Can you just smell Christmas baking!?

I've been baking! I just love to cook and bake! Now that I can't enjoy as much of the goodies as I would like, I'm going to bake for others. I like to put trays together for those who do things for us all year. Our milk hauler, supply delivery guy, mail carrier, and feed truck drivers just to name a few who will get some goodies. A few may get a bit of our cheese tucked in too.

Here are some of the yummy recipes for the goodies I've been baking!

Macaroons

1 1/3 c. flaked coconut

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/3 c. sweetened condensed milk

Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Drop from teaspoonfuls one inch apart onto well greased baking sheet. (I personally use parchment paper). Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove at once from baking sheet.

You may also dip half of the cookies in melted chocolate! YUM!

Apple Cinnamon Bars

1 3/4 c. sugar

2 c. flour

3 eggs

1 c. oil

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 c. apples, cored, peeled and diced

Garnish: powdered sugar

Combine ingredients together in order listed; pour into a greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes; cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar; cut into squares. Makes about 2 dozen.

Chocolate Peppermint Drops

1 c. margarine, softened

2/3 c. sugar

2/3 c. dark brown sugar, packed

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. peppermint extract

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. flour

3/4 c. baking cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. candy canes, crushed

Combine margarine, sugars, extracts and eggs in a large mixing bowl; mix well.

Add remaining ingredients except candy canes; blend well. Chill for 15 minutes, or until dough is easy to handle. Roll well rounded teaspoons of dough into balls; place on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 11-13 minutes, or until cookies are puffed and centers are set. Remove from oven; with the back of a spoon, immediately and gently make a well in the center of cookies. Spoon about 1/2 tsp. crushed candy canes into well. Let stand for 2-3 minutes before removing from baking sheet. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.