The Best Holiday Cookie Recipes

The holidays are almost here and that means it's time to get out the rolling pins and let the holiday baking begin! It's my favorite time of the year not just because I get to indulge in an over abundant amount of sugary treats, but I get to share these sweet creations with friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

One of my favorite holiday cookie creations are these delicious and easy chocolate-filled tea cakes. They are sweet, nutty, chocolatey and the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea in the morning or a cup of hot chocolate with a little bourbon in the evening. They also make a great gift or a wonderful cookie for an upcoming cookie exchange.

Enjoy and happy baking!

Chocolate-Filled Tea Cakes

Ingredients:

1 cup of softened butter

1/2 cup powder sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup of finely chopped walnuts

chocolate chips

Ingredients for sugar coating:

1 cup powder sugar

1 tablespoon of red sugar

1 tablespoon of green sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, 1/2 c of powder sugar and the vanilla with an electric mixer until well mixed. On low speed, beat in the flour, salt and walnuts.

2. Make a 1 inch ball and with your thumb make an indentation and place a few chocolate chips in the middle of the cookie. Place cookie on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the bottoms are a golden brown. Meanwhile in a separate bowl mix the sugar coating ingredients.

4. Immediately remove cookies from the cookie sheet, while hot roll in the sugar coating. Cool completely and roll in the sugar coating again.