Holiday Cookie Exchange {Get all the Details}

Chocolate Caramel Pretzels

Ingredients

Equal number of:

• small salted twist pretzels
• Rolos
• pecans (lightly toasted)

Directions

Preheat oven to 300°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and cover with a single layer of pretzels. Place one Rolo on the center of each pretzel. Bake for 4 to 5 minutes until Rolos are soft, but not completely melted (they will still look whole). Remove from oven and immediately place one nut face up onto each Rolo pressing down to spread out the chocolate and caramel. Let completely cool before removing from pan.

I bought four packs of Rolos which makes 40 pretzels. You’ll love the chewy texture combined with salty and sweet. The kids can easily help out with this recipe because they are quick and simple to make. I found it helpful to have an extra set of hands to press the nuts down before the Rolos cooled too much. These are chewy, sweet and salty, with a bit of crunch- totally divine!

Here’s how I packaged them up:

I stacked a jar full of pretzels and traced the sealer part of the lid onto an old card. I cut it out and placed it over the sealer before fastening the second part of the lid. I then added a printable reindeer hugs tag and decorative ribbon. This makes a perfect gift for that sweet tooth in your life.

Now on to Sandi’s recipes…

Old-Fashioned Chewy Molasses Cookies

Ingredients

• 4 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 cup light molasses
• ½ cup milk
• 2 eggs
• extra sugar and powdered sugar for rolling

Directions

In large mixer bowl combine all ingredients except additional sugar.  Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (2 to 3 minutes).  Cover; refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours).  Heat oven to 350. Shape rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into balls; roll in white sugar then in icing sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until slightly firm to touch.

Traditional Shortbread

Ingredients

• ¾ cups rice flour
• 1 ¾ cups flour
• ½ cup icing sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup firm butter

Directions

Blend all the ingredients until uniform consistency. Roll out to approximately 1/2 inch thick and cut with desired cutters. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 325.

Cookie Topping Options

Maple Glazed Shortbread:

1/3 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup icing sugar

Whisk maple syrup and icing sugar until smooth. Lightly brush tops of cooled cookies, covering entire surface. Excess icing will drip through the racks. Let stand for 1 hour or until icing is dry.

White-Chocolate Dipped Shortbread:

6 ounces of white chocolate

Dip half the cookie into melted chocolate and let cool.

Here’s how Sandi packaged them up: