Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Cookie

I may have missed Christmas by a week or so, and the house may be completely cleaned of holiday decorations, but there are still a few cookies remaining and in mourning of Christmas past I'll share the family cookie spread!  Every December my mom, sister, and I take on a baking extravaganza.  The kitchen is bustling like Santa's workshop as we make our way through the list of sugar cookies, biscotti, snow balls, fudge, molasses cookies and many more.  When we finish, each dessert is packed in a festive cookie tin and stored for snacking or displayed and delivered to spread the sweet holiday cheer.  Just like Santa and his sleigh, some parts of Christmas are left to magic and, with orders from the head lady, the recipes to the family Christmas cookie spread must also be kept under wraps!  Although, if you're related to a funny, smart, sporty and available guy you can send him my way and maybe someday you'll have one of these cookie displays on your family's Christmas table ;)  But, if you don't, I'm happy to share the pictures and draw out the holiday cheer just a little bit longer!

It's all in...a plate to share with the family!

the cut-out sugar cookie prep spread...

...and the final products-Santa and his reindeer, christmas trees and trimmings, candy canes, snowmen, and stars.

molasses cookies-soft and chewy with a great, rich flavor; 

always a hit with the uncles and granddads

snowball cookies-a snowy dusting of powdered sugar 

over a slightly nutty cookie bite

lemon tarts-sweet and tangy and a perfect pick-me-up

school cookies-we're not sure why they're called school cookies, 

but these festively colorful cookies are a fun and 

favorite Christmas treat

peanut butter balls-chocolate and peanut butter are 

even better with a holiday frost

butter tarts-brown sugary goodness; 

it's almost impossible to eat just one

lemon bars-these are one of my all-time favorites!

our famous fudge-the best I've ever had :)

Now for a couple treats that didn't make it to the display plates, partly because they're too good to share and also because they were just about gone before the platters even came out!

raspberry bars-mmm!

cranberry pistachio biscotti-red and green and oh so yummy!

Very Merry Christmas and Happy 2012