This recipe comes from Isa Chandra Moskowitz of the Post Punk Kitchen who has a new vegan cookbook out; Vegan With a Vengence which features 150 vegan recipes including desserts, cookies, main dishes and snacks.

These look amazing to me and I am anxious to try this recipe.

Recipe courtesy of Isa Chandra Moskowitz

These bars require a good overnight chilling to really firm them up before slicing, so plan accordingly.

Tip: You’ll want to use only sweetened, fluffy white flaked coconut for these. Save the natural shredded stuff for a healthy curry.

Tip: Press the graham cracker crumb crust like crazy into the pan; the more you pat it down the firmer the resulting crust will be.

Ingredients

One 14 oz can (regular or lite) coconut milk (about 1 3/4 cups)
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups vegan graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted margarine
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
2 cups flaked, sweetened coconut
1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

Method

In a large saucepan whisk together coconut milk and brown sugar over medium high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Mixture may form a thin skin on the surface; just stir it back into the liquid. Remove from heat and let cool while preparing the crust.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, melted margarine and sugar; mix well to moisten crumbs completely. Firmly press mixture into prepared pan, pressing evenly from center to sides of pan.

Pour warm coconut milk mixture evenly over crumb base. Top with an even layer of chocolate chips, flaked coconut and nuts, in that order. Firmly pat everything down until coconut milk mixture soaks upward into the toppings. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until coconut is deeply golden and filling is bubbling, remove from oven and let entire pan cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Transfer pan to the refrigerator to completely cool and firm up for at least 4 hours, even better overnight or until very firm. Use a sharp, heavy knife to run along the edges of bars, slide bars on parchment paper out of pan onto a cutting board then to slice into 24 squares.

Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. These also freeze well, tightly wrapped and allowed to thaw for 20 minutes before serving.

Trimming the Christmas tree is more bittersweet every year.

Not only is it a fun family tradition laced with cookie baking and egg “nogging” but it is a reminder of how fast time flies.

My teenagers are hanging ornaments which I bought when they were babies. And I remember each trinket and the point in our lives when it was aquired.

As look at the tree and different ornaments I am transported to another place and time and memories that we made there.

A Christmas tree is not just a holiday decoration but a piece of living art that catalogues years of history; some good, some not so good, but truly the legend of a family.

No matter what was going on there was most certainly eating!

Lots of cookies mark every Christmas for us and I have included some more of my favorite holiday cookies for you and your family.

Almond Pine Nut Cookies

Makes 28 cookies • From the kitchen of Allie Virgilio

Ingredients

7 ounces almond paste(cut into small pieces)
1/3 cup sugar
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons all- purpose flour
1/2 cup pine nuts

Directions

Heat oven to 325. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat together almond paste, sugar,and 1 egg white in medium-size bowl until smooth. Beat in second egg white, then vanilla extract. Stir in flour until dough forms. Drop batter by teaspoonsful 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Cover each cookie with pine nuts, about 1/2 teaspoon each. Bake in top third of 325 oven until edges are golden, 15 minutes. Cool cookies on sheet on rack.

Butter Nut Balls

Makes 3-1/2 dozen balls • From the kitchen of Charlotte Chambliss

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups mashed pecans
powdered sugar

Directions

Cream butter thoroughly. Add balance of ingredients except powdered sugar. Roll into balls about walnut size. Place on ungreased cookie sheet for 35 minutes in 300 degree oven. Roll in powdered sugar immediately and cool on waxed paper. (Cookies may be made in advance and frozen.)

Coconut Bars

Makes 15 bars • From the kitchen of Megan

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
6 tablespoons white sugar
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1c +2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup shredded coconut

Directions

Mix first five ingredient together.Then add last four ingredients together.Mix completely and press in 9×13 greased pan.Bake at 375 degrees in over for fifteen minutes.Cut into squares.ENJOY!!!!!!

All Recipes Copyright 2009 Northpole.com, LLC

Photo Courtesy of Zoe Bakes

You can never have too many Christmas cookie recipes.

Baking gets everyone into the kitchen, listening to Christmas music and drinking festive cocktails.

It is hardly a chore to create family traditions and to make these beautiful little gems for everyone to enjoy.

And don’t forget to Put the Love in every bite!

Oatmeal Coconut Crisps

Makes 60

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup butter or margarine (soft)
1 2/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups uncooked oats
1 cup flaked coconut

Method

Stir together flour, baking powder, salt and soda – set aside. Cream butter and sugar until light. Beat in one egg at a time. Stir in flour mixture, vanilla, oats then coconut. Drop by teaspoonful 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on rack. 75 calories per cookie.

Orange Slice Cookies

Makes about 7 dozen

recipe courtesy of Karin

Ingredients

1 pound orange slices (candy)
1/4 cup flour
1 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup coconut
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chopped pecans

Method

Mix candy (cut into bite pieces) with � cup flour. Cream margarine and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat eggs and vanilla thoroughly. Beat in dry ingredients. Stir in rolled oats, candy, pecans and coconut. Drop from teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet 2 inch apart. Bake at 375F for about 13-15 minutes or until delicately brown. Makes about 7 dozen cookies.

Ricotta Cheese Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups of sugar
1/2 pound butter or margarine
15 ounce carton of Ricotta cheese
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons baking soda
Frosting: 4oz cream cheese
2 teaspoons butter
2 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Method

Cream well together sugar, butter or margarine, ricotta cheese, eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture, mix well. Drop by teaspoons on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown on bottom (about 10 minutes). Cool, then ice with frosting. Frosting; cream cheese, 2 teaspoons butter, confectioners sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Dip in red and green sprinkles.

The Secret Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe

Makes 112recipe courtesy of Laura

Ingredients

2 cups butter
24 oz. chocolate chips
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 Teaspoon soda
1 Teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 8 oz. Hershey Bar (grated)
5 cups blended oatmeal
4 eggs
2 Teaspoon baking powder
2 Teaspoon vanilla
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

Method

NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES (Recipe may be halved) Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey Bar, and nuts. Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies.

Who remembers the Betty Crocker Cooky Book?

This book is enjoying a revival! Some of the best basics and old favorites can be found in this book.

Check it out to brush up on your baking skills or learn a few new tricks!