We were having friends over on the weekend for a holiday play date and I made sure to have lots of baking done in time for that. We also filled a couple of tins for Chuck & Pat and Billy & Bessie across the street and I made a large tray to deliver to the staff room at Leighton's school.
So, this year (so far!), I've made :
gingersnaps
This is the recipe from the Joy of Baking. It's very simple and very tasty. You can alter the size of your balls and the cooking time to make them thick and chewy or thin and crispy. I