Holiday cookie ideas

It’s time to start baking cookies for the holidays. To get in the mood, I have two easy recipes using cake mixes. The bar recipe is a little more work and lots more sugar.

Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

2 eggs

2/3 c. vegetable shortening

1 pkg. strawberry cake mix

1/2 c. chopped nuts

1/2 c. coconut

Combine eggs and shortening. Add half the dry cake mix. Beat well. Add remaining dry mix, nuts, and coconut. Mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Cake Mix Cookie

1 pkg. yellow cake mix

1 c. creamy peanut butter

1/2 c. vegetable or canola oil

2 large eggs

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir until a smooth dough forms. Drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto a cookie sheet, leaving at least tow inches between cookies on all sides (they will spread!)

Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes.

Allow the cookies to cool on baking sheet for 3-5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Butter Pecan Pie Bars

2 c. flour

1/2 c. butter, melted

1/2 c. margarine, melted

1 c. powdered sugar

For crust, mix flour, melted butter, melted margarine and powdered sugar. Press into the bottom of a greased 9- by 13- inch pan to form crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Filling

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. margarine

1/2 c. honey

1/2 c. white corn syrup

1 c. brown sugar

Boil until thick and foamy. Add 2-1/2 to 3 cups of chopped pecans. Mix well. Spread mixture evenly over pan baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling. Let cool before cutting into bars.