Christmas cookie contest

Submitted by Janel Wilburn "I am not sure where this recipe originated. I found it while going through one of my Grandma Deneke's self-made cookbooks. [The cookies] are light and fluffy but with a good rich flavor. Every time I make them they are huge hit. Enjoy!"...

Submitted by Jodi Thompson "This recipe came from my high school home economics teacher Margaret Rahm. It is unusual and very festive." Cream: 1 cup margarine 4 eggs (beaten) 2 cups brown sugar (packed) Add: 1 3/4 cups flour 1/4 tsp. salt...

Submitted by Judy A. Shrum "These are a soft cookie that keeps well. This cookie was a favorite of my late father-law-in Ellis E. Shrum. He would watch me bake these. He would sample them as they came out of the oven, even though I had a plate of them in front of him to take home. Our church and American Legion unit loves them, too."...

Submitted by Victoria Scherer 2 cups of sugar 2 cups shortening 1 teaspoon soda 1 tablespoon white syrup 3 eggs 5 cups of flour 1 cup of nuts 1 cup of maraschino cherries (green and red) chopped and drained very well 1 cup chopped dates 2 teaspoon vanilla...

Submitted by Martha L. Maxton "I was a den mother for my oldest son, Dan, in 1974 in Columbus, Ohio. For our weekly meeting for one month, another mother and I took nine members of our den downtown after school for a cooking class held at the gas company that served our city. ...

Submitted by Dana Johnston "These are so easy to make and so yummy. The children love to help make these and dust the 'snow' on top. These are also great for holiday brunches as they are waffle shaped. Also great with ice cream or chocolate syrup."...

When Susan Fields was about 6 years old, she won the last Cranberry-Pecan Crescent in a game of marbles with her brother. Her version of her grandmother's Cranberry-Pecan Crescents won the majority vote from the judges in the Southeast Missourian Season's Best Holiday Cookie Contest...

Submitted by Susan Fields "This is a recipe that belonged to my aunt, who has passed away. Everyone enjoyed these so much she made sure we all received this recipe before she died. My sons always called them Aunt Bell's wrapped-up cookies." Dough:...

Submitted by Linda Burnette "This recipe came from my mother. She used to make them every Christmas to give to friends and neighbors along with a homemade ornament. I'm continuing the tradition by making them for my co-workers, friends and neighbors along with the Christmas ornament that I make."...

Submitted by Susan Fields 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup unsalted butter 1 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 cup or more chopped pecans Caramel Frosting 7 Tbs. unsalted butter cut into chunks...

Submitted by Katie Hannaford "This recipe was given to me by my sister, Marideen, from Marshall, Mo. These are very crunchy, tasty cookies. They taste better after they have aged for a day or so after baking. This is a very GOOD cookie!" 1 cup butter flavor Crisco...

Submitted by Dana Lovins "I have eaten this cookie all my life. It means 'home' to me. I remember my mother baking this cookie whenever we had leftover bananas. My brother and I would hide 3-4 bananas just so no one would eat them so we could get these cookies! It's one of the first cookies I taught my own children how to bake since they loved them so much. I have a very special friend who at Christmas always gets a batch left on her door step from Santa."...

Submitted by Jill Morgan "If you like gooey butter cake, you'll love these cookies! They are very light and flavorful. Everyone at work loves them!" 1/2 stick of butter, softened [no substitutions] 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 4 oz. cream cheese, softened...

Submitted by Jodi Thompson 2 cups flour 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1 1/4 tsp. ground ginger 1 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 2/3 cup safflower oil 1/4 cup molasses 1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar...

Submitted by Anne Willis As soon as Thanksgiving is over, my husband and sons ask when I am going to make my Oooey-Gooey Butter Cookies! They have become a holiday tradition in my family and among friends and family. The small cookie size makes them irresistible to eat, you can just pop them in your mouth. What makes this recipe even better is that it is super easy, but the dough is very sticky and gooey, hence the name...

Submitted by Ann Honeywell Albrecht "The brilliant red and green candied cherries add an extra sparkle to these delicious holiday cookies. Also, this recipe is easy to mix up ahead of the busy holiday season in November and kept in the freezer until needed in December."...

Submitted by Geri Beussink "I loved these bars when we had them in grade school at St. Vincent's. It took me a long time to find a recipe. My little brother Curtis and several of my nieces and nephews ask me to make these at family dinners. Teenagers love them, so do adults. They only require 4 ingredients. I used to flatten them with a meat clever until I discovered the rolling pin tip."...

Submitted by Mary Ann Cruise 2/3 cups butter 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups flour 1 tsp. soda 1 tablespoon hot water 1 tsp. cloves 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 cup orange juice 1 pound of box dates (chopped) 1 cup chopped pecans or nuts 1 small jar maraschino cherries...

