All About Christmas Cookies

What better time of year than now to talk about cookies.  This December I've been obsessed with trying different cookie recipes. I've already been gifted a box of homemade cookies by a friend and I'm contemplating doing the same in the very near future.  Even after the holidays, who wouldn't want a box of homemade cookies?? And what better to nibble when writing than a good cookie?

I am however, pressed for time.  There's a pun here, wait for it.  So instead of rolling out the traditional gingerbread cookies this year I decided to try the cookie press.  But I couldn't find a recipe to convert a box of Betty Crocker gingerbread/cookie mix into a press cookie.  So I ad-libbed.  And by golly it worked.  

 The recipe I came up with was a cross between the cake recipe and the cookie recipe.
Combine with the gingerbread mix:
1 egg

2 Tablespoons of melted butter
1/4 cup water (add this slowly, and watch so the consistency doesn't get too wet)

Place into the tube of a cookie press and create the shapes you want. Too bad they don't make a gingerbread man shaped disc! So, that's it. Easy homemade cookies.  I actually took these to a PTA meeting and everyone wanted the recipe.  I told them it was an old family recipe from Aunt Betty. ;)

Here are a few more cookie recipes for you to try:
I've been experimenting with Russian Tea cookies, Mexican Wedding cakes, or the cookie commonly referred to as Snowballs. I found this recipe on epicurious for Chai-Spiced Almond Cookies.
The idea of almonds and chai-spice dusted with lots of powdered sugar made my mouth water and they turned out delicious. Highly recommend these beauties with a cup of coffee.

My mother bakes springerle each year, a square anise flavored cake-like cookie that I could eat daily if they weren't so much work.  I found Browneyedbaker has this awesome Anise cookie worth trying. It's much easier than rolling out and cutting springerle (although if you've never had them, make them at least once. They are a delight).  This cookie recipe is easy and, well, I'm a sucker for powdered sugar icing especially when the kids add sprinkles. This cookie is also great with a cup of coffee. Hmm, I'm noticing a pattern in my cookie creation.

So what is your favorite holiday cookie tradition, and do you continue it with your family?  Got a great recipe you'd like to share?