Christmas Cookies

It was a perfect day to bake yesterday.  I wasn't planning on getting anything in the way of cookies made this year, so I was pleased with what I finished the day with.

Normally the baking would have been done by now and between myself, Amy and Ali we would have cookie tins stacked with over a dozen different kind.  I ended up with five.

Two were family favorites: "Jimmy Cookies" and "Chocolate Spice Drops".  Tried a twist to the usual cut-out butter cookie recipe from my grandmother with a cinnamon cut-out.  It's  has just a touch of cinnamon and cut small gingerbread men shapes and trees that are dusted with cinnamon sugar.  Then I dared to try two new recipes in hopes that they would turn out and be good.  Thankfully they are!

One is just titled "Italian Christmas Cookie", the other "Pecan Crisps".  Both very good and both yielded many cookies.  Great for a cookie exchange!

The recipe for the "Jimmy Cookie's" will follow.  Actually they are an icebox cookie that came from my mother-in-law.  They received the title because Jim would devour both the cookies and the dough.

Chocolate Shot Cookies (alias "Jimmy Cookies")
1 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup oatmeal
Sprinkles

Cream butter and sugar well, until fluffy.  Add vanilla. Add flour and baking soda, mis well.  Add oatmeal and mix again thoroughly.  Chill dough about 30 minutes.  Shape the dough into 1 1/2" rounds.  Roll them in sprinkles to coat.  Roll them into wax paper and chill well.  Slice rolls into 1/2"  rounds. Place on parchment lined sheets, 1" apart.  Bake at 325 for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.