Clockwise from the left: Pine Nut Biscotti, Butterscotch Blondies with Cranberries and Pecans, Chocolate Coconut Almond Merengues, Grandma's Christmas Cookies, Curried Peanut Brittle, Chai Shortbread, and Sweet and Salty Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
My final review on each cookie:
Pine Nut Biscotti: Personally, I love these cookies. They are slightly sweet, subtley lemon-flavored, and dunkable but not too crispy to be enjoyed on their own. However . . . no one seems to like eating biscotti besides me! Argh. I'll rethink including a biscotto recipe next year.
Butterscotch Blondies with Cranberries and Pecans: YUM. People gobbled these down, and they were pretty easy to make. Next year, I want a bar pan with a removeable bottom -- I'll put it on my long-term shopping list, so I don't have to wrestle with the foil any more!
Chocolate Coconut Almond Merengues: Despite the fact that these baked too long, the flavor combination was spot-on. I will try a different merengue recipe next year, with the same ingredients.
Grandma's Christmas Cookies: These were easier with the streamlined single shape and half-recipe. People also gobbled these down, which they almost always do.
Curried Peanut Brittle: After learning my candy thermometer lesson, the only thing I'd change about this recipe is increasing the amount of curry powder, or grinding my own from whole spices. We shall see . . . !
Chai Shortbread: I love these, and they were super easy. 'Nuf said.
Sweet and Salty Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies: The idea behind these cookies is great, but the actual recipe is not all that fantastic. I'll use my own chocolate chip cookie recipe next time, (and I'll use better-quality chocolate,) and a different nut -- maybe almonds? Maybe hazelnuts? Love the salt, though -- that part was to die for!
Overall, it's been an adventure, baking so many different kinds of cookies this year! Having them all on hand has been incredibly helpful for my contribution to work potlucks, church choir potlucks, and family get-togethers. I may expand my candy-making repertoire next year -- truffles, perhaps? :) Who knows . . . !?!?
5 comments:
ahhh, I've been quite anxious to hear how all the holiday baking turned out!! I'm extremely thrilled to hear that the Butterscotch Blondies with Cranberries & Pecans were a hit, since those definitely sounded scrumptious. sorry to hear that the Sweet & Salty Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies were a bit of a disappointment - I bet they'd be fabulous with some almonds or pecans!!
can't wait to see what you'll make next!! :0)
Nice baking, it looks lovely. The chai shortbread sounds like it would be my favourite, but the biscotti sound pretty good too.
Happy Holidays!
Awesome- thanks for the round-up and the reviews! I'm glad most of your baking came out so well (and they all look really good!). I need help planning my holiday baking better, so that I get a greater variety of shapes, colors, textures, and flavors!
Happy holidays!
Great to hear the reviews on the cookies. Are you on cookie overload right now?
We did a cookie exchange so I only made one kind - it's a peanut butter cookie with a piece of Snickers Bar inside. YUM! But, overall, too many cookies. I had to put them in the freezer to keep them out of sight. It worked for me, but not for Ryan...he ate almost all of them.
-Crystal
Your cookies look so festive & delicious!! Thanks for the reviews, and some of the cookies I voted for made the plate. Happy 2008!
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