eggnog cookies

“Nothing clings to you like laughter…” – Full list of 2013 holiday baking

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I started off today in the office exchanging messages on Facebook with a colleague who was on a bus – it was unintentionally stalker-like to see her progress as her public transport made its way to different parts of the city, and I could track her, thinking, “Oh, she must have stopped responding because she is walking up the path to the office now…”. In any case, our conversation started the day off on the right foot because it sparked laughter. And, as Robyn Hitchcock sings, “Nothing clings to you like laughter…“. Too true.

I also noted that the 24 kinds of baked goods that I brought to the office yesterday – the logistical nightmare that that was – has been reduced and fits nicely on two long tables instead of three. Progress!

Christmas 2013 spread - three full tables

Christmas 2013 spread – three full tables

The final list of stuff baked and brought along with links to recipes (where they exist – some I was making for the first time so will post in new posts in the coming days)…

COCONUT-MACADAMIA COOKIES

CHRISTMAS M&M COOKIES (I know this links to a white chocolate macadamia cookie recipe, but I have been using it for M&M cookies for a while – prefer it to the one I used to use. Just eliminate the macadamia and white chocolate and put M&Ms in instead!)

VANILLA ORANGE ALMOND BISCOTTI   

CRANBERRY PISTACHIO BISCOTTI

TART CHERRY & PINE NUT BISCOTTI      

GINGERBREAD

THUMBPRINTS (WALNUTS & CHERRY)  

RUSSIAN TEA CAKES (ALMOND)

SHORTBREAD                            

CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIES

SNICKERDOODLES                    

RASPBERRY OAT BARS

PEANUT BUTTER CUPS                  

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

OREO TRUFFLES           

MAPLE PECAN COOKIES

PUMPKIN PIE                             

RAFFAELLO CANDY CUPCAKES (ALMOND, COCONUT)

BROWN SUGAR CUPCAKES W/ MAPLE FROSTING AND CANDIED BACON

GUINNESS CUPCAKES W/ BAILEYS FROSTING

OREO CHOCOLATE COOKIES-AND-CREAM CUPCAKES

EGGNOG COOKIES                    

PUMPKIN DOUGHNUTS

HONEY ALMOND SHORTBREAD

O, eggnog nastiness – you are eggnot – or eggsnot: Eggnog cookies

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Eggnog cookies ready to eat

Eggnog cookies ready to eat

Despite my protestations about eggnog being completely vile, I made some. Then I used it to make eggnog cookies with eggnog glaze. It also gave me the opportunity to use fresh nutmeg and my grandmother’s nutmeg grater. I have had the grater for years, always admired it – but then reached for the jar of already ground nutmeg every time. Why did I do this for so many years??

Naked eggnog cookies begging to be glazed

Naked eggnog cookies begging to be glazed

For every task, a tool - nutmeg grater

For every task, a tool – nutmeg grater

Even though I can still report that I am disgusted by eggnog, I can say I have a new appreciation for nutmeg and old-fashioned, lovely nutmeg graters. As a firm believer in the “for every task, there is an appropriate tool”, the nutmeg grater is handy and functional.

Eggnog cookies eager to be eaten

Eggnog cookies eager to be eaten

Disgustingness of eggnog – drink and cookies

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Very little in this world sounds more disgusting to me than eggnog. I don’t know if the “real” eggnog made from scratch would be any better (sounds like a concoction of all wrong/bad things – thick, cream, milky, yucky) but the idea of buying a pre-made, non-alcoholic version in a grocery store and (god forbid) drinking it … or making a latte out of it – sounds beyond hideous.

That said, I might this year try out an eggnog recipe. And then use some of it to make eggnog cookies. I know SOME people will like it – even if I loved cookies, I can’t see myself being one of them.

Probable eggnog recipe
4 eggs (separated); use the yolks and whites both – but separately
1/3 cup sugar + 1 tablespoon sugar
1 pint whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 ounces bourbon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Beat egg yolks, gradually add the 1/3 cup sugar and beat until dissolved. Add the milk and cream, then the bourbon and nutmeg. Stir.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peak stage. Gradually add the tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Whisk the egg white and egg yolk mixtures together. Chill, serve in cups with a bit of freshly grated nutmeg on top.

Probable eggnog cookie recipe
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup soft butter
1/2 cup eggnog (of course use some of the eggnog you made from the recipe above!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon nutmeg
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 300F and line pans with parchment paper. Combine dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg) in one bowl. Cream sugar and butter until fluffy in another bowl. Add eggnog, vanilla and egg yolks. Beat until smooth. Add flour mixture and until just combined. Spoon small balls of dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Make them small because the dough spreads. Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg. Bake 15 to 18 minutes.

Eggnog glaze
2 tablespoons eggnog
1 pinch nutmeg
1-2 cups powdered sugar

Mix eggnog, nutmeg and 1 cup powdered sugar with whisk.

Glaze cooled cookies – either like a frosting or just a decorative drizzle