Christmas Jewels Recipes

CHRISTMAS JEWEL COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Cream butter & sugar together until light & fluffy. Break up egg yolks into creamed mixture. Blend well. Add vanilla. Stir in flour. Chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Make a small dent in the top of each cookie with finger. Bake in 375 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven, fill dent with jam. Return to oven for 1-2 minutes to set jam.

FESTIVE JEWEL NUT BARS

Steps:

• 1. In a bowl, combine flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.
• 2. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
• 3. While bottom layer is baking - make cream cheese layer by mixing the following in a small bowl:.
• 4. 1 regular package of philadelphia cream cheese (not the small size).
• 5. 1/3 cup of white granulated sugar.
• 6. 1 egg.
• 7. 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• 8. Mix cream cheese layer with electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until smooth. Spread on crumb layer and then continue with recipe below.
• 9. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, beat egg. Add salt and remaining brown sugar.
• 10. Stir in the nuts, cherries and chocolate chips.
• 11. Spoon evenly over crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes, depending on your oven. Be careful not to over cook these.
• 12. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Yield 2 dozen.
• The original recipe does not call for a layer of cream cheese. I modified the recipe to suit my taste after I made it the first time without the cream cheese layer. I felt it was too dry and needed additional texture that the cream cheese layer adds nicely.

JEWEL NUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a lightly greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 15 minutes. , In a large bowl, whisk together egg and salt; stir in remaining brown sugar. Stir in nuts, cherries and chocolate chips. Spoon evenly over crust., Bake until topping is set, 20-25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

CHRISTMAS JEWEL COOKIES

Steps:

• Set butter aside in a large bowl to soften.
• In another bowl mix together flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg.
• Set aside enough cherry halves so that there is enough to top each cookie with one.
• Add remaining fruit and walnuts to a third bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the flour mixture to the fruit and stir until it is coated with flour and mixed well. (This helps separate the fruit and keep it from sticking together.).
• After butter has softened, beat butter, sugar and eggs until creamy. Mix in buttermilk and vanilla.
• Add half of flour mixture and mix well. Add remaining flour and mix.
• Note: At this point, make sure everything is mixed well because the mixture will be very stiff and hard to stir after adding the fruit.
• Stir in half of the fruit mixture into the cookie dough. Add remaining fruit and mix.
• Refrigerate dough for an hour or more (may be refrigerated overnight).
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls on non-stick or lightly greased cookie sheet. Top each cookie with one reserved cherry half.
• Bake 12-15 minutes, until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly with finger.
• Remove and cool.

JEWELED COCONUT DROPS

Steps:

• Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk, orange juice and almond extract. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in 3 cups coconut. Refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape rounded tablespoons of dough into balls; roll in remaining coconut. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in the center of each with the end of a wooden spoon handle. Bake until edges are light brown, 8-10 minutes. Cool 1 minute. Using the wooden spoon, enlarge any indentations that may have narrowed or closed. Remove cookies from pans to wire racks. Fill with preserves; cool completely.

CHRISTMAS JEWELS

Steps:

• Combine flour with 1/3 cup brown sugar.
• Cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Press mixture firmly and evenly onto bottom of an ungreased 15x10 jelly roll pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat egg slightly in large bowl.
• Stir in remaining 1/3 cup brown sugar and salt.
• Add salted mixed nuts, 1-1/2 cups halved candied cherries and chocolate chips.
• Toss mixture lightly to coat.
• Spoon fruit mixture evenly over baked layer.
• Press firmly to adhere layers together.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Cool, then cut into approximately 24 bars.