Mexican Wedding Cookies

My husband and son's most favorite cookie during the Christmas holidays. These delicious nutty cookies are rolled in powdered sugar and are perfect for any special occasion.  Just five ingredients and 20 minutes later your oven is making this sweet, melt-in-your mouth celebration cookies.  Eat now or forever hold your peace.

What You Need

1 cup  butter, softened

1 cup  powdered sugar, divided

1 tsp.  vanilla

2 cups  flour

1 cup  finely chopped PLANTERS Pecans

Make It

HEAT oven to 350°F.
BEAT butter, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour, beating on low speed after each addition until blended. Add nuts; mix well.
SHAPE dough into 48 (1-inch) balls. Place, 1-1/2 inches apart, on baking sheets.
BAKE 14 to 15 min. or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool 3 min. on baking sheets. Roll warm cookies, 1 at a time, in remaining sugar in small bowl until evenly coated; place on wire racks. I roll each cookie a second time just to make sure they are coated nice and good.  Cool completely. Store in an air tight jar and enjoy!

Cinnabon Peanut Almond Brittle

Christmas time at The Young's is one of our most favorite holidays.  Lots of decorating, cooking, wrapping and planning time with family and friends.  Every year we have a cookie baking night with the kids and us girls with wine and the men...well, doing what men do best...usually watching football and eating all the goodies.

One of the easiest treats to make is Peanut Brittle.  It only requires a few simple ingredients and about 20 minutes of your time.  We have made many variations to the plain brittle like, Spicy Cayenne, Champagne Cashew and even Bacon.  But this year we made Cinnabon Peanut Almond Brittle and here is the super easy recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 1/2 cups Karo syrup 
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon Cinnabon Cinnamon
• 1 cup of raw, unsalted peanuts and 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 rounded teaspoons baking soda

Instructions

1. Boil sugar, syrup, water and cinnamon until it reaches 300 degrees then reduce heat
2. Add raw, unsalted peanuts and almonds then stir until mixed
3. Continue to stir until the mixture is a golden brown
4. Add butter, vanilla and baking soda and stir quickly
5. As soon as it is mixed pour mixture into a greased pan and let cool
6. Break into pieces