Awesome Christmas Cookies

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It's Christmas in July this week at How to Be Awesome at Everything!  We've already talked about awesome DIY Christmas Gifts.  Today, it's all about cookies.

I love Christmas cookies, and not just because they are delicious.  Cookies have become my go-to present for Christmas.  Everyone loves getting cookies, and they don't cost much to make!  In fact, I'd rather get a box of cookies than a cheap gift that I know I'll never use!  They don't take up room in your house, and you have an excuse to eat treats you might not make for yourself.

I give them to Brian's coworkers, to neighbors, and of course, they are great for parties and as hostess gifts! Traditionally decorated sugar cookies are of course, classic, but they aren't the only ones I make.

This is the platter I sent to work with Brian last year at Christmastime.

The wreath cookie recipe I got from my sister-in-law, Melissa.  They are like Rice Krispies Treats, but you use Corn Flakes instead, mix in some green food coloring, and put Red Hots on top.  The lump of coal cookies are basically Rice Krispies Treats made with Oreos instead, so you know that's gonna be good.  The guys in Brian's office thought they were hilarious, too.

I gave the wreath cookies to our neighbors one year, too, and I used this tip to decorate paper plates with some ribbon to make it extra cute.

Last year I tried Andes Mint Cookies, and they were awesome.  Basically, you just make easy chocolate cookies, and then right when they come out of the oven, you set an Andes Mint on top of each one.  In about five minutes, they melt and you can spread them like icing.  Sounds good, right?  Yup.

You can't talk about Christmas cookies without bringing up gingerbread cookies!  The beauty of gingerbread men is that, while they may take a little more time to roll out and cut into shapes, they are very simple to decorate, and they are always cute!  I even saw this great idea for putting them into clear CD envelopes!

However, last year, I found the best gingerbread cookies you have ever eaten, and they don't need to be cut into shapes.   People will love them just the way they are.  Plus, the icing is amazing.  I think I made ten dozen of these last Christmas.

The thing is, I got this recipe from a book.  Not a cookbook, mind you.  A murder mystery book.

Calm down.  It wasn't death by cookies.

It was from this book:

I had to type out the recipe from the book because I couldn't find it online anywhere, but I'm afraid it's copyrighted, so I am not going to share it here.  You'll just have to go check it out at the library, or you can click on the picture there and it will take you to Amazon where you can order it. Trust me.  It's worth it!  (It's also a fun book to read.)

As you can see in the first picture at the top, I have also made Rice Krispies Treats with some Christmas sprinkles, and dipping a large marshmallow in chocolate and then sticking a peppermint stick in it makes a great "hot chocolate stirrer."

I hope this inspires you to go bake some cookies!  I am always available to taste test, and you don't have to wait for Christmas, either!

Click here for Part 1:  DIY Christmas Presents.

Click here for Part 3:  Awesome Christmas Party Ideas