In many households plates of cookies will be left for Santa on Christmas Eve. Many of these cookies are made by the loving little hands that belong to our cherished children. It is when you have your own children that you get to relive Christmas again. The same excitement is present, except, it isn’t for Santa that we wait. That mystical joy is replaced by the absolute and pure happiness we feel as we watch our children’s eyes sparkle on Christmas morning.

Children will run to inspect the gifts under the tree and in their stockings and, if they’ve left cookies for Santa, they will not forget to check the plate on which they left the cookies. Sometimes they forget until later in the morning, but they will look. And, when they do, those cookies had better be gone or at least half eaten. It might be a confirmation that, yes, Santa did come, but surely the gifts under the tree will tell them that they were “nice” and Santa landed on their roof.

The children will feel a sense of pride if they’ve made the cookies and they’ll want to make sure Santa enjoyed a few. But, they will also want to know that they gave something back. Sure, leaving cookies may be “insurance”. The last ditch attempt to add a point to their nice rating. But, it is also a way for them to say, “Thank you Santa”.

Any parent who is “Santa” will appreciate the following recipe. They will no longer fear the red and green sprinkled sugar cookie that taste like card board. No, these Santas will rush to the cookie table with a large glass of milk (if one isn’t already left on the table) to eat these crispy on the outside, gooey, chocolaty on the inside, best ever chocolate chip cookies. These cookies will disappear and there will not be a crumb for a mouse.

Santa’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 2/3 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter flavored Crisco
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 ½ cups chocolate chips (bittersweet)
½ cups milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar and Crisco until fluffy.

2. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt and vanilla and mix until combined.

3. Change to the paddle attachment. Gradually add the flour until combined. Then add the chocolate chips (both kinds) and mix until just incorporated.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

5. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Make the dough into balls about the size of a golf ball and place on baking sheets with a lot of space in between. These will spread a lot.

6. Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until cracks formed and golden brown.

7. When you take the cookie sheet out of the oven drop it on the counter. Cookies will flatten and remain in circular shape.

In many households plates of cookies will be left for Santa on Christmas Eve. Many of these cookies are made by the loving little hands that belong to our cherished children. It is when you have your own children that you get to relive Christmas again. The same excitement is present, except, it isn’t for Santa that we wait. That mystical joy is replaced by the absolute and pure happiness we feel as we watch our children’s eyes sparkle on Christmas morning.

Children will run to inspect the gifts under the tree and in their stockings and, if they’ve left cookies for Santa, they will not forget to check the plate on which they left the cookies. Sometimes they forget until later in the morning, but they will look. And, when they do, those cookies had better be gone or at least half eaten. It might be a confirmation that, yes, Santa did come, but surely the gifts under the tree will tell them that they were “nice” and Santa landed on their roof.

The children will feel a sense of pride if they’ve made the cookies and they’ll want to make sure Santa enjoyed a few. But, they will also want to know that they gave something back. Sure, leaving cookies may be “insurance”. The last ditch attempt to add a point to their nice rating. But, it is also a way for them to say, “Thank you Santa”.

Any parent who is “Santa” will appreciate the following recipe. They will no longer fear the red and green sprinkled sugar cookie that taste like card board. No, these Santas will rush to the cookie table with a large glass of milk (if one isn’t already left on the table) to eat these crispy on the outside, gooey, chocolaty on the inside, best ever chocolate chip cookies. These cookies will disappear and there will not be a crumb for a mouse.

Santa’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 2/3 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter flavored Crisco
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 ½ cups chocolate chips (bittersweet)
½ cups milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar and Crisco until fluffy.

2. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt and vanilla and mix until combined.

3. Change to the paddle attachment. Gradually add the flour until combined. Then add the chocolate chips (both kinds) and mix until just incorporated.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

5. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Make the dough into balls about the size of a golf ball and place on baking sheets with a lot of space in between. These will spread a lot.

6. Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until cracks formed and golden brown.

7. When you take the cookie sheet out of the oven drop it on the counter. Cookies will flatten and remain in circular shape.