Snowball cookies

I was recently inspired by The Nut free-Mom blog to make these cookies.
Jenny created these cookies from her grandmother's recipe that used a large portion of ground pecans.

Her Daughter has anaphylaxis to nuts like my Declan, so after searching through cookbooks she found a similar cookie- a Greek cookie called Kourambiethes.

Unlike most Greek cookies these contain NO nuts at all. Plus, they have the same shape, taste, delicious flavor and yummy powdered sugar coating that Jenny's grandmother's cookies had.
Here is Jenny's recipe below:
(note: I halved the recipe and it still made 20-30 cookies!)

Snowballs

1 lb (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
 *1lb=approx 450g and we used nuttlex to make dairy free
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar + 2 tbsp, plus lots more for sprinkling on cookies
*confectioners sugar= icing sugar
1 egg yolk
*we used oragan's no egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* natural vanilla essence, an extract of organic vanilla beans
1/4 tsp pure orange extract (optional)
*we didn't put this in
1 scant tsp salt
5-6 cups of all-purpose flour
*all-purpose flour = self raising flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (180 degrees for us in Oz land). Using a standing mixer, beat softened butter until very light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, egg yolk, vanilla and orange extract if using, beating thoroughly after each addition. Add flour a little at a time until soft dough is formed that can be handled easily. Taking about a teaspoonful at a time, (I use a tiny ice-cream scoop) roll into a small ball. Place on a non-stick cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar while still hot. Once cool, sprinkle with plenty of powdered sugar again. Literally, they should look like snowballs!

keep in mind that the dough for these is not super-sweet--kind of like a shortbread cookie.
The sweetness comes from rolling these in powdered sugar when they're hot and then sifting more over them when they are cool.


Head on over and click to visit The Nut-Free Mom  :D

Reindeer Christmas tradition- magic reindeer food & reindeer cookies :)

 Now the munchkins are getting a little older, understanding Christmas and it's excitement more it's time to start our own Christmas family traditions...yay!

Reindeer's are fascinating creatures...my kids love them as I do so what better than a Reindeer themed tradition to start us off :)

This tradition will include a craft activity, secret baking (mummy only) and lots of excitement and happiness for all.



On a day in the week prior to Christmas day the munchkins will be involved in making Magic Reindeer food, which they will then sprinkle on our house lawn on Christmas eve to guide the reindeer's to our house. We will also be leaving a milk and cookies out for Santa, but you can't feed Santa and not the reindeer's can you...now that would be rude! :P

Secretly (when the munchkins are sleeping in the week prior to Christmas) I will bake Reindeer face cookies. On Christmas day the munchkins will discover that in return for their kind gesture of magic reindeer food, the reindeer's left us some reindeer's cookies baked by Mrs Claus! .....now that's special :D

This Christmas is the first year for this tradition- the magic reindeer food is made, the cookies baked and the excitement is building.

If you want to join in on this simple yet fun activity see pics and details below :)
Keep in mind that Magic reindeer food is also a great gift for school friends, kindy friends, playmates or grandchildren.


 MAGIC REINDEER FOOD

What you need:

*oats

 (magic oats)
*fine gold glitter
(magic star dust)
*fine red glitter
(red magic berry dust)
*fine green glitter
(magic moss from the mystical forest)
*multi coloured chunky glitter stars
(magic enchanted forest bloom seeds)
*container, glass jar or small glad snap bag
*fabric to place on top of jar lid (optional)
*Reindeer poem tag
Click on these links to print out a pre-made reindeer poem tag
Colour Reindeer poem tag
Black and White Reindeer poem tag



Reindeer Poem to go with:


Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.


Help child(ren) to place all ingredients in small bowl and mix.
Once it's all mixed up and looking pretty put into container, jar or snap lock bag. Attach Reindeer poem tag and it's all ready to sprinkle out on Christmas eve.
Here is our Magic Reindeer food all bagged up and ready to go.

 MRS CLAUS' REINDEER COOKIE RECIPE

 Dairy free, egg free and nut free! (Mrs Claus know all you allergy needs) :D

*125g butter (or nuttlex for those who can't have dairy)
*1/3 cup caster sugar
*approx 1/4 cup golden syrup
*1 3/4 cup sifted self raising flour
* Pretzels
*sweet william choc chips
*raspberry flavour artisse organic lolly pops or cachous (silver cake decorating balls)

1. Beat butter and sugar to a cream and set oven to 180 degrees
2. Add golden syrup and beat well.
3. Slowly add sifted self raising flour.
4. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to approx 1cm thick and cut out circles using a cookie cutter or glass (we used a 2 1/2 '' diameter cookie cutter)

 5. Using thumb and forefinger, pinch opposite sides of each slice about two-thirds of the way down to shape face.
Don't be too shy about pinching the sugar cookie dough to form the muzzle, as it will spread out while baking.
6. Break curved sides away from center of each pretzel twist to form antlers. Press bottom of 1 set of antlers on each side at top of each reindeer face.
7. Place two choc chip eyes on each cookie (you could also use sultana's if you like)
8. Smash up a lolly pop into smaller pieces and press into dough for a nose or use a chahous. (you could also use m&m's or a glazed cherry if allowed).
9. Place in oven for approx 10-15 min, time will vary in different ovens.
10. once cookies have cooled place them in a sealed container and hide until the big reveal on Christmas day!
enjoy :)




I would love to hear what Christmas traditions your family has, please leave a comment.

Shortbread

Are you making shortbread this Christmas?

Shortbread is yummy and very easy to make for different allergy needs. Serve it up for quests or take it along to your Christmas host's.

I made 2 big shortbread last night, just under the diameter of a dinner plate. You could use cookie cutters to make whatever shape you choose, the idea's are endless.

I used the traditional recipe from Taste.com.
Click here if you want the recipe to make it yourself.

To make dairy free simply use nuttlex instead of butter or if gluten is your hurdle then use gluten free flour and your laughing.

enjoy creating and baking!