My Christmas Cookie Tray

Ok, it's after Christmas, so this is kind of silly to write about now. But at least for my own record, I want to make a list of what Christmas cookies I baked this year, with links to recipes. I have to say I think I did a pretty good job on these, and I'd like to make them again next year. So, instead of thinking "hmm, those macaroons I made last year turned out perfect! Now, what recipe did I use again...?" - here's my list!

1. Sesame Wafers: This recipe was in my December Food Network magazine. I didn't have enough regular sesame seeds, so I used black ones. They were not the prettiest cookie, but very tasty. If you like sesame seeds, make them! If not, don't.
2. Dutch Spice Cookies: Also in the December Food Network magazine. I don't like molasses, so actual gingerbread is not that great to me. But these! All the goodness of gingerbread minus molasses! Mine were not soft at all - very crunchy, but this made them excellent with a cup of coffee.
3. Glazed Citrus Rounds: The last from the magazine that I made. These were one of the most popular on my cookie tray. Very tasty!
4. Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons: I have always had trouble making coconut macaroons correctly. This recipe is the first that has been a major success for me. Use good chocolate; I melted down a chocolate Santa that someone gave us, and it was great. I wish I knew what kind of chocolate it was!
5. Chocolate Cherry Cordials: Chocolate + cherries = delicious!! I saw these in Parade magazine, and had to make them. I totally forgot to roll them in sugar before baking them, but they were still fantastic.
6. Chocolate Mints: I make these every year - my Mom's recipe!
7. Toffee-Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies: The name says it all.
8. Jam Thumbprints: I used pineapple and cranberry-raspberry jams, because that's what I had on hand.
9. Nestlé® Toll House® Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsel Cookies
10. Hot Chocolate on a Stick: Not a cookie, but worth mentioning, since it was as much work as cookies, if not more! I gave almost all of these away as gifts, and have just two sticks left, awaiting a cold day for me to try them myself.

Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsel Cookies

Clockwise from top left: Chocolate Mints, Pretzel-Toffee Peanut Butter Cookies, Buckeyes (from a friend), Jam Thumbprints