Christmas Cookiedough Concocting

You've heard of Christmas Cookie Exchanges, right?
This is a spin off of that.

Instead of bringing finished cookies, you get a couple friends together and make the cookie dough to freeze!

Each person brings a favorite Christmas Cookie recipe (that you can freeze the dough), and enough ingredients to make 3-4 batches. That way every family walks away with 3-4 different types of cookie dough to use/share throughout the season!

I have never actually done this before, so this year I provided some of the staples: salt, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, etc.
They bring their own: sugar, flour, butter, eggs, chocolate, etc.

So here's the recipe I made, a "secret" family recipe from my Great-Grandma (I think):

Grandma Songer's Cutout Cookies

Makes 3 ½ dozen, preheat oven to 350

Step I: Sift together and set aside

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Step II: Cream Well

1 cup butter

¾ cup sugar

stir in one unbeaten egg

2 tablespoons milk

Step III: Combine dry and wet ingredients, 1/3 at a time
Chill until firm (couple hours)

Roll out ¼ inch thick, cut out desired shape

Bake at 350 for 12-14 mins.(Cookies should be still slightly soft in the middle, and very lightly browned on some of the edges)

One of the other ladies found this recipe (their photo):

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Makes 2 dozen, preheat oven to 350

Step I:  Sift together and set aside

1 2/3  cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt 

Step II:Set aside in a separate bowl

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Step III: Cream well

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room
  temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Step IV: Combine 

Combine dry and wet ingredients slowly until just combined

Roll the dough into walnut sized balls using your hands, then roll the ball in the confectioners' sugar until covered. Place the balls on a prepared baking sheet 2 inches apart.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 mins, should be crackled and puffed. (These are SUPER good!)

And the last cookie? Found here!

White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

Makes 2 dozen, preheat oven to 375

Step I: Sift together and set aside

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Step II: Cream well 

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon brandy

Step III: Combine

Combine dry and wet ingredients slowly until just combined, add

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup dried cranberries 

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes

With cookies that you normally scoop into balls, it is easiest to freeze them that way. Form the balls and place in one layer on a cookie sheet. Carefully make enough room in the freezer to set the tray relatively flat. After 20-30 min, they should be frozen enough to put in a labeled ziploc baggie. That way when you are in the mood for just a cookie or two (cooked or raw) you don't have to freeze the whole batch!

A few glasses of wine later, and each of us had a freezer stocked with cookie dough for the holidays!