Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Celebrating National Cookie Day with @LeslieBudewitz #recipe

LESLIE: Admit it, you didn't know there is a National Cookie Day, but the news is putting a smile on your face and making your mouth water.

Is there anyone who doesn’t love Christmas cookies? No matter what our religious or holiday traditions, we all turn into Cookie Monsters this time of year.

Since my newest mystery, AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES, came out last summer, I’ve been talking cookies with readers. The top two faves, by my unscientific survey of taste buds across the country, are sugar cookies, cut and decorated for this most wonderful season, and the classic known as Russian Teacakes, Snowballs, or Mexican Wedding Cakes. In fact, Russian Teacakes are a key to solving the mystery in AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES.

There are as many variations in the cookies themselves as in the names. This recipe is the classic shaped cookie, a ball rolled in powdered sugar. But sometimes I like to make them as roll-and-slice cookies—skip the powdered sugar and dip or drizzle the cooled cookie in melted chocolate. A reader suggested the Dirty Snowball—add a little cocoa powder to the powdered sugar when you roll the cookie. A delicious idea, especially since a snowball plays a crucial role in the climactic scene, where my amateur sleuth, intrepid shopkeeper Erin Murphy, confronts the killer and lives to tell the tale.

Whatever you call these scrumptious little treats, I know they’ll be popular with everyone you see this holiday season—even the Grinch and Mr. Scrooge.

Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES and a set of Christmas-themed cookie cutters. 

Merrily’s Russian Teacakes 

1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2 cup powdered or confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1/3 cup additional powdered sugar, for rolling

optional:
2-3 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, for dipping
1 tablespoon cocoa powder, for Dirty Snowballs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, and vanilla. Combine the flour and salt and stir into the creamed mixture. Stir in pecans. Chill up to an hour.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes. Pour the additional powdered sugar into a flat bowl or on a plate; for the dirty snowball, add the cocoa powder. When cool enough to touch but still warm, roll cookies in the powdered sugar. Cool, then roll in the sugar again if you’d like.

For slice-and-bake cookies, shape the dough into two logs, about 2 inches wide, and wrap in waxed paper, plastic wrap, or parchment paper. Chill about 20 minutes. Slice and bake 18-20 minutes. Cool cookies on a wire rack.


Melt the chocolate and dip one end of each cookie in the chocolate, or drizzle a bit on the end with a spoon. Return to rack to allow chocolate to harden.

Makes about 4 dozen.

How are YOU celebrating National Cookie Day? Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES -- your choice of the paperback or a set of audio CDs -- and a set of Christmas-themed cookie cutters. (Include your email address so I can reach you. US addresses only. Winner to be chosen Thurs, December 6.) 

"Budewitz's finely drawn characters, sharp ear for dialogue, and well-paced puzzle make Jewel Bay a destination for every cozy fan." --- Kirkus Reviews


From the cover of AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES, Food Lovers' Village Mystery #5 (Midnight Ink,  available in trade paper, e-book, and audio):  

In Jewel Bay---Montana's Christmas Village---all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, AKA the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily’s turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.

When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve?

Leslie Budewitz is the author of the Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries and the Spice Shop Mysteries—and the first author to win Agatha Awards for both fiction and nonfiction. A past president of Sisters in Crime, she lives in northwest Montana with her husband, a musician and doctor of natural medicine, and their cat, an avid bird-watcher.

Swing by my website and join the mailing list for my seasonal newsletter. And join me on Facebook where I announce lots of giveaways from my cozy writer friends.

50 comments:

  1. Growing up, I called these cookies Snowballs. They were only made at Christmas time, so they were a very special treat. I love baking cookies, even though it is just me now. My favourite ones are Gingersnaps. There is something about them that says comfort to me!
    Thank you for this lovely giveaway!
    I hope to be making some cookies today!
    debprice60@gmail.com

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  2. Taking this to the 'next level' I have a recipe for this, but wrapped around a Hetshey Kiss chocolate candy. My favorite cookie is a toss up between gingerbread and sugar cookies.
    sharonquiltsat yahoodotcom.

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    1. Oh, another fun variation -- thanks for sharing the idea!

