These Christmas Ice Box Cookies bring both the colours and flavour of the holiday season. I also like that the dough can be made days ahead or even frozen. This is such a nice feature given how busy this time of year gets.

These Christmas ice box cookies are one of my holiday favourites. With the candied cherries and pistachios, they look like bits of Christmas on a plate! Making the dough ahead of time and slicing before baking makes them all very uniform in size which makes them look even prettier.

Christmas Ice Box Cookies Recipe:

1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup candied cherries, quartered
1/2 cup currants
1/4 – 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios or other nuts (I use pistachios because of the colour)

In a large bowl, cream together margarine and sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time and add the vanilla.

Stir the flour, baking soda and salt together and mix in. Add the cherries, currants and nuts. Mix and shape into round logs approximately 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the logs and chill overnight or for a few days. The dough can also be frozen.

When you are ready to bake them, slice the dough thinly. Arrange on an ungreased baking sheet and bake them at 375° for 6-7 minutes (until lightly browned). Cool.

Cookies make a perfect homemade holiday gift. According to a recent survey conducted by Becel, 3 out of 4 Canadians agree that DIY gifts are more thoughtful than store-bought gifts.

One of my favourite things about giving baked goods for Christmas is that the making of them is something that my kids can participate in. Granola Girl helped me with every step of making these Christmas ice box cookies from helping me cut the nuts to slicing the dough. I know that she will be beaming when she hands them to our friends and neighbours! 

Inexpensive ideas for gifting cookies:

• Place them in a mason jar and wrap ribbon around the lid. Attach a gift tag to the ribbon.
• Wrap an empty Pringles can with decorative paper and fill with cookies before topping with a bow.
• Buy a beautiful plate from a second hand store and deliver the cookies on the plate.
• Place them in a gift bag decorated by your kids.
• Create a cute paper bag and toothpick pouch.
• Fill plastic cups and wrap with cellophane and tie with ribbon

What is your favourite holiday recipe to gift to others?

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Christmas Ice Box Cookies Recipe

These Christmas ice box cookies are one of my holiday favourites. With the candied cherries and pistachios, they look like bits of Christmas on a plate! Making the dough ahead of time and slicing before baking makes them all very uniform in size which makes them look even prettier.

Ingredients

• 1 cup margarine
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 cup candied cherries quartered
• 1/2 cup currants
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios or other nuts I use pistachios because of the colour

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, cream together margarine and sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time and add the vanilla.
2. Stir the flour, baking soda and salt together and mix in. Add the cherries, currants and nuts. Mix and shape into round logs approximately 2 inches in diameter. Wrap the logs and chill overnight or for a few days. The dough can also be frozen.
3. When you are ready to bake them, slice the dough thinly. Arrange on an ungreased baking sheet and bake them at 375° for 6-7 minutes (until lightly browned). Cool.