Western Christmas Cookies
Who doesn't love a good cowboy Christmas
cookie?
Here is a listing of some of the best we
have found.
Dates are given for vintage cookie
recipes when known.
Cowpoke Chocolate Macaroons
Buck Stoppin', Bronc Bustin', Trail
Blazin' Bon Bons
Wild Bill's Brandy Teacakes
Lawman Cinnamon Star Cookies
Stagecoach Cathy's How to Rope a Man
Molasses Cookies
Cowboy Snowball Cookies
Sidekick Snickerdoodles
Git Along Gingersnaps
Billy the Kid Honey Bars
For information on using some vintage
cowboy cookie recipes follow the "old cooking terms" link you will
find on the Chuckwagon page.
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Cowpoke Chocolate Macaroons
1890
As it was written:
Put a quarter of a pound of grated
chocolate, of the very best quality, into a basin with an equal quantity of
sifted, white sugar and three ounces of almonds which have been blanched and
pounded; mix well, form into a rather soft, light paste with beaten egg, then
drop the preparation, in tiny morsals of equal size, upon a baking tin which
has previously been covered with a sheet of thickly buttered paper. Bake in
moderate oven for about twenty minutes, then remove the tin from the oven, turn
the sheet of paper over so that the cakes may rest lightly on the table , and
brush the paper over with cold water in order to loosen the cakes and cause
them to seperate from it. Serve cold and crisp, arranged according to taste on
a pretty dish paper.
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Buck Stoppin', Bronc Bustin', Trail Blazin' Bon Bons
If you have a liking for peanut butter
cups, you'll love these! So simple, only a rustler wouldn't make um'. Produces
plenty fer eatin... and plenty fer given', too!
1 1/2 pounds powdered sugar
1 pound smooth peanut butter
1/2 pound margarine (not butter)
2 bags semi sweet chocolate chips for
coating
Mix sugar, peanut butter and margarine.
Form into 1 inch ball Melt Chocolate Dip peanut butter balls into the melted
chocolate Chill or air dry on waxed paper.
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Wild Bill's Brandy Tea Cookies
An adult taste makes these great with ice
cream and Irish coffee.
1/2 cup butter chilled
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
2 well beaten eggs
2 tsp. brandy
1/4 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
Preheat oven to 425 Cut butter into
flour, then add the powdered sugar, eggs, and brandy. Cover and chill 1/2 hour.
When dough has chilled, measure by rounded teaspoons and shape into balls, roll
tops in the granulated sugar and put sugar side up 3 inches apart onto lightly
greased cookie sheet. Bake Bake about 5 minutes, or just until set. Remove
immediately to cool on brown paper bag, when cooled place in air tight
container.
***Note*** Wild Bill never did say he
liked these cookies But then again, we never asked!
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Lawman's Star Cinnamon Cookies
8 oz whole almonds
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon fresh grated lemon rind
1/4 cup egg whites granulated sugar for
dusting work surface
Line baking sheets with parchment paper
or foil. In food processor grind almonds fine. Add cinnamon and lemon rind to
almonds pulse until combined. In a bowl using an electric mixer beat egg whites
with a pinch of salt until they hold stiff peaks, then slowly beat in the
confectioners sugar. Reserve 1/3 of this mixture in a covered bowl. Add the
remaining egg white mixture to almond and pulse in food processor until
mixturee forms a stiff dough. On work surface sprinkle granulated sugar press
out and roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Dip 2 inch star cookie cutter in
water, cut out cookies and place on lined baking sheets. Stir 1 teaspoon of
water into the reserved egg mixture to soften it, then brush onto cookie tops.
Let cookies stand uncovered at room temp. for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325 Put cookies in oven
and immediately reduce temp to 300. Bake cookies for 15 minutes until firm but
still moist, switching the position of the sheets in oven halfway through
baking. Do not over bake. Let cool on sheets on racks.
Makes about 36
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Stagecoach Kathy's "How to Rope a
Man" Molasses Cookies
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp molasses
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups butter
3 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
3 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
granulated sugar for coating
Cream together molasses sugar, butter and
eggs until light and fluffy. Combine the remaining ingredients and add to the
butter sugar mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls and
roll in sugar to coat.
Preheat oven to 375. Bake 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet
8 to 12 minutes until tops are slightly cracked be careful not to over-cook,
these are soft cookies. Cool on rack.
makes a wagon load of cookies
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Sidekick Snickerdoodles
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp nutmeg
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter at room temp.
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
COATING; Combine 1/4 cup sugar & 3/4
cup cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 Lightly grease cookie
sheets Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cream of tartar. Set
aside. With Mixer, cream butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy and light as a
springtime cloud over a Wyoming sky. Add eggs one at a time beating until
combined. Add flour mixture, blend well. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto cookie
sheets (do not confuse with camp Cookie's sheets). Sprinkle with coating, bake
12 to 13 minutes until tops are slightly crackled.
Makes approx. 30 cookies
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Cowboy Snowballs
(Mexican Wedding Cakes)
1 cup butter
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 teaspoons water 1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 325 Beat butter in large
mixing bowl with electric mixer until softened. Add the 1/2 cup powered sugar
and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon beat until combined. Beat in water and vanilla. Stir
in flour and toasted pecans with a wooden spoon. Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet bake for 20 minutes or till lightly browned on
the bottom, transfer to wire rack to cool. Place the 1 cup powered sugar in
plastic bag. Add a few cookies at a time to bag, shake gently to coat. Repeat
for a double coating of sugar.
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Git Along Gingersnaps
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Granulated sugar for coating Preheat oven
to 375 Beat shortening, sugar, molasses and egg together until creamy. Sift the
remaining ingredients together then add to the shortening mixture. Form into
balls, roll in granulated sugar, and place 2 inches apart on greased cookie
sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes, let cool slightly on sheets before removing
to cooling rack.
Makes about 48
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Billy the Kid Honey Bars
Almost cake-like and plenty good
3 eggs
1/3 cup butter softened
1 cup honey
1/2 cup milk
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins
Preheat oven 375 Beat eggs, stir in honey
and butter, add raisins Stir together dry ingredients then add to egg/honey
mixture Spoon into lightly greased 9x13 pan Bake 30 min or until done Let cool
on rack, cut into bars.
Makes approx 1 dozen bars