Christmas Cookie Exchange

Who is ready for some COOKIES!!!! I love cookies, and I love to bake and give them away at Christmas time. I am so happy to be a part of this great group of folks for the 2015 Christmas Cookie Exchange hosted by The Everyday Home - read on for some great recipes and yummy goodness!

This is my all time favorite Christmas cookie recipe. It is loved everywhere I take it and it is always the first cookie gone from the tray!

Scandinavian Almond Bars

• 1/2 C butter (no substitute)
• 1 C Sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1 3/4 C all purpose flour (I like King Authur)
• 1/2 C seedless Raspberry Jam (Dickinson is my fave)
• 1/2 C sliced almonds
• 1 C powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla (home made is best!)
• 2-3 TBSP heavy whipping cream

1.  Beat butter for 30 seconds on medium speed in electric mixer. Add Sugar, baking powder and salt; beat til just combined. Add in egg and almond extract until blended. Add flour in all at once. 
2. Divide the dough into four equal portions. Shape each into a log 13" long and transfer to parchment lined baking sheets, two to a sheet, 4 to 5" apart. Flatten each log slightly so they are about 2" wide.
3. Bake at 325 for 12-14 minutes or until edges are firm. They should not be brown! Cool on sheets two minutes, then transfer the parchment to wire racks to cool. 
4. Spread 2 TBSP raspberry jam down the center of each cookie strip and sprinkle with almonds. 
5. Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough heavy cream to make a glaze. Drizzle over the bars. Cut bars into 1" wide strips. 

These bars go onto every cookie tray I send out at Christmas.

An InLinkz Link-up