December 15 --Two simple but fancy-looking Christmas cookie ideas

Here are two great tried-and-true Christmas cookie ideas which are much easier than they look.  These cookies are easy but very pretty and fancy looking.  The first one starts with a baked pan of brownies.  My mother (who invented these as far as I know) always used the brownie recipe from the Betty Crocker Cookbook, but certainly it will work with any brownie recipe or even a brownie mix. 

The second idea is one I heard on Gus Saunders' Yankee Kitchen radio program, which I often listened to years ago.  Someone called in this idea, which uses purchased fig bars, and I tried it.  Delicious, pretty, and almost no work.

Both of these will make your cookie plates look fancy with very little work on your part:

1) Poinsettia Brownies

My mother always made these to add to her gift trays of cookies at Christmas. Bake brownies as usual and let them cool. Before cutting, frost the brownies with a simple white butter frosting and mark them into squares. Using slices of candied cherries (note: NOT maraschino cherries, which could make quite a mess), form poinsettias on the top of each square. Cut the brownies along the marked lines. You can make this even simpler by using brownie mix and canned frosting.

 

It just occurred to me today that it would be cute to use the two-bite brownies to make these.  I think I'll pick up a package, along with some candied cherries, and give it a try.

2) Fancy Fig Cookies

These start with purchased fig bars (like Fig Newtons®). Cut the bars in half lengthwise to make sticks, or in half diagonally to make triangles. Dip the pieces in melted chocolate, then in chopped nuts. Place on foil-lined baking sheets and chill until chocolate is set.

Enjoy!