Milk Maid

I sure do like those Christmas cookies, sugar

I sure do like those Christmas cookies

The ones that look like Santa Claus Christmas trees, bells and stars...

Now those sprinkly things just makes things worse

‘Cause it makes them taste better than they did at first

And they’re absolutely impossible to resist

Some disappear to who knows where...

I sure do like those Christmas cookies, sugar

Those lyrics from George Strait’s Christmas hit “Christmas Cookies”, perfects sums up the relationship that most people, including myself, have with Christmas cookies. For the ones that just eat the cookies, they have the easy job.

For those of us that make the Christmas treats to see them disappear so fast can be gratifying but also a little disheartening. I just hate seeing treats I spend a lot of time making just vanish, but I also really enjoy how they taste.

This time of year it seems everyone is doing Christmas baking or is at least a recipient of some delicious Christmas baking. I was wondering what the most popular Christmas cookie is.

I couldn’t find an exact answer, but I did find some interesting recipes on the Food Network’s website I want to try.

I found recipes for chocolate cheesecake candy cane bars, crunchy peanut butter S’more bites, chocolate chip candy cane cookies, PB&J blondies, cereal confetti cookies, Bugle ice cream cones bites, peppermint sugar cookie bars and Grinch cookies.

They all sounded delicious and within my baking skill set, The cereal confetti cookies looked the most fun because they incorporate holiday Rice Krispies or Fruity Pebbles.

I also thought anything with mint would be good because they would be safe from my mint opposing sister.

My list of the best Christmas treats are: peanut butter blossoms, Belgian cookies, my aunt Denise’s sugar cookies, Divinity candy, peanut butter balls and Oreo truffles.

One of my most favorite things to make is Oreo truffles. They are so easy and so amazingly tasty. They do come with caution though, as they work best to refrigerate them before you drop them into almond bark.

It seems every time I make them, there are several truffles missing in action before their dip in the almond bark pool.

The nice thing about baking in the winter is that anything you need to chill before the next step can easily be set outdoors for a quick and effective chill. Learning how to make delicious Belgian cookies is on my bucket list.

I remember making them with my grandparents but was too young to remember all the steps. After my grandma had her stroke, at the age of 78, my grandpa proudly taught himself how to cook.

His Belgian cookies were always a little thicker and his brownies were always cut in giant pieces. Once, I remember he switched salt and sugar amounts and I had all I could do to smile and enjoy them.

It’s not just Christmas sweets that I look forward too. I’m also a big supporter of lefse, brown sugar honey hams and cheesy potatoes, which are affectionately called, “Brittany’s Potatoes” in our family.

It’s a fact that I can claim some fame for them. It’s even published. Check out our cleverly named family cookbook, “Moorse’s Moorsels.”

I don’t make them in a glass pan anymore after the Great Cheesy Potato Disaster of 2016.

Vacuuming up glass out of your oven is like watching your cheesy dreams shatter.

Just like George Strait, Some disappear to who knows where... but I sure do like those Christmas cookies, and everything else!