It’s tiiiimee!! The Community Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange returns to Focus Fox Valley, bringing joy and happiness to your home!
This year featured Goodwill NCW, Rawhide Youth Services, Community Benefit Tree and NeighborWorks Green Bay. Our hope is that you try these delicious cookie recipes this season and consider supporting the organizations that shared them.
Our first guest are representing Goodwill North Central Wisconsin!
We were joined by Robert Dye, their in-house baking aficionado and PR and Communications Manager with Goodwill NCW. At Goodwill NCW, they provide pathways for people who are underserved, underrepresented or disadvantaged who have a goal of building job skills that lead to sustained employment and improved financial stability. They do this work within their retail stores and through their community partnerships. By shopping at Goodwill retail stores you are supporting their mission!
Goodwill North Central Wisconsin Empower-Mint Cookies
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 & 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs + 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract, or more to taste
- 10 drops green food coloring
- 3 & 1/4 cups flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 12 ounces mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line one or more baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then beat on medium for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs + yolk, peppermint extract, and food coloring.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and combine until the flour is not quite incorporated.
- Add chocolate chips to the dough and mix until just combined.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for about an hour.
- Use a mini cookie scoop to form balls of dough and press them a bit.
- Bake at 350 for about 8-12 minutes, or until BARELY starting to brown on the edges.
- Let cool 5 minutes on the pan, then remove to a cooling rack.
Our second organization to join is Rawhide Youth Services. The Rawhide team is committed to helping teens and young adults struggling with mental health, emotional and behavioral challenges find joy and healing. We heard from team members Mallory Schwann and Sarah Munson about the work, mission and growth of Rawhide.
When Hayley visited their fish fry this fall, the dessert served was a delicious and MASSIVE chocolate chip cookie. The Rawhide culinary team (including youth in the program) created this recipe for you to make in your own kitchen.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 Tbs Baking Soda
- 1 lb Butter
- 1/2 Tbs Salt
- 3 cups Brown Sugar
- 2 cups White Sugar
- 4 Eggs
- 1 Tbs Vanilla
- 1 lb Chocolate Chips
- 1 cup Walnuts
Cream sugar and butter together. Mix in eggs and vanilla to butter. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Add to butter in three parts. Add chocolate chips and walnuts. Mix until thoroughly integrated. Roll dough into 5 oz balls on cookie sheet. Lightly press down ball.
Bake at 350* for 7 minutes. Turn pan and cookie for another 7 minutes.
Our third visit comes from Community Benefit Tree! We were joined by Djuanna Kath, Executive Director to learn more about the ways they help families navigate through financial medical crisis. January will be Medical Debt Awareness Month and Djuanna shares that’s an important time to help others learn about their mission. The recipe she brought is from her mother!
Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 1 box white cake mix
- 1 egg
- ½ c. flour
- 5 T maraschino cherry jce.
- 15-20 chopped maraschino cherries
- 2 T. water
- 1 bag chips
- 6 drops red food coloring (optional)
Directions: Mix ingredients together. Drop by spoonful on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Optional: Almond extract, Nuts
Our final recipe comes from NeighborWorks Green Bay. We heard from Steve Kovacs, the Grants Writer with NeighborWorks Green Bay NeighborWorks Green Bay has served Green Bay neighborhoods and the broader community with homeownership preparation services, down payment and closing cost assistance lending, community-interest real estate development, and other services.
Melting Moments Cookies
These buttery, delicate cookies melt in your mouth and are a symbol of warmth, comfort, and simplicity—just like the homes NeighborWorks Green Bay helps to create!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened (or non-dairy butter substitute)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (regular or gluten free)
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract.
- Gradually sift in the flour and cornstarch, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 inch in diameter) and place them on the baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Flatten each ball slightly with the back of a fork.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar.
Whether you’re baking these cookies for family, friends, or a community gathering, let them remind you of the simple joys and the profound impact of a place to call home.
