Pretzel M&M Hugs (Christmas Style)

Ingredients

• 70 square pretzels (do NOT use butter snaps)
• 70 Hershey's Hugs chocolates (from nearly 1 full 12 oz package), unwrapped
• 70 Milk Chocolate M&M's , I used the red and green Christmas package

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. Align pretzels on cookie sheet in a single layer then top each pretzel with one Hershey's Hug chocolate. Bake in preheated oven for 4 - 5 minutes, until the chocolate is shiny and soft (but NOT melting, the chocolates should still hold their shape).
2. Remove from oven and carefully place one M&M in the center of each soft Hug and press down on M&M to spread the chocolate. Place in refrigerator and allow to rest until chocolate has set, about 5 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

Easy Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Laura is making these cookies for her Junior League 2017 holiday cookie swap.

Elaine's Scottish Shortbread

 

Elaine Garvey loved this shortbread, and loved making it for friends and family each Christmas. 
The plain shortbread is delicious, and you can make variations by adding chocolate chips, dried fruit or nuts.  Start checking at 40 minutes.  At 45 minutes it sometimes come out a bit too brown and crispy.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups sifted flour
• 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks) softened to room temperature

Cooking Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 F.
• Mix all ingredients together.  Knead thoroughly until the consistency becomes doughy.  Press very firmly into mold, making sure that dough fits into every part of surface.
• Bake in a preheated oven approx. 40-45 minutes, or until shortbread is lightly browned and still somewhat springy to the touch.  
• Let cool in mold (at least 1 hour), and then run knife around the perimeter of the shortbread to loosen it from the mold.  Remove to rack.