"" Shop This: 12/03/20

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Foodie Friday: Cookies & Cocoa ~ Recipes & More


Cookies and Cocoa...two of my favorite things. Christmas Cookies for me were magical. My Mom was a great baker. As kids, and then as adults, we could not wait until the holidays for those tins to appear down in the basement. She would have a dozen of them all filled with her sweet creations.  I always wondered why we had to run down the stairs to get a treat. Maybe it was her way of making us work off the calories. Thanks Mom for those sweet memories. This post will help you to create magical moments for your own family. It's fully loaded with all of the festive feels. Enjoy!


HERE: 27 Recipes & Great Gift Ideas For Bakers

Sugar Cookie Hot Chocolate
I am pretty sure that I linked you all to this recipe last year, and maybe the year before. But have you ever seen a better looking cup of cocoa? It's made with sweetened condensed milk, the same ingredient that makes my fudge so creamy. This cocoa needs to be made ASAP.
Half Baked Harvest

Cinnamon French Toast Cookies
The author says don't underestimate these rather plain looking cookies. They really are breakfast meets Christmas cookie, and that can't be a bad thing. Right?
Bakers Royale

How To Have A Hot Cocoa Party
These recipes are the answer to easy but interesting hot chocolate. There's classic hot chocolate, raspberry white hot chocolate, and matcha hot chocolate! they all look so inviting, I'll have the raspberry, please.
Dessert For Two

Fluffy One Bowl Sugar Cookies
{ Gluten Free & Vegan }
The base of these cookies is vegan butter, organic cane sugar and vanilla extract, They get their puffiness from Cornstarch. Aren't they the cutest?
Minimalist Baker

Spice White Hot Chocolate With Cabernet Caramel Sauce
Does this not look festive? I am up for putting wine in everything! Yum.
Woodbridge Wines

Peppermint Macarons with Chocolate Ganache ~ Gluten Free
I have never tried to make a Macaron, have you? I hear that they can be a bit finicky when coming together. One of the tricks is to "age" your egg whites. Click the link or photo to see what that means.
What The Fork Food Blog

Silpat ½-Sheet Snap Band Baking Mat
This little accessory is a baking
 must have!
Sur La Table

Red Velvet Hot Cocoa
This recipe combines the deliciousness of red velvet cake and hot chocolate into one beautiful creation.
Well Floured

Tricolour Cookies
Oh these bring back memories. It's one of my favorite cookies, and Rocco's in NYC makes them best. As a surprise to "Miss Shop This," I flew some of these and cannoli's in from Rocco's for her Christmas Eve birthday. With this recipe, now I don't have to do that. 
Gourmet Traveller

Adult Hot Chocolate with Peppermint, Gingerbread and Eggnog Marshmallows
Oh what fun! Do these not look like Holidays in a mug? Make them an adult drink by adding Frangelico, Irish Cream, or Marshmallow Vodka. Williams Sonoma has a modern Monogram Mug. Find the recipe at
Pass The Cookies

The Ultimate Peppermint Hot Cocoa
Oh this looks soooo good! I'll let the author do the description: "The dark chocolate gives a great depth of flavor, while the cocoa and cornstarch thicken everything nicely. The peppermint extract takes things up an extra notch to hot chocolate heaven." That's where I want to go.
Broma Bakery

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
These crinkle cookies are wrapped in a crispy exterior, but feature a chewy brownie-like inside. Loving the dusted with "snow" look.
Bakers Royale

Black Cherry Bourbon Hot Chocolate
Chocolate and cherries are one sweet combo. Add some bourbon and now you're talking. The chocolate is Ghirardelli's Double Chocolate Hot Chocolate Mix which you can get at Amazon.   Get the recipe at....
Sugar and Soul

Four Shop Rainbow Pop Up Cake Kit
Straight from New York City's most colorful and creative bakery! A perfect gift for the baker that has kids or is a grandparent. 
Williams Sonoma

Chai Spiced Santa Cookies with White Chocolate Frosting
Chai spiced cookies made with butter, cream cheese, and warming holiday spices. A modern take on the classic sugar cookie. 
Half Baked Harvest

Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
Isn't this adorable?  If you are making it for adults, adding some rum or brandy is 
highly recommended.
Cravings

KitchenAid Artisan Mini
The compact size is ideal for apartments and small sized kitchens. It might be mini in size, but it still beats up batter for 5 dozen cookies at a time. I like the sleekness of the design. It's like the sports model of KitchenAids!
Williams Sonoma

Oreo Peppermint Bark Cookie Balls
This recipe features holiday Candy Cane Oreos and peppermint bark. I didn't know that there were these special seasonal Oreos. It's a one bite treat that looks like fancy little truffles. 
The Chic Site

French Hot Chocolate
I wondered what made Hot Chocolate French. Here's the answer: "French hot chocolate is made with rich, dark European chocolate. This hot chocolate recipe is for true chocolate lovers! It’s rich and creamy and will transport your taste buds to a
 French bistro."
Well Plated

 Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars
This recipe takes the average buttery shortbread bar up 1,000 notches with a drizzle of chocolate and homemade caramel.

Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
Oh this recipe has my name all over it! I mean isn't chocolate and peanut butter the best duo of all?

Glass Bottom Springform Pan
This makes so much sense. Now one can check for doneness while it is baking. Those handles are handy, too! My favorite part of this practical pan is that the glass bottom will be almost invisible when you plate the cake.

Cranberry Bliss Cookies
These begin as a chewy cookie that is filled with vanilla, white chocolate chips, and cranberries. Then they are topped off with a white chocolate cream cheese frosting and more cranberries. The topping adds the tart to this 
sweet treat!
Gimme Some Oven

S’mores Hot Chocolate
Now we can have our favorite fireside treat indoors! This photo just makes me smile. The marshmallows get toasted by using a kitchen torch. You can find one HERE for 20% off  with Code: BOW20 at Sur La Table. The recipe is from...
Foxes Love Lemons

Apricot-Tarragon Cocktail Cookies
 I love the idea of offering a savory cookie at cocktail hour, especially during the holidays. Your guests will be impressed.

Orange Hot Chocolate
Orange and chocolate is a dynamic duo. I would add a dose of Orange Liquor to the mix.

Toasted Marshmallow Nutella Sandwich Cookies
You make your own marshmallows for this recipe, something that I have never done. But the outcome looks as if it is 
well worth the effort.
Broma Bakery

Crème Brûlée White Hot Chocolate
Now this is fancy. Actually the garnish reminds me of the sugar creations at Le Cirque in NYC. This delicious drink is said to be rich, creamy,  and tastes like liquid 
Crème Brûlée.
Sugar Hero

Cookie Box
Consider this your cookie jar 2.0. It's a creative way to transport cookies, store them, or gift them to your host. Love this!
Food52

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
Don't these sound ( and  look ) good? These are said to be quick, easy, and THE perfect holiday cookie.
The Modern Proper




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This is an updated post from 2018. I have added 6 new recipes and few new gifts. My love of cookies has not changed!