be it!

Here is the first of my holiday treats.

I used all of my holiday sprinkles!

Peppermint-Chocolate Holiday Cookies

 1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies (about 6 candy canes)
1 pkg. (12 oz.) semi-sweet mini-chocolate chips
1/8 c. red and/or green sparkling sugar(s)

In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, butter and sugars. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in crushed candies and chocolate chips.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Drop by teaspoonful onto prepared baking sheet (lined with parchment paper of a silicon pad).  Sprinkle with sparkling sugar.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Remove to wire racks to cool.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

I had a version of these cookies at a quaint bookstore café that we visited while traveling.  I loved them and tried to duplicate them.   I think I got pretty darn close.

They are basically a simple chocolate chip cookie recipe, but with the holiday colored sugars, they look a bit more elegant.

Peppermint on FoodistaPeppermint

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