From the author of The Christmas Cookie Club , a collection of delicious cookie recipes and a guide on how to start your very own Christmas Cookie Club. The Christmas Cookie Cookbook is the perfect holiday present or year-round companion for new and seasoned bakers alike. Packed with tips, anecdotes, and tons of recipes, this cookbook is a must-have for anyone looking for a new holiday tradition or simply a fresh way to spread holiday cheer throughout the year. For almost twenty years, Ann Pearlman and a dozen of her friends have been in a Christmas Cookie Club founded by Marybeth Bayer. Every year at the same time, they gather at her house to exchange cookies, wine, and laughs. Now, with The Christmas Cookie Cookbook, Ann shows readers how to start a club of their own. The recipes and the inspiration are all here in one complete guide for cookie club hopefuls. With a diverse selection of not only Christmas cookies, but Chanukah and Ramadan cookies too, there’s a treat in here for everyone! Ann Pearlman, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Nominee, is the author of Infidelity: A Memoir , The Christmas Cookie Club , and The Christmas Cookie Cookbook . She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. PROLOGUE Confessions of a Cookie Virgin I HAD NEVER HEARD OF cookie exchanges until I met Marybeth. We joined the same woman’s investment club back in the late nineties and discovered we had lots of interests in common. We both loved to dance, read books, go to concerts, socialize, dine out, and cook. When she moved around the corner from me, we spent even more time together! As soon as I heard about her cookie party, I wanted to join. I listened as our friends laughed about funny events, discussed what cookies they might bake, and joked about the rules. “I want to come,” I said, but they shook their heads. “Nope. We have rules. Only twelve people. So someone will have to drop out.” “Twelve? Why only twelve?” I pushed. “’Cause we don’t want to bake more than 13 dozen cookies!” “Thirteen dozen? If there are only twelve women?” “We each donate one dozen to charity, Safe House.” That completely sold me. The fact that I would be making something for families going through hard times and partying with my girlfriends increased my desire to attend. Well, maybe some year I’d be able to come. Maybe I could even start my own group. Finally, someone dropped out. There was room for me. I was thrilled. But I was nervous! I love to bake, but I heard about the standards of delicious cookies in fabulous packages and wondered if mine would taste sufficiently yummy, be sufficiently attractive. And the cookies had to come with a story! What kind of story? I immediately thought of baking my grandmother’s pecan balls, the favorite cookie of my entire family and one that held memories of me and my grandmother in her kitchen. But there was no story: no hero, no conflict, no quest, no crisis. Only happy memories and always the happy ending of delicious cookies. “That’s enough,” Marybeth assured. “Family recipes with memories are the best cookie stories.” Then I shopped to buy packaging that might be acceptable. I went to party supply stores, craft stores, department stores. I looked at tins and baker’s boxes. Finally I chose small brown paper bags and decorated the handles with raffia and bronze wired ribbon. I relinquished the idea of baking watermelon rind fruitcakes loaded with amaretto, which I love, but which my children do not. The weekend after Thanksgiving, I baked cookies instead of fruitcakes. And as I was rolling the warm cookies with their nutty and buttery aroma in feathery confectioners’ sugar, I was brought back to my grandmother’s kitchen with the laughing lady cookie canister and remembered how she taught me to sift the sugar over the mounds of cookies to let it soak in. The party was full of great cheer, fun, fabulous food, joking, and good-natured teasing. I didn’t know all the women at the first party and thus was introduced to women who eventually became new friends. When it was my turn to pass out my cookies and tell my story, I was nervous. But my new friends were welcoming and wanted to hear more about my grandmother Lala. They liked my packaging and loved the cookies. I was no longer a cookie virgin! And I was accepted into the fold of fun-loving cookie bakers. Through the party I developed a group of friends I socialize with all year. I returned home with 12 dozen cookies, which I shared with friends and family alike. My kids and grandkids tasted them, each immediately developing a favorite. At the yearly yoga party I attend, the guests marveled at the homemade delicious cookies. I got a call from the hostess of the Chanukah party wanting recipes. Of course I saved a few dozen for Christmas Day to be nibbled on in between present opening. Now everyone always knows when the cookie party is and they all come over to taste the goodies. The Christmas cookie night became the highlight of my wi