Maery's Christmas Helper Cocktail

Bourbon, spices and cranberries are infused together to make this delicious Holiday Cocktail.  Maery’s Christmas Helper Cocktail is simple to throw together and only takes a few ingredients.

This wonderful cocktail does take a little preparation because you do have to marinate the ingredients overnight.  

If the holidays are starting to get a little hectic, just knowing that this wonderful cocktail is waiting  will help you relax and appreciate the joys of the season. 

Maery’s Christmas Helper Cocktail is a wonderful winter holiday cocktail perfect for guests or as a special treat for you.

Maery's Christmas Helper Cocktail

 

Ingredients

For infused Bourbon

Bourbon

2 cinnamon sticks

6 whole cloves

1 cup fresh cranberries

Zest of 1 orange

For finished cocktail

Ice

Triple sec

7-Up

Directions for Infused Bourbon

In a large pitcher add the bourbon, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cranberries and the orange zest. Let marinate for 6 hours or overnight.

For finished drink

To make 1 cocktail

Ice

1 cup bourbon mixture

1/3 cup triple sec

7-up

In a large glass, pour the bourbon mixture over the ice. Add the triple sec and fill the glass up with the 7-Up. Garnish with the soaked cranberries. Sip until filled with holiday joy.

Happy Holiday’s

Maery

Butterscotch Nut Cookies

Winter is still a week away, but is sure feels like winter this morning. It is dreary and cold outside and yes, cold enough for snow. The weather today is calling for snow, sleet and then rain.

Since I really don’t have to go anywhere today and with the holidays right around the corner, I thought today would be a good day to bake some cookies.

I did make a batch of cookies the other day, but they are almost gone. So, today, I decided that I would make some Butterscotch Nut Cookies.  

Butterscotch Nut Cookies are very similar to blonde brownies in taste. These cookies are made with brown sugar instead of white sugar.  Brown sugar gives these cookies a butterscotch taste which is sweet and rich.

It doesn’t matter if you use dark or light brown sugar the cookies will taste the same. The only difference is that dark brown sugar will give you darker cookies.  

The cookie batter will be a little runny but that is okay, just don’t overcook these delicious cookies.

Butterscotch Nut Cookies

 

Ingredients

¾ cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and walnuts. Set dry mixture aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small saucepan melt the butter then add the brown sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Finally add the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Mix well. Drop by tablespoon onto an non- stick cookie sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes until set but not brown. Remove from pan.

Helpful Tip: I like to line my cookie trays with foil.  This does two things: The foil makes it easier to remove the cookies and cleanup is a breeze. I just remove the foil from the tray and throw it away.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for Butterscotch Nut Cookies.

Maery

 

Snooker Doodle Cookies

Yes, these cookies have a funny sounding name, but they taste great. Snooker doodle cookies are easy to make and incredibility delicious.  These cookies are great for the holidays and anytime you want a soft cookie treat. Snooker doodle cookies are basically a sugar cookie with a cinnamon kick. There are so many different recipes for snooker doodle cookies but this one is my favorite. Snooker doodle cookies are soft and thick and super easy to make.  

Snooker Doodle Cookies

 

Ingredients 

1 cup butter  

1 1/2 cups sugar  

2 large eggs  

2 3/4 cups flour  

2 teaspoons cream of tartar  

1 teaspoon baking soda  

1/4 teaspoon salt  

3 tablespoons sugar  

3 teaspoons cinnamon

 

Directions

Cream butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar and eggs in a large bowl until light and fluffy.   In a separate bowl combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.  Mix dry ingredients into the butter mixture.  Cover mixture and chill for about 15 minutes in the fridge. Also, chill an ungreased cookie sheet for about 15 minutes in the fridge.  Meanwhile, mix 3 tablespoons sugar, and 3 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl.  Roll the dough mixture into 1 inch balls and coat gently in the sugar mixture.  Place the coated balls on the chilled ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for approximately 8 to10 minutes until set but not hard.  Remove the cookies from the pan immediately.

I hope you enjoy this Snooker Doodle cookie recipe!

Maery

Iced Sugar Cookies

These cookies use only simple ingredients and are fun for the whole family to make. Iced Sugar Cookies can be made using your favorite cookies cutters. If you don’t have any cookie cutters-you can use a glass to make round or square shapes.  Finish these iced sugar cookies by decorating with icing and colorful sprinkles.  Iced sugar cookies are great for any holiday!

Iced Sugar Cookies

 

 

Ingredients

2 cups butter (4 sticks)

2 cups sugar

 2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon salt

 6 cups all-purpose flour 

Butter Icing (see recipe below) and sprinkles for decorating

Directions

In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. Mix well. Add flour gradually and mix together until well blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour or overnight.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Divide dough into four sections. Work with one section at a time and keep the other sections refrigerated until ready to use.  Roll each section out on floured surface to about a ¼ inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters and arrange on nonstick cookie sheet.  Bake approximately six to eight minutes until set but not browned. Cool cookies.  Decorate with icing and sprinkles.  

Buttercream icing

Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening 

1/2 cup butter, softened 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

4 cups confectioners' sugar 

2 tablespoons milk

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and vanilla.  Blend in the sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add the milk and mix until light and fluffy.  Keep icing covered until ready to decorate.

Have a great day!                

Maery

Cranberry Cobbler

Tart and sweet is the best way to describe this Cranberry Cobbler.  It makes a wonderful dessert and I also love this for breakfast.  This recipe is super simple and comes together in just minutes.  I don’t recommend using a mixer to mix the ingredients together as over mixing makes the batter tough.  To make this Cobbler more festive, sprinkle the top with powdered sugar or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Cranberry Cobbler 

Ingredients

1 stick butter (6 tablespoons melted)

1 ½ cups cranberries

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

¾ teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg 

Directions

Wash the cranberries and remove any stems.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Butter a 10-inch oven proof baking dish.  In a small bowl mix together the cranberries and 2 tablespoons sugar.   In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and 3/4 cup sugar.   Add the milk, egg, and the melted butter.   Mix until well combined.   Pour batter into baking dish and sprinkle the cranberries on top.   Bake until lightly brown and center springs back when lightly touched-about 25 to 30 minutes.   Let cool 15 minutes before serving.

Have a great day!

Maery