Fran Rediger hasn't baked her Butter Pecan Turtle Bars in several years. Her children always preferred drop cookies like sugar cookies, snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies. Against her children's judgment, she decided to submit the family recipe for the bars to the Southeast Missourian's Season's Best Cookie Contest. Rediger also submitted her recipe for Peanut Blossoms, which were not chosen for the bake off...

Cheryl Reinagel adapted this shortbread cookie recipe from a December issue of "Chocolatier Magazine." She said "it's an elegant, melt-in-your-mouth cookie, and a favorite during the holiday season!" 1 1/2 cups whole almonds, toasted at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes...

This recipe was submitted by Verona Wilder and chosen to participate in the bakeoff. Wilder's recipe makes about 6 dozen cookies. 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour...

Tabitha Hahn of Cape Girardeau submitted two recipes. One, the Peanut Butter Balls were selected to be in the Holiday Cookie Bake off. 2 cup crunchy peanut butter 2 cup sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla Powdered sugar Combine first 4 ingredients, mix well. Roll into 1 tsp balls. Roll balls into powdered sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes...

Kim Bramlett submitted this sugar cookie recipe, which was passed down to her from her grandmother and aunt. 2 cups butter 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 cup powder sugar 1 tsp. vanilla Cream butter and sugars. Add vanilla and eggs. Sift dry ingredients together and add mix with above ingredients...

This recipe was submitted by Fran Rediger of Cape Girardeau. Butter Pecan Turtle Bars Crust: 2 cups of flour 1/2 cup of oleo Combine crust and oleo using a fork. Pat into ungreased 9-by-13 inch pan...

This recipe was submitted by Mary Ann Cruse and chosen to be in the bakeoff. 1 cup Raisin 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 cups packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1 Tlbs chopped crystalized ginger 1 tsp finely shredded orange peels 1 tsp vanilla 3 2/3 Cups of all-purpose flour...

Rita Burk submitted several recipes to the Season's Best Cookie Contest, but two caught the eye of our first round judge and made it into the bake off. This recipe 16 roll ups. They could be cut in half but freeze them first. 1 loaf (16 oz.) thinly sliced white bread, with the crusts removed...

Victoria Scherer submitted her recipe for Sugar Plum Cookies to the Season's best holiday cookie contest. 1 cup butter 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup quick cooking oats 3 dozen drained maraschino cherries...

Janet Ciarniello submitted this recipe for squares. She called them a chewy favorite with a nutty flavor, and said "This is a delicious, moist and chewy bar that my mother only made at Christmas. She would wrap them and give to friends and family who looked forward to this once-a-year treat. Now I make them for my friends and family and they are still a huge hit!"...

Rediger also submitted these peanut and chocolate cookies. 1 3/4 cups of flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 cup of sugar 1/2 cup of brown sugar 1/2 cup of shortening 1/2 cup of peanut butter 1 egg 2 Tlbs. of milk 1 tsp. of vanilla 48 chocolate kisses...

Submitted by Carolyn Pickens. Preheat oven to 350 Sift together: 2-1/2 Cups Flour 2 teaspoons Baking Powder 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon baking Soda 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon Ginger Set aside. ADD: 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar (firmly packed) gradually to...

Michelle Otte submitted this simple cookie recipe for a Southeast Missouri favorite. 1 box yellow butter recipe cake mix 1 stick butter 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, regular or light 1 egg 2 tsp. vanilla Powdered sugar Mix butter, cream cheese, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy. ...

New England Squares Cruse also submitted two of her secret cookie recipes for the Season's Best Cookie Contest. 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs 1 1/3 cup of Bordens Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk 1 1/3 cup of Borden's ready to use none such mince meat...

Cindy Kerber submitted this new-age cookie. "So many of my co-workers on the No Sugar/No Flour diet, I thought I should find a recipe that they would enjoy and not feel guilty. I tweaked this recipe until it turned out so people can't tell there's no sugar or flour in the cookies."...

Rosalie Burnett submitted this white-chocolatey twist on peanut butter cookies. 2 1/4 cup of flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 2 eggs 1 package (12 oz.) white chocolate morsels 1 1/3 cups of chopped macadamia nuts 1 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter...

In addition to her two recipes selected to be in the Bake off, Rita Burk also submitted these family favorites:Graham Cracker Cookies 24 graham crackers 1 stick margarine 1 stick butter 1 cup of brown sugar 1 cup of finely chopped pecans Place the 24 graham crackers in the bottom of an unbuttered 15-by-10 inch pan. ...

Lanell Lange submitted her recipe for frosted sugar cookies. 2 1/4 cup margarine (Imperial works best) 2 1/4 cup sugar 6 eggs 3 tsp. vanilla 8 1/4 cup flour 6 tsp. baking powder Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. ...