Third Day Cookies/Candy Marathon

On the third day, I bake. I finish up all the chilled doughs that I prepared on the first day. Occasionally I will have time to make sugar cookies and decorate them to add to the gift boxes. Sometimes I even make a batch of fudge on night and add that as well. This year I am going to try a new recipe for Kahlua Balls but I didn't add that recipe here since it is not a tried and true recipe. When I prepare my gift boxes, I use waxed paper to separate items. For some of the gifts, I buy pretty decorative plates and arrange the cookies and candies on them with the plate intended as part of the present then use colored plastic wrap and ribbons to finish it up. I have been known to finish my baking in two days rather than three and this year I will be making my chilled doughs on Friday night when I get home from work, then finishing up on Saturday and Sunday and delivering the gift boxes on Monday.

• Ready In: 6 hrs
• Serves: 15

Ingredients

• Nutty Oatmeal Cookies

• 3⁄4 cup shortening
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 6  tablespoons milk
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 2  cups  regular oatmeal (not quick cooking)
• 1 1⁄4 cups  chopped walnuts
• 1  cup coconut (optional)

• Easy Macaroons

• 1 (14 ounce) bag coconut
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2  teaspoons vanilla
•  maraschino cherry, halves

• Lemon-Butter Snowbars I double this recipe and bake it in two pans

• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1 1⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup sugar

• Filling

• 2  eggs
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 2  tablespoons flour
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3  tablespoons  fresh squeeqed lemon juice
•  powdered sugar

• Orange-Honey Bars

• 3⁄4 cup honey
• 1  cup  packed light brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup  oil
• 2  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon  fresh orange zest
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  cup  chopped pecans

• Icing

• 1 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar
• 2  tablespoons  fresh squeezed  orange juice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  fresh orange zest

Directions

1. Nutty Oatmeal Cookies: Cream shortening with sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs.
2. Combine dry ingredients; set aside.
3. Combine milk and soda; set aside.
4. Add dry ingredients alternately to creamed mixture with milk. Stir in oatmeal and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet.
5. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until brown.
6. Easy Macaroons: Combine all ingredients. Drop by teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Place a maraschino cherry half on each cookie.
7. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Remove from baking sheet at once using a moistened spatula.
8. Lemon-Butter Snowbars: Mix together butter, flour and 1/4 cup sugar. Press into an ungreased 8-inch square pan.
9. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until light brown around the edges.
10. Filling: Mix together eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 T flour, baking powder and lemon juice. Pour filling over crust.
11. Bake 20 minutes at 350°F or until set. Sprinkle with powdered sugar once bars are cool and cut into squares.
12. Orange Honey Bars: Beat together honey, brown sugar, oil and eggs until smooth. Add vanilla and orange peel.
13. Mix dry ingredients together then stir into honey mixture. Add nuts and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13-inch baking pan.
14. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes or until done.
15. Icing: Mix powdered sugar with orange juice and orange peel. Frost cooled bars then cut.