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  3. My mother was never particularly fond of sweets, but we always made sugar cookies for Christmas. I inherited all the cookie cutters. (Hmm, I'd better go buy some more butter . . .)

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    1. Mr. Right occasionally razzes me about all the butter in the freezer, but I note that he never hesitates to use it!

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  4. Hi Leslie! The Russian Teacakes sound delicious, especially dipped in powdered sugar. I look forward to making them for something a little different. I can't celebrate National Cookie Day today as we have just moved and the kitched is far from being unpacked, but I'll just celebrate it at a later date. Happy Holidays! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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    1. Ooh, a challenging time of year to move, but I know you'll celebrate as soon as you can -- good luck with the unpacking!

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  5. I didn’t know it was national cookie day today but I already had plans to bake some cookies this afternoon
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  6. My go-to cookie lately is a quick and easy coconut macaroon with mini-chocolate chips. I have at leasst one friend with gluten issues - these work SO well for her, and everybody else just scarfs them up.

    pjcoldren[at]tm.net

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    1. They sound yummy -- and I love that they are easy on our friends!

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  7. You're right, I didn't know about National Cookie Day! What a grand idea, I adore Russian Teacakes and had forgotten how easy and pantry friendly the ingredients are for this season. If my day get truly, horrificly, busy, I will resort to Nutter Butters from the package. Otherwise, I will whip up a batch of the Russian Teacakes and introduce them to my mother-in-law. I don't believe she is familiar with them.
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  8. My favorite currently is lemon with lemon glaze. I also live soft ginger snaps. suefoster109 at gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. Lemon cookies are so unexpected and refreshing, aren't they?

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  9. I am celebrating National Cookie Day in the Salt Lake City area by visiting my son for my granddaughter's birthday. Brookie Cookie (yes, that's her oh-so-appropriate nickname) is 9 years old today! Happy Birthday, Brooke!! bskts4unme@hotmail.com

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    1. Happy Birthday to Brookie Cookie! Let her know there's a darling little bakery and coffee shop in the real Jewel Bay called Brookie's Cookies!

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  10. I didn't know it was National Cookie Day until I read this post, so I have no plans. I will have to think of something! My favorite holiday cookie is pfferneuse. Yummy! Thank you for the giveaway! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. One of my late mother's faves. I fondly remember one of her visits where we bought several varieties and made our own, then did a taste test. Amazingly, we still loved them afterwards!

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  11. I'm a peanut butter cookie monster have a reason to get some today.
    Clemmie.Jackson@yahoo.com

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  12. french buttercream cookies..........circa land o lakes and some real butter cookies.....................yum

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    1. ohmygosh, pass the cookie plate through the screen, would you, please?

      And do leave your email address to enter the drawing.

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  13. I just made some maple oatmeal bars. We decided that all they need is a layer of fig jam.
    I love these cookies, whatever you call them. They literally melt in your mouth!
    I already have your wonderful book, so no email address.

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    1. Maple oatmeal fig? I'm in!

      So glad you enjoyed the book!

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  14. Since I'm running around to appointments today I won't be celebrating by baking cookies. But I will eat a couple of Swedish ginger cookies in honor of the day!
    patdupuy@yahoo.com

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  15. You're right I didn't know it was National Cookie Day. No baking today, So I'll have to pick some up from the bakery.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  16. We always called them Russian Teacakes growing up. I loved them so much! I'm going to try a gluten free version and see how it goes! Thanks for the chance to win! ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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    1. I bet they'll be a hit -- g-f baking has gotten so much easier with new flours and combos. Report back!

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  17. Growing up we had a cookie like this but it was a crescent... That was my father's favorite cookie! Mine is vegan oatmeal chocolate chip with macadamia🤗

    Cheers~
    Kelly Braun
    Gaelicark(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. I did know that December 4th is National Cookie Day! After all, how could a clown whose name was Cook E. Lady not know that. :)

    My husband's favorite dessert is cookies. I know that we wouldn't be home for today since we have come to Little Rock for a little reception to honor my husband and some other for their photographic talents SO two days ago I made him a recipe of my Granny's Old Fashioned Tea Cakes that he's been enjoying for the last two days.

