Christmas Baking Recipes From Our Instructors!
There are only 6 days left until Santa makes his appearance and if you're looking for a few great Christmas baking recipe ideas for holiday parties (or to leave out for Saint Nick!) we have three yummy options for you from SOAR instructor Lena and barre instructors Jaime and Emily!
Lena and her son Mason (or should I say BATMAN?!) love making Christmas Chocolate Chip cookies. Scroll down for the easy and delicious recipe!
LENA'S QUICK & EASY CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 1/4 tsp of salt
- 1 cup of butter, softened
- 3/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 2/3 cups of holiday chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
3. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
5. Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.
6. Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto un-greased baking sheets. Top with the rest of the chocolate chips.
7. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets on wire racks for 2 minutes then remove from racks to cool completely.
JAIME'S MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH SHORTBREAD
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of butter
- 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar
- 1/4 cup of corn starch
- 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Whip butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the confectioners sugar, corn starch and flour. Beat on low for one minute, then on high for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Drop cookies by spoonfuls 2 inches apart on an un-greased cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Watch that the edges don't brown too much. Cool on wire racks.
Feel free to add sprinkles on top!
EMILY'S CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT COOKIES
photo via ambitious kitchen
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips (can also use semi-sweet)
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- ½ cup crushed peppermint candies (or a few crushed candy canes will also work)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add in vanilla extract, peppermint extract, egg and egg yolk; beat again until well combined smooth and creamy; about 30 seconds longer.
4. Add in dry ingredients and mix on low until just combined and the dough forms.
5. Fold in ¾ cup chocolate chips. Use a cookie scoop to grab about 2 tablespoonfuls of dough, then roll dough balls and place on cookie sheet, leaving at least 2 inches apart from one another. Flatten with the palm of your hand.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges begins to set and crackle.
7. Remove and allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
8. Repeat with remaining dough.
9. Once cookies have completely cooled, they are ready for dipping! Place chocolate chips in a small pot and place over low heat, stirring until chocolate is melted and smooth. You can also melt the chocolate in the microwave by placing the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is melted. Once ready, dip cookies halfway in chocolate then place them back on cooling rack or onto wax paper or parchment paper to avoid a mess.
10. Sprinkle chocolate with crushed peppermint then melt the white chocolate and coconut oil the same way you did the chocolate in the previous step. Use a small spoon to drizzle the white chocolate all over the cookies diagonally. Place cookies back on cooling rack or wax paper and allow the chocolate to harden completely. Makes 22-24 cookies.
Enjoy!!