the week of christmas baking: part I

The first Christmas bake of the season.  I was planning on baking cookies all week, but unfortunately got a terrible sore throat, which led to the continuation of a cold.... Boo.  I'm praying I get better before the Christmas, as I have another large menu to prepare.  I won't be eating these cookies until I get better, but you should bake them and enjoy them immediately. They are by far one of my favorite cookies and they are so ridiculously addicting.

Finnish Ribbon Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 tsp. salt

6+ tbs. raspberry jam

glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tbs. water

(Mix until well combined and smooth)

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy.

Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon peel.  In another bowl, stir together flour and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly.

Preheat oven to 375.

Shape dough into ropes about 3/4 inch in diameter as long as your baking sheets.  Place them about two inches apart on ungreased baking sheets (I used parchment paper).  With the side of your little finger, press a long groove down the center of each rope (don't press all the way down to the baking sheets).  Bake cookies at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Remove cookies from oven and spoon jam into the grooves.  Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until cookies are firm to touch and a light golden brown.  While cookies are hot, drizzle them with glaze.  Then cut at a 45 degree angle into 1" lengths.  Let cool briefly, then transfer to metal rack.

I kept them in a parchment lined (rinsed-out) tin

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.