White Chocolate, Cranberry, and Pine Nut Cookies

The holidays are here! In fact, I returned just a few hours ago from a moderately successful Christmas shopping trip after work. (I tried to buy gifts yesterday, but somehow only ended up buying things for myself…) Aside from gifts (and the birth of Jesus, of course), Christmas = cookies. How else would Santa have enough energy to break into children’s homes all over the globe? It’s obviously the sugary sweets he scarfs down along the way. (I highly recommend you not follow Santa’s diet plan.) For this recipe I was inspired by the colors of the season to create a red and white treat to keep Saint Nick’s belly jolly (and increase his risk of diabetes). This year’s Christmas cookie recipe features white chocolate, dried cranberries, and pine nuts. Is your glass of milk ready?

Ingredients:

• 1 stick softened butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
2. Cream together butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy (3-5 minutes).
3. Scrape down sides of bowl and mix in egg and vanilla on medium speed.
4. Reduce to low speed and add in flour, baking powder, and salt. After the cookie dough is formed, mix in the white chocolate chips, pine nuts, and dried cranberries.
5. Scoop onto a silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes.
6. Let cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

These delightful delicacies were made for this year’s Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap in which hundreds of food bloggers around the world share treats from their kitchens in an effort to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. The recipients of this year’s cookies were A Slice of Ccakes, In The Kitchen With KP, and A Dusting of Sugar (I hope they made it safely). Oh, and a big thanks to Cheesy Pennies, Your Home Based Mom, and Alyssa and Carla for the delicious treats that I received in the mail! Don’t forget to check out the cookie recipes from previous years for brown sugar shortbread and coconut chocolate chip. Happy Holidays!