Snowflakes

My Classic Sugar Cookie recipe is the one I used for the Snowflake Sandwich cookies, the white snowflakes on the red plate, and the blue and white snowflakes and stars. The dark snowflakes are gingerbread and the round cookies with a few added snowflakes in the last picture are shortbread.

Classic Sugar Cookie. This classic sugar cookie brings back memories of the Christmas cookies my mother made during the holidays...with a bold vanilla flavor and slightly soft texture, they make me smile every time I eat one.

Gingerbread. My go-to gingerbread cookie is firm on the edges and soft and chewy in the middle. It has a robust molasses flavor and plenty of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices. I was never a gingerbread lover as a child, but this cookie won me over.

Shortbread. The combination of European butter and vanilla bean makes this shortbread cookie one of the yummiest cookies I make. It’s buttery, crumbly and light. For the lemon lovers in my family, I make a lemon variation, full of subtle lemon flavor, and topped with a bright and tangy lemon glaze.

SHAPES

Snowflakes big and small...that’s all, except for a few stars decorated like snowflakes and some round snowflake “wanna-bes.”

SIZES

Sizes range from mini (1-2 inches) to very large (8 inches). 2½ to 3 inches is my favorite size for decorating and eating!

Old (and New) Family Recipes

Classic Sugar Cookie. A recipe based on one from Mrs. Gregor, a neighbor of my mom’s when she was a newlywed.

Gingerbread. My Soft Gingerbread Cookie recipe is based on a combination of several recipes from family and friends. My goal was to make a cookie full of spices, with slightly crisp edges and soft everywhere else. This recipe is all that!
 My Gingerbread Recipe

This Shortbread recipe was developed over several months in my quest to duplicate the taste and texture of a shortbread cookie from a now-closed bakery in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Cookies

Classic Sugar Cookies: flour, butter, granulated sugar, egg, pure vanilla extract, baking powder, salt

Shortbread: flour, butter, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, salt

Gingerbread: flour, butter, dark brown sugar, molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, baking powder, egg, pure vanilla extract, lemon zest, salt

Icing & Decorative Embellishments

Royal Icing: confectioner’s sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, pure vanilla extract or almond extract, cream of tartar, food coloring

Vanilla-Bean Glaze: sugar, water, corn syrup, food coloring (optional), pure vanilla extract for flavoring

Fillings (for the Sandwich Snowflake Cookies)

Ganache: rich bittersweet chocolate; either water, cream or coconut milk; vanilla extract

Raspberry Jam: raspberries, sugar, water

Plate, Box or Bag?

Paper Plate. Depending on the occasion, when I’m transporting my cookies locally, I occasionally arrange them on a sturdy Chinet paper plate and wrap the whole thing in clear plastic wrap. This is a safe way to get them from my house to the event I’m attending. Mostly, though, I prefer to box them or wrap them....

Box. My favorite way to transport my cookies is to package them in a cardboard bakery box with a clear window on top that makes the contents visible to anyone who wants to peek. Depending on the size of the cookies (2½-to-3 inches is my favorite size to make), the boxes I use can hold about 12 to 18 cookies.
I like these 6x6x3" bakery boxes from amazon.com.

Bags. If I plan to use the cookies as party favors, I usually wrap them individually in clear, food-safe bags, secured with a twist tie. This also makes the cookies stackable without causing damage to the decorations. Guests can eat the cookie at the event or take it home to share with family and friends.
I like these 4x6" treat bags from amazon.com.

Mailing. Several times a year — especially on holidays — I mail cookies to my family and friends throughout the U.S. (and sometimes overseas). I always send them Priority Mail through the U.S. Post Office. I use the boxes provided by the Post Office and lots of bubble wrap! In almost all cases, the cookies arrive undamaged. I know the packages are appreciated when they arrive because of the texts I get with all those smiling faces.