OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Many, many years ago, not long after I started working for 93.7 K-Country, I brought in a batch of Christmas cookies for our staff to enjoy as we decorated our float for the Ocala Christmas Parade.
The following year, as Mr. Bob and I talked about the upcoming parade on K-Country, some of our listeners asked about some of the Christmas cookies I was making and if I would be willing to share the recipes. Now each year ahead of the parade, I spend hours in the kitchen baking to bring dozens of cookies to the parade to share with my co-workers, community partners and loyal listeners.
Just last weekend, I was baking up a storm – everything from chocolate chip cookies to brownies to simple sugar cookies. I get so much joy sharing them with my family and friends.
I love baking. I love how it makes the house smell and the happiness it brings.
In fact, my dream job – aside from the one I have now – would be baking cheesecakes and writing romance novels in a snowed-in cabin in Alaska.
Over the years, my family has collected many cookie recipes. I know yours has, too. We would LOVE to share your favorite Christmas or holiday cookie recipe! Just email your favorite to kathy@937kcountry.com and if there’s a story behind them, tell me about that, too!
Of the ones you’ll find curated here, I’ve included my oatmeal raisin cookie recipe which includes a secret ingredient…. pecans. I actually hate raisins. They’re basically humiliated grapes. But, my husband likes them so I cave. Sometimes I’ll substitute butterscotch chips for the raisins.
And my favorite is my mom’s butterballs. You have to try them.
Without further ado, here are the recipes I’ve collected over the past 15+ years from friends, family, co-workers, and our incredible community.
Taylor’s Favorite Soft Molasses Ginger Cookies
Kathy’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Mrs. Bob’s Cream Cheese Cookies
Rose’s Cray-Cray Chocolate Rum Balls
Brittany Clay’s Flourless Hot Cocoa Cookies
Kathy Thompson Mosely’s S’Mores Cookies
Suzanne St. John’s Favorite Shrewsbury Biscuits
Melissa’s Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
Lucy Dekle Daniels’ Favorite Snickerdoodles
Kim Whacker’s Favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Kathy’s Husband’s Ritz Peanut Butter Cookies
Debbie & Susan’s Favorite Oreo Cookie Balls
Grandma Stocker’s Pennsylvania Dutch Cookies
Cassidy Dugan’s Favorite Candy Cane Cookies
Clarissa Dugan’s Dark Chocolate Maraschino Cherry Christmas Shortbread
Taylor Adkins’ Sunshine State Snow Day Cookies
Todd Kane’s Holiday Hamentaschen
Pamela Livingston’s Pumpkin Tollhouse Cookies
Pamela Livingston’s Cowboy Cookies
Lisa Varner’s “I Don’t Bake Cookies from Scratch” Fresh Apple Cake