Christmas Rocks Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients., Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container. (Cookies are best after a few days.)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare cookie sheets by greasing or covering with parchment paper.
• Dredge chopped fruits in some of the flour. Using mixer, cream softened butter and sugar. Add well beaten eggs. Sift flour with spices, cocoa, baking soda and add to mixture, along with coffee. Add fruits and nuts and fold in, making sure to incorporate thoroughly.
• Drop cookie dough by teaspoon onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 12 to 18 minutes or until a rich biscuit color. Cool on racks.
• Store in jars. If you like, you may sprinkle with sherry occasionally or place a cut apple or orange inside the jar (to keep cookies moist). The longer the cookies stand, the better they taste. These cookies also freeze well in moisture-proof bags.
• You can use other fruits or nuts - whatever you prefer.

Steps:

• Butter and line a 20cm square tin, or use a 20cm square silicone mould. Break the biscuits into pieces - they need to be no smaller than a pea, but not too chunky or your rocky road won't hold together.
• Halve any larger nuts either by snapping them or carefully cutting with a knife, then combine them with the biscuits. Halve any large pieces of dried fruit and chop or snap sweets into smaller pieces, then add these to the bowl.
• Melt 300g of the chocolate, the butter and the golden syrup carefully in a pan set over a low heat, stirring occasionally, then pour this over the biscuit and nut mixture and mix together so the chocolate covers everything.
• Tip the mixture into the tin, then level the top - it doesn't need to be completely smooth. Melt the remaining chocolate in the microwave in short blasts, or in a heatproof bowl over a small pan of simmering water, then drizzle this over the top and sprinkle with the decorations. Chill for at least 3 hrs or overnight before cutting into squares. Will keep in the fridge for three to four days.

Steps:

• Cream butter, shortening, brown sugar and vanilla all together.
• Add beaten eggs, until fluffy.
• Sift two cups flour with the salt and spices.
• Dissolve the baking soda in hot water.
• Add soda to creamed mixture alternately with the dry ingredients.
• Blend well.
• Toss the fruit with the last 1/2 cup of remaining flour.
• Work this into the dough by hand.
• Drop from a teaspoon 1 inch apart onto greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 325 degrees F.
• for ABOUT 15 minutes.
• Remove to cooling rack.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and lightly oil a non-stick baking sheet. Rub together the butter and flour with your fingertips to fine breadcrumbs (or pulse in a food processor). Stir in the rest of the ingredients until you have a soft dough.
• Drop 8 tbsp or 16 heaped tsp of the dough on to the baking sheet, spacing out well. Bake for 18-20 mins until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool and dust with plenty of icing sugar. Pack into an airtight container or gift jars.