Welcome to the Holiday Delights Cookie Blog Hop, in honor of National Cookie Day and the wonderful books you can read while you’re eating them! I didn’t know there even was a National Cookie Day, but you can bet I’m going to celebrate it from now on.
And what better way to eat cookies than while reading holiday-themed romances! Thirty or so romance authors, led by the fabulous Jessa Slade, are sharing their favorite recipes and dishing about their latest holiday-themed books. The list of authors is at the end of this blog, so make sure you check them out after you’ve spent a little time drooling over my recipe. I guarantee that by the end of the day you’ll have some great recipes, and maybe even walk away with a few new books to read.
My contribution to Cookie Day comes from my mother’s vault of recipes. Mom was a wonderful baker, and she spent weeks before the holidays putting up tins and tins of cookies in the freezer. The following recipe was always my favorite – Swedish Tea Balls. Easy to make, and oh-so-good!
Swedish Tea Balls
1 cup butter
1/4 cup sifted powdered or confectioner’s sugar (10X)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon water
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped pecans
Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla. Stir in the water. Add flour and mix. Stir in nuts. Roll into one inch balls and baked on an ungreased cookie sheet for twenty minutes at 300 degrees. Cool before removing from pan, then roll in frosting.
Frosting
4 cups icing sugar (4X)
1/2 cup milk
Blend sugar with milk to achieve a smooth consistency. When cookies are cool, roll in frosting then set on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry.
Easy peasy, and delicious!
And what will go wonderfully with my cookies and perhaps a cup of tea? My latest Regency-set historical romance, that’s what! Here’s the blurb for His Mistletoe Bride:
BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE…
When Major Lucas Stanton inherited his earldom, he never dreamed his property would include the previous earl’s granddaughter. Phoebe Linville is a sparkling American beauty, yes, but with a talent for getting into trouble. Witness the compromising position that forced them into wedlock. Whisked away to Mistletoe Manor, his country estate, it isn’t long before she is challenging his rules—and surprising him in and out of bed…
Phoebe has no intention of bowing to Lucas’s stubbornness even though he offers all that she wants. His kisses and unexpected warmth are enticing, but Phoebe is determined to show the Earl of Merritt what real love is all about. And if that takes twelve nights of delicious seduction by a roaring fire, she’s more than willing to reveal her gifts very slowly…
I’m happy to say that His Mistletoe Bride has gotten great reviews, and spent one month on the Amazon bestseller list for historical romance. To read an excerpt and for buy links, check out my books page.
I’m giving away a copy of His Mistletoe Bride to one person who comments today. Just tell me what your favorite cookie recipe is for a chance to win. Then check out the links to the authors below, and start hopping away!
Thanks for the fun post and giveaway! I don’t bake 🙁 But my mom makes an awesome sugar cookie… but only at Christmas Maybe that’s why we love it so much.
Erin, my mom only baked cookies at Christmas, too.
I don’t bake either, but my husband bakes wonderful desserts with cranberries, cranberry bread and muffin. Thanks, Vanessa, for your nice giveaway! Would love to read your book.
Yum, Nicole! Your hubby is clearly a keeper!
I love baking! My fave cookie recipe is chocolate chip pumpkin oatmeal cookie. Everything I love and its perfect for this time of year.
Rissa, want to share? That sound fabulous!
My husband and my son make the best cookies. My husband makes a chocolate chip that rivals Mrs. Fields. My son makes the family tradition of Aunt Ruth’s chocolate toffee carmel pecan cookie, yummy.
Wow! Those two are obviously good to have around, Ann!
There is too many to decide. I guess oatmeal raisin with pecans
Pam, my mom made those when we were growing up. Loved them!
I just now getting into baking. So far its just oatmeal raisin, and chocolate chip. My mom makes these pecan bars while not really a cookie, but considered a cookie bar. They are like squares of pecan pie so good!!!
They sound awesome, Brandy!
catatongue!! it’s yummy and easy to bake 😀
What is catatongue, Sienny?
Gosh, we used to make those cookies at Christmas too!!! They would melt in your mouth…had forgotten about them and will have to make them now that you have jogged a wonderful memory!
Cat, aren’t they good? Happy to job your memory!
Guess I’ll go with butter tarts, although lots of other things sound delicious too!
Laney, my hubby is a big fan of butter tarts.
Swedish tea balls melt in your mouth. This looks like a yummy recipe. Your Christmas story sounds like a good way to relax after rushing through the holidays.
Exactly, Paty – they melt in your mouth!
Wow.. there’s a national cookie day? I can go with that… I like chocolate caramel cookies… I just buy the mix though… 🙂
Mixes are good too, May!
My favorite cookie is snickerdoodles and fat homemade sugar cookies with white frosting and sprinkles. They are both yummy 🙂
They sound like it, Lori!
Mmmm…These cookies are another of my faves and the recipe seems easy! Happy Cookie Day! 🙂
You too, Jane!
I LOVE these cookies! My sister makes a version of these every year. Your recipe sounds yummy.
Thanks, Laurie! Your recipe sounded fab too!
Great blog today!
When my girls were small every year we made gingerbread men cookies, it’s a special time of the year for us now they are 17 and 18 years old and we will be making them this year!!!
Penney
Gingerbread men! A classic!
I love these cookies! They are soooo yummy with tea. And hot cocoa. And wine… Most especially with wine 😉
Jessa, I love the way you think!
OMG! I had a recipe for Swedish Tea Balls given to me about 30 years ago and lost it. This is fantastic! Thanks for bringing this cookie idea back to my memory.
Yay! Glad I could help, Maggie!
Oooh, these are my mom’s favorite cookies. Just seeing them brings back so many holiday memories 😀
Doesn’t it, Tawny! Thanks so much for dropping in!
Have to try yummmy
They are yummy, Kristine!
Oh, Vanessa, thank you for sharing this recipe. I’ve seen them, tried them and loved them, but didn’t have a recipe. Now I do. Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays, Autumn!
Thanks for the recipe. I like chocolate chip cookies.
Me too, bn100!
These sound great, except for the nuts. 🙂 (not a fan of nuts in my sweets unless it’s a Snickers)
Every year for my sister/cousin cookie ‘bake’, I put peanut butter between two Ritz crackers, then dip completely in milk chocolate, cool. YUM!
Hey, Stacey! That sounds positively sinful!
These look delicious. I’m loving all these cookie recipes. Congrats on the wonderful reviews BTW
Thanks for stopping by, Shelley!
My Mom made these Swedish Tea Balls for years. I haven’t had one in a long time. My favorite cookie is a tie between Spritz Cookies and these butter jam filled cookies (sorry, don’t know name).
Both those cookies sound great, QuenKne!
The thing about baking in my house… it leads to eating those baked items… which really messes with my weight control… which there is none at this time of the year… love the receipe!! Thanks