    I will have to try your recipe for Merrily’s Russian Teacakes. Love the pecans in them. My Mom use to make Mexican Wedding Cookies at Christmas and now that you have reminded me of them, I will have to be hunting that recipe up to make soon too. As you know, my all time go to cookie is the Ozark Honey Oatmeal Cookie - which by the way won some awards this year at the local, county and state fairs.

    Thank you for the wonderful chance to win a print copy of "AS THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CRUMBLES" and cookie cutters. One would be read with enthusiasm and then shared with others in my circle who want to read it too and the cookie cutters would be put to great use for years to come.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Congrats to your honey for his photo exhibit and award or honor! Always so good to see our loved ones appreciated by others.

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  19. I guess I will celebrate National Cookie Day by having a cookie for dessert. My Mom had a similar recipe for Pecan Crescent Cookies that we made at Christmas and covered in powdered sugar. They're my favorite cookie.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. I just LOVE making cookies for Christmas. However I never have enough mouths available for all the kinds I want to make each year. As a result, I have decided to always make shortbread, as I have a recipe from a friend whose parents were born in Scotland, and these cookies, which I know as Mexican Wedding Cookies. I found a recipe just yesterday for a variation of these, which uses macadamia nuts and lime zest. I can't wait to try that version.
    I love reading all the series you write. I won't leave my email, though, as I live in Canada.

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  21. I would not want my snowballs to get dirty, lol. Loved this book. Thanks for the chance to win. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net

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  22. I wanted some cookies but didn’t have time today. I bought ingredients to make some no-bake cookies this weekend.
    theresa_c(at)msn(dot)com

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    1. My BFF says we should celebrate our birthdays with the octave -- 8 days ahead and 8 days after. The same should apply to Nat'l Cookie Day, don't you think? :) Enjoy, whenever you get the chance!

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  23. I actually found out earlier today it's national cookie day.I'm planning on making a pan of m&m cookie bars to celebrate.Thanks for sharing your recipe,they look delicious!I like the sound of your variation of slice and bake.As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles,would be good book to start reading ,today 😊🍪!
    Your book sounds good,I can't wait to read it!
    BakingCookies32(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks, Mindy! Enjoy the trip to Montana, on the page -- where the weather is always cooperative!

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  24. I did not know that December 4th is National Cookie Day! ellen_levickis@yahoo.com

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  25. I wasn't prepared for National Cookie Day so had to settle for a handful of animal cookies. They'll do in a pinch but I am definitely trying this recipe, all the varieties.
    sallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. "Animal crackers in my soup! In every bowl of soup I see, those lions and tigers watching me. I make them jump right through the loop, those animal crackers in my soup!" (a memory via my long-gone dad)

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  26. Thanks for the recipe. I was baking sugar cookies and scones today.

    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  27. I missed Cookie Day, but my daughter and I will be baking treats soon for a Mother/Daughter cookie exchange coming up.
    Wendy
    clarksrfun at gmail dot com

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    1. Aren't cookie exchanges fun? There's one on the pages of Cookie, too.

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  28. I wasn't able to bake yesterday but I will make up for it this weekend. There is a Christmas tree that I saw in a Betty Crocker cookbook that is made out of different sizes of star shaped gingerbread cookies with icing dribbled over it to look like snow. I've always wanted to make that. I even have the set of graduated cookie cutters. I have to try it at least once. kkcochran (at) Hotmail (dot) com

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  29. This has been our family favorite holiday cookie since before I was a kid. I have to make my first batch for my husband at Thanksgiving and keep them going until the new year.

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  30. No special plans but may have to make some oatmeal raisin cookies. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. A classic, even if not quite a *Christmas* classic! Enjoy!

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  31. I guess we really didn't celebrate National Cookie Day. I have been dealing with one of the nastiest colds ever. I really want to make Pepper Nuts one day soon but they take a lot of energy so I have to get over this cold to work on that. I would love the paperback!
    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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  32. I am so glad you posted your Russian teacake recipe. I bought the powdered sugar and pecans knowing what I needed and could not find the recipe! Now I ready to bake! Thank you!
    lindalou64(@)live(dot)com

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