Cookies for the Big Guy!!

I have seen so many posts about family Christmas traditions & have been trying to figure out what the Goodson's Traditions are going to be & have decided one one for sure.  Every year we are going to make homemade yummy cookies for Santa; next year I will let B help & then the year after that both boys will be able to help but this year I decided to do it by myself since I haven't baked in quite a long time!!  This is going to a fun tradition for us as they grow up & even after they know the "big guy" isn't real it will be something that they can do once a year with their mom!!

They turned out very well & I must admit they are quite delicious too!!  I decided to make 2 different kinds just will be taking the majority of them to B's JuJu's house on Christmas day..........that is if there are any left; Colton LOVES sweets!!!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• • 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
• 1 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. 

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. 

Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the macadamia nuts and white chocolate. 

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Oatmeal Raisin Classic Cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350

BEAT butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, egg & vanilla until light & fluffy

COMBINE flour, cinnamon, baking soda & salt

ADD butter mixture & mix well

STIR in oats & raisins

DROP by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheets

BAKE 12-15 minutes

REMOVE from cookies sheets & cool on wire racks

Santa's plate ready & waiting for these yummy cookies to be placed on it on Friday night & can't wait to let Brayden set out the cookies & milk for the first time.  I am sure that he will not understand what we are doing & will only try to eat the cookies but none the less it will be a treasured memory for his daddy & I!!

I can't figure out if myself or Lance is more excited about this Christmas but which ever one of us it is , this year is going to be the 1st of MANY happy Christmas' to come.  I have a few more traditions that we are going to be starting this year & will post about them as we do them.  

What traditions have you started with your family??