Christmas baking has begun!

Yes, if you had entered my real-life kitchen in the past couple of days,  you would smell cookies baking! I must say they smell amazing and festive!

It's always hard to motivate myself to get going with the baking, but once I'm underway it's fine.  Wednesday I made a double batch of chocolate spritz.  Tuesday, I made two batches of the secret spice cookies pictured above.

I don't believe I have posted this cookie recipe here at my kitchen table, although it's on my Christmas kitchen blog.  Some of you have seen it there and know what the secret spice is.  For those who don't,  here's the recipe:

Secret Spice Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup soft shortening (like Crisco®) or use softened butter
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon black pepper
Red and green sugar for dipping tops of cookies

Preheat the oven to 350º.  Cream the sugar and shortening (or butter) together until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Beat in the egg and then the molasses.  Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.  Add to the sugar mixture and and thoroughly combine to form a dough.

Form dough into 1-inch balls and dip tops in red or green sugar (or use white sugar if you prefer).  Place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets.  Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350º, or until set.  Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

I think I originally got this recipe from Cook & Tell, a recipe newsletter that I adored which is no longer being published.  Don't be put off by that secret spice.  You really can't even taste it; it just adds to the general spicy flavor which is wonderful.

Why not bake up a batch today?  Your kitchen will smell just like Christmas!