Christmas Crack

 This is such a great treat to have in the house.  It gets its name from how tasty and addictive it is. It is a lovely addition to a cookie box around the holidays. 

Ingredients: 

• 40-45 salted saltine crackers (approx. 1 sleeve)
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• salt
• 1 pkg (300 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Additional toppings:
• chopped walnuts
• candy sprinkles
• toffee bits
• white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F.  Lined a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease with cookie spray.
2. Place crackers side by side on the lined pan; set aside.
3. In a large saucepan combine butter and brown sugar.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Pour the mixture over the crackers, making sure all crackers are covered.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 3-5 minutes.  Be careful not to burn the caramel!
7. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top.  Let stand for 3-5 minutes and then spread the melted chocolate over the crackers and caramel using an offset spatular.  If the chocolate is not melted enough, you can always put the tray back in the oven for a few minutes to melt it.
8. Sprinkle the chocolate with salt and whatever toppings you'd like.  I love adding chopped walnuts and candy sprinkles.  You can always melt white chocolate and drizzle over top. 
9. Cool completely in the fridge for at least 2 hours, then break into pieces.
10. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
    
    

The Christmas Crack is around the outside.

Tea Cookies

These cookies come together rather quickly and are fairly easy to make; plus they taste great.  I always get compliments when I make these cookies.  The butter gives it a flaky texture and the nuts give it a nice crunch!  They are a great addition to any holiday baking tray!

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
dash salt
dash baking powder
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts (or other nuts)
powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. In a bowl beat together the butter and powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.

2. Add vanilla.

3. Blend together flour, salt and baking powder. (Don't forget it's just a dash!)

4. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, blending well.

5. Add the chopped nuts; combine well.

6. Roll the dough into two balls.  Wrap each ball in plastic wrap an chill for at least an hour in the refrigerator.

7. Flatten dough out and cut into 15 or 16 equal size pieces.

8. Shape into small marble-sized balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets.

9.  Bake at 400F for 10-12 minutes until firm not brown (one cookie sheet on each rack).  About halfway through baking, rotate the baking sheets to the one that was on top is now on the bottom and the one on the bottom now on the top.  Watch closely that the cookies don't brown too quickly and burn!

10.  Cool the cookies on a rack while still on the tray.  While still warm, dust with powdered sugar.

11.  Let cool completely.  Roll again in powdered sugar.

Makes about 30 cookies.

Cookies rolled and ready to bake.

The final product!