Buttery almond shortbread cookies sandwiched with raspberry jam and finished with sliced almonds and powdered sugar. Raspberry almond shortbread cookies combine a tender, gently nutty dough with a bright berry center. This version makes the sandwich cookies shown in the photos, with two solid shortbread rounds and a thin layer of jam between them. Why…
Chewy brown butter toffee cookies with golden edges, a soft center, and little pockets of buttery crunch. Brown butter gives an everyday cookie dough a warm, toasted flavor that pairs beautifully with toffee. These cookies are a lovely choice for holiday tins, bake sales, or an afternoon coffee break. A short rest lets the flour…
Smooth, chocolate-rich fudge made with sweetened condensed milk and a short list of pantry ingredients. A tray of homemade chocolate fudge is an easy way to make a small gathering feel special. This version melts chocolate gently with condensed milk, then sets in the refrigerator, so there is no sugar-syrup stage to judge. The result…
Soft cocoa cookies topped with warm, pillowy marshmallow for a simple chocolate dessert with a gooey finish. Chocolate marshmallow cookies bring together two familiar flavors in one generous cookie. The cocoa dough bakes first, then a marshmallow half goes on top for a brief return to the oven. This keeps the marshmallow visible and soft…
Buttery brown sugar cookies filled with toasted pecans and finished with a pretty pecan half on top. Old-fashioned pecan cookies are simple enough for a weekday bake and special enough for a holiday tin. Toasting the nuts first brings out their warm flavor, while a mix of brown and granulated sugar gives the cookies tender…
Little cream cheese pastry cups filled with buttery brown sugar and pecans, baked into bite-size pecan pies. Pecan tassies have a wonderful contrast of tender pastry and sweet, nutty filling. Instead of rolling a large pie crust, you press small pieces of dough into a mini muffin pan. The cream cheese makes the pastry easy…
Buttery slice-and-bake cookies with a cinnamon sugar spiral and a simple vanilla icing drizzle. Cinnamon swirl cookies have the pretty pattern of a cinnamon roll in a smaller, crisper treat. A chilled butter dough wraps around a thin cinnamon filling, then slices into pinwheels before baking. They are especially nice for a holiday platter, but…
Buttery Southern pecan pralines with toasted nuts and a tender, creamy sugar coating that melts on the tongue. Southern pecan pralines are a lovely homemade candy for holidays, small gifts, or a sweet finish to dinner. A candy thermometer and a prepared work area make the process much easier to follow than judging by color…
Buttery, tender, and shaped into pretty little rosettes, German Spritz Cookies are a welcome sight on a Christmas cookie tray. Their crisp edges and delicate vanilla-almond flavor make them easy to love, while a traditional cookie press gives each batch its familiar ridges without rolling or cutting dough. This version uses familiar pantry ingredients and…
German Christmas butter cookies, or Butterplätzchen, are the kind of simple holiday bake that makes a cookie platter feel complete. They have a delicate vanilla flavor, lightly golden edges, and a tender bite that works beautifully with a thin layer of icing. Stars, hearts, trees, and rounds all look lovely, so use the cutters you…