I hope you are enjoying Christmas Cookies Week as much as I am! So many great recipes being shared, my holiday baking list is getting bigger by the minute! Another find from Gram's recipe box today, classic checkerboard cookies, but I put a bit of a Christmas spin on them.
This post is sponsored in conjunction with Christmas Cookies Week . I received
complimentary product from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of
my recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
The recipe calls for superfine sugar, but if you can't get it don't worry about it. You can just pulse 1 cup of granulated sugar in the food processor until it's fine and then measure out the amount needed. I chose to tint the vanilla dough with green food coloring to make the cookies a bit more festive.
It's a little fidgety getting the 2 colors of dough to make the pattern, but it looks beautiful in the end. I decorated mine with a red "ribbon" so that they resembled wrapped gifts. The base cookie isn't super sweet so the icing just gives it that little extra something.
Check out these gorgeous Anolon baking sheets! I just love the nice big edges that you can grab without smushing your cookies. Everything cooks evenly, no need to rotate! Be sure to go and enter for your chance to win one of the prize packages from the amazing sponsors down below!
Christmas Checkerboards
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
- 3/4c superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon Adams Extract & Spice Vanilla
- Green food coloring, if desired
- 2 eggs
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon milk
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- Decorating icing (optional)
Instructions
- Divide butter and sugar between two bowls (6 tablespoons butter and 6 tablespoons sugar in each). To make the vanilla dough, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add one egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, plus food coloring, if desired. Sift 2 1/4 cups flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder into bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon and then turn out to work by hand until a smooth dough forms.
- For the chocolate dough, in the second bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon milk. Sift in 2 1/4 cups flour, cocoa, and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Mix with wooden spoon, turn out to work by hand until a smooth dough forms.
- Divide each dough into 4 pieces. On a lightly floured surface roll each piece into a rope about 12" long. Place a chocolate rope and a vanilla rope side by side. On top of the chocolate rope place a vanilla rope, and on top of the vanilla place a chocolate.
- Press against the counter on all 4 sides to form a square. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Repeat with the remaining ropes. Chill for at least 1 hour.
- Heat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with parchment. Cut each dough into 12 slices (I used a pastry scraper). Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool on sheets 1 minute and then move to rack to cool completely.
- If desired, pipe icing onto cookies following the checkerboard lines, and then make loops to resemble a bow. Let set for 4 hours. Store in an airtight container.
Welcome to #ChristmasCookies week where more than 25 bloggers are sharing cookie recipes perfect for your holiday celebrations. Hosted by Ellen from Family Around the Table, Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks, we invite you to not only check out the recipes but enter the amazing giveaway.Don’t miss one delicious cookie recipe! Follow along on Pinterest.
Prize 1: Tower of Treats from Millican Pecan Company
Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800's, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is an 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.
Prize 2: An Assortment of Flavored Extracts from Adams Extract and Spices
In January 2013, Adams, one of the oldest continuously operated companies in Texas and one of oldest spice and extract companies in the United States, celebrated its 125th birthday and was awarded the Texas Treasure Business Award, an award sponsored by State Bill 920 that recognizes the accomplishments of Texas businesses that have provided employment opportunities and support to the state’s economy for at least 50 years and pays tribute to the state’s well-established businesses and their exceptional historical contributions toward the state’s economic growth and prosperity.
Today, Adams proudly manufactures and markets under several Adams Brand banners, including Adams Best®, Adams Extract®, Adams® Seasoning & Spice, Adams Reserve®, Flavor King™, Pantry Basics™, Sear-n-Crust®, ClearVan™, Carniceria®, Cocina del Rey®, Naturals™, and Urban Canner™ along with the Adams Frozen Skillet Desserts and Adams Premium Ice Cream lines. In addition, Adams is proud to manufacture for some of the nations most respected Private Label Brands as well as other legacy Regional Seasoning Brands and is used to flavor many commercially produced food products around the nation.
Prize 3: A Set of Baking Pans from Anolon
Established in the 1950's, Meyer Manufacturing started by making and selling flashlights. In 1971 they started their journey into selling cookware. By 1986 they released the world’s first hard-anodized nonstick cookware which revolutionized the world of home cooking. Their nonstick surface didn’t flake or scratch easily.
Today they sell bakeware with nonstick interior and exterior made with a special sapphire-reinforced blend that is triple coated. NOTE: Color may vary from the photo above.
Prize 4: An Assorted Baking Box from Sweets & Treats
Make Sweets & Treats your one-stop shop for all your holiday sprinkle needs. In addition to fun, festive and colorful sprinkles, Sweets & Treats offers cupcake liners, edible glitters, sugars, and more.
Founded in 2010 by Shannon Harvey out of an industry need for bold, bright cupcake liners and baking supplies that are the life of the party! Based in Louisiana, Sweets & Treats is a designer cupcake liner manufacturer and party supply company that creates exclusive greaseproof cupcake liners, sprinkles, sprinkle mixes, paper straws, and other baking supplies.
Four (4) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #FallFlavors bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway. Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway open to US Residents only who are 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookies posts or entry.
Wednesday Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Almond Shortbread Bites by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Brown Sugar Ice Box Cookies by West Via Midwest
- Chocolate Dipped Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie by Lemon Blossoms
- Chocolate Pecan Cookie Crisps by Eat Move Make
- Christmas Checkerboard Cookies by Jolene's Recipe Journal
- Christmas Chippity Chip Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
- Christmas Tree Cookies by Swirls of Flavor
- Cinnamon Snowball Cookies by Jersey Girl Cooks
- French Toast Cookies by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Frosty Ginger Cookies by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Ginger Snap Cookies by Devour Dinner
- Holiday Coins by Family Around the Table
- Italian Christmas Cookies by Blogghetti
- Meringue Christmas Trees Two Ways by Art of Natural Living
- New York-Style Black & Whites by Kate's Recipe Box
- Pecan Crescent Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Pepparkakor by That Recipe
- Peppermint Cream Cheese Crushed Oreo Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Reindeer Haystacks by Leftovers Then Breakfast
- Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
- Soft Italian Wedding Cookies by Making Miracles
- Sweet Potato Pecan Cookies by Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Turtle Cookies by An Affair from the Heart
- Vegan Italian Wine Cookies by Frugal & Fit
- Whipped Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Zimstern - German Cinnamon Stars by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Love how you wrapped them up into little gifts. Worth all of the effort.
ReplyDeleteTotally worth the effort to make these cookies and I just love that bow!
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable! I'd love to "unwrap" one for Christmas
ReplyDeleteAwww...these are just so sweet...literally! Love the little bows!
ReplyDeleteSo festive I love the little bows!
ReplyDeleteI think these are the cutest cookies of the day!
ReplyDeleteLove the little bows on these Christmas present cookies!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! How stinking cute are these cookies?? Like cute little packages. Such a creative cookie.
ReplyDelete