Relief Society Cookie Exchange

My little boys were thrilled when they learned that I had signed up to host the Relief Society cooking club's Christmas Cookie Exchange.  We had over 20 women and about 25 different recipes of cookies at our house.  Can you tell why the boys were excited?  When they asked if they could come, I told them they had to make a cookie to contribute.  Logan, J.B. and Soren worked together on gingerbread boys, but mostly Soren made them.  When he introduced them to the ladies at cooking club, they gave him a thunderous applause.

Ever since our mom's close call, I've been wanting to honor her and remember her by making all of the Christmas cookie recipes that she used to make when we were growing up.  I always make gingerbread men and sugar cookies just like she did, but I don't usually make a lot of the others that she made.  I remember her making jam filled lattice bar cookies, raisin filled cookies (which were dad's favorites for a long time), and almond flavored cookies with chocolate chunks in them.
I'd love to hear what other cookie recipes you remember our mom (or your mom) making.

Also, please share your own favorite Christmas cookie recipies.

For some reason chocolate and peppermint were really on a lot of our brains.  There were probably 6 different varieties of chocolate-peppermint cookies.

I brought the cookies pictured above to the left.  They are from the Land O' Lakes box, but I'll call them Cherie's cookies because she was the one that gave the recipe to my mom.  Here is the recipe:

DOUBLE MINT CHOCOLATE COOKIES

From CHERIE’

2 cups sugar

1 cup cocoa

1 cup butter

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup water

2 eggs

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp peppermint extract

Combine at low speed scraping bowl often until well mixed.

Stir in:

4 cups flour

Beat 3-4 minutes

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough on greased cookie sheets.  Bake 7-9 minutes at 400 degrees.  Top of cookie should spring back when touched lightly.  Remove and cool.

Frosting:

4 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 tsp salt

2 T. milk

2 tsp vanilla

½ tsp peppermint or mint extract

(May add ½ cup cocoa and reduce sugar somewhat)

Mix all together and beat until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.  Spread ½ Tablespoonful on each cookie.  Sprinkle with ½ cup crushed peppermint candy if desired.

Merry Christmas everyone!