Santa’s Wake-Up Cookies

Name: Santa's Wake-Up Cookies
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: about 3-1/2 dozen.
Ingredients: 1/3 cup butter, softened; 1/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup packed brown sugar; 1/4 cup molasses; 1 large egg; 1 to 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped; 1/2 cup chopped pecans

My granddaughter inspired me to create this recipe. One Christmas, she woke up in the middle of the night before Santa had arrived. She didn’t think there was any way he could still have time to come to our house. I told her not to worry because all the cookies and milk that everyone leaves for Santa helps keep him awake all night. It also helps when the cookies have espresso in them, which these do!

Ingredients

1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg
1 to 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Cream butter, sugars and molasses until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, espresso powder and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Add cranberries and pecans; mix well.
Shape dough into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°. Bake until set, 8-10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.