By Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern
Everyone has his or her favorite holiday cookies passed down from year to year. Holiday cookies can be as unique or original as you want. You could even put a new twist on an old recipe to switch it up! I encourage you to take a look at these recipes to give your taste buds a taste of new!
- Chocolate Andes Mint Cookie
Do you love chocolate? What about the fresh taste of mint? Why not put them
together in a recipe! This recipe is one that has been adapted from year to year, and I’m happy to say my mom and I now have it down pat! I think these are best right out of the oven. Your mouth will be overwhelmed with the perfect combination of chocolate and mint in consolidation with a chewy cookie that will leave you reaching the pan for another one!
2 eggs
2/3 c. butter
2/3 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
¼ c. cocoa
3 ¼ c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
2 packages of Andes Mints, halved
Combine butter, margarine and sugars until smooth and well blended. Add eggs, vanilla and cocoa, mix well. Mix in salt and soda. Stir in flour. Drop cookies onto baking sheet, bake at 350º F on bottom shelf for 7 minutes. Then, take the pan out of the oven and quickly add one halved candy to the top/cookie. Place back into the oven on the top shelf for 3-6 minutes, or until done. Once removed from oven, use a toothpick to mix the green mint and brown chocolate colors together.
- Cookie Dough Sugar Cookies
Don’t let the title fool you, these are not your normal, “cakey” sugar cookies. 
This recipe includes cream cheese and no baking soda, resulting in a delicate and delicious sweet sugar cookie. They are fun and easy to make with friends or family, making a memorable bonding activity! You won’t regret trying this recipe…it might even turn in to one of your favorites!
3 ½ c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. butter
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. almond extract
Beat butter, cream cheese, sugar and egg together. Add flour, baking powder and flavorings. Cool in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Roll out dough onto the table with flour and cut cookies out. Bake at 325º. Note, watch the cookies closely, as they are done quickly!
Frosting:
Mix 2 tablespoons of milk with ½ tsp. of almond extract. Add 1 1/3 cups of powdered sugar, mixing in by 1/3 cup at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Star
Last, but certainly not least, is the peanut butter chocolate star. This is a 
staple cookie of holidays everywhere. The result of this recipe is a very light and soft cookie with a pleasant taste of peanut butter accompanied with a chocolate star. You can even replace the chocolate star with red and green M&M’s, peanut butter chips or caramel filled kisses!
1 ¾ c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
½ c. shortening
½ c. peanut butter
½ c. sugar
½ c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream shortening and peanut butter, and gradually add sugars until mixture is light and fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla, and beat well. Blend in flour, soda and salt gradually and mix thoroughly. Shape by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Roll in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375º for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and place solid milk chocolate star on top, pressing down so the cookies cracks around edge. Return to oven and bake for 2-5 minutes longer.