Angel Pie

Ok.  I know.

I know I was 2 cookie recipes short of the 12 Days of Cookies. 

Please forgive me.  No excuse except I became so sick of butter and sugar and needed to consume vegetables and healthier fare for a while.

To make up for it, I am posting a dessert recipe that should take the place of those missing cookies.  Fair deal?


This is a very retro dessert.  I haven't had it in about 32 years (wow, dating myself a bit).  So, 1970's retro.  Basically, it's a pavlova in a pie.  Have I got your attention yet?

12 Days of Cookies - Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprises

For someone who is not a fan of chocolate, I sure am baking a lot of chocolate cookies!  Who can pass up chocolate with peanut butter though?  Ok, easy answer...anyone allergic to nuts.  I think I would even try this with a different spreadable nut mixture like hazelnut, almond butter, or even soy butter, sunflower butter, or "Peabutter" for my husband and others with a nut allergy.

12 Days of Cookies - Mexican Hot-Chocolate Cookies

These cookies are for the serious chocoholic.  They are a nice change to the regular chocolate cookie, however, next time, I would add some chopped up chocolate bar - like "Chocolove" which contains dark chocolate with chiles and dried cherries.  It sort of screams for a surprise inside. 

12 Days of Cookies - Fruitcake

I have never made fruitcake before.  Probably because it always seems so difficult and time-consuming to bake.  This recipe is pretty easy to create.  Just blend your favorite dried fruits, macerate in liquor for a couple of days, then bake in a low temperature oven for a couple of hours.  Pretty easy and delicious.

12 Days of Cookies - Coconut Lime Macaroons



These do not taste like those macaroons you buy at the grocery store bakery.  You know the ones.  They taste of solid coconut and are almost like a Bounty Bar.  These are light and limey and delicious clouds of meringue which happen to have coconut in it.  The lime is makes these outstanding.  I don't think I'll give any of these away.  They are too delicious!

12 Days of Cookies - Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

These cookies are delicious versions of those mint Girl Guide cookies, with the addition of white chocolate and candy cane sprinkles.  If you don't have white chocolate, or have an aversion to it, by all means, go with your favorite chocolate.

12 Days of Cookies - Chocolate Chip Ginger Cookies

Adding chocolate to a ginger cookie provides a nice contrast. You expect a ginger taste and your palate gets hit with a taste of chocolate.  If you don't like dark chocolate, or don't have any, using semi-sweet chocolate chips will work just fine. 

12 Days of Cookies - Sugar Cookies

I love sugar cookies, probably because they are easy to make and withstand decorating, and everyone seems to love them.  You can decorate yours with a royal or buttercream icing, but I prefer just a little sugar on top as they don't seem to be so sickenly sweet.  Probably the best thing about sugar cookies is that they can be baked year round, using different festive cutters.

To kick up the flavour, I add extracts and citrus zests.  It adds a nice pleasant surprise.

12 Days of Cookies - Blueberry Cream Cookies

This is an unusual cookie that I just had to throw into the mix.  It's created by Christina Tosi, the ingenious pastry chef at Momofuku Milk Bar in New York. 

This recipe takes a couple of days to make.  Don't worry, it's minimal active working time and extensive resting time.  It's a nice tasting cookie, and, really a surprise addition to a Christmas cookie list.  Doncha all need a new and different cookie in your repertoire?  They are reminiscent of a blueberry muffin.  I don't see why you couldn't throw in some dried cranberries instead of dried blueberries to make it more Christmasy.  Even some white chocolate chunks would kick it up a few notches.



12 Days of Cookies - Piparkakut (Scandinavian Spice Cookies)

I don't think there's a cookie that evokes the warmth of the holidays more than ginger spice cookies.  The smell premeates the house, welcoming everyone.  I love these the most because they are the perfect dunking partner for a hot cup of tea.

12 Days of Cookies - Shortbread

Shortbread.  Is there a purer cookie out there?  Basic ingredients that lead to a yummy delight.  There are a tonne of shortbread recipes out there, but I am going to post the one my Grandma always used.  Why mess with a true family classic?

The Twelve Days of Cookies

Hard to believe it's already December 1st.  Even more frightening to think Christmas is in 25 days!  With that fast-approaching holiday coming up, you will need to start baking.  Why?  Well, it is an easy and economical way of saying "thanks" to people when you go to a Christmas dinner or party; handy to have around when people stop by; something to bring to work and share with co-workers; a nice treat to give to your mailperson, handyman, teacher or babysitter.  The best part about cookies is that you can make the dough, or bake the cookies and freeze them.


So, for the next 12 days, I will be preparing and posting a different cookie recipe to help inspire you to get into the kitchen and bake.  With all those cookies (and limited freezer space), I will be giving mine away.  I've already decided the exceptional doctors and nurses at the local NICU are receiving a box.  It's a no-brainer for my family as we had to use their services when my son was born.  Even those hard-working doctors and nurses can't eat 12 dozen plus cookies.  So, I would appreciate it if you could help me out and suggest the names of other worthy persons deserving of these cookies.  Your creative and thoughtful comments will be chosen at the end of Dec 12's baking day.