There are so many Christmas cookie recipes around but often so little time engaged in the baking during the holiday period.

The solution? A great tasting basic cookie recipe that quickly and easily transforms itself into such a large number of easy Christmas treats, friends and family will think you poured over all your favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

Let’s start with the basics:

Basic Cookie Dough Recipe

1 / 2 cup (or 1 stick) butter (or margarine) at room temperature
1 / 2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
2 tablespoons sugar
1 / 2 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1 / 2 cups all-purpose flour

In a large bowl, all ingredients except the flour. Beat with an electric mixer, scraping sides of bowl several times a stir until the mixture light and fluffy. Well mixed with mixer at low speed, gradually add the flour and beat just until everything is.

The mass on a baking sheet with a tablespoon measure and press with a spoon, flatten a little. Or our role and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Bake at 350 º C for about 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.

This basic cookie mix is also the basis for the following cookie recipes (all baked and bake at 350 º F).

Orange Cookies
(Makes about 32)

Add 1 tablespoon grated orange zest to the recipe. Shape into a log that about 1 1 / 2 “in diameter and is in the refrigerator for 4 hours.

Cut Slice dough into 1 / 4 “thick slices. Place on cookie sheet. Cookies can with candy decorated in colored sugar, or cut beautiful apartment rolled shapes before baking. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until lightly are browned.

Cherry Coconut Chocolate Squares
(Makes about 54 squares)

In addition to the basic dough you will need:
1 / 4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs
1 1 / 2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 / 2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups coconut flakes
1 / 2 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and coarsely chopped

Line a 13 “x9″ baking pan with foil.

Stir cocoa powder into basic research of the dough. Press evenly into the prepared pan and fill. Bake 10-15 minutes or until the crust looks dry.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, almond extract and baking powder until well mixed. Stir in coconut and cherries. Pour over the baked crust.

Bake 30-35 minutes, until top just begins to brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Keep cut it on a cutting board with foil and ends in 1 1 / 2 “squares. Courts may, in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Be Filed
Pineapple coconut cookies
(Makes about 36)

In addition to the basic dough you will need:
1 1 / 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 / 3 cup pineapple preserves (use raspberry or apricot if you prefer)

Add 1 cup of coconut flakes, the basic dough mixture and mix well. Figures, roll the dough into 1 1 / 2 “balls and coat in the remaining coconut. They set the balls 1″ apart lightly greased baking sheet and share. Make a deep indentation in the center of each cookie with your fingertip.

Bake 12-15 minutes until the cookie is firm and the coconut is lightly toasted. On cooling, fill each hole in the middle of cookies with the preserves.

You can vary this basic dough to make a variety of Christmas cookie recipes. Add other flavorings like maple, ginger or cinnamon. Add chopped dried fruits like apricots or dates. Bake plain or on holiday shapes and decorate with colored icing.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. Here, hopes this quick and easy Christmas cookie recipes help the printing of the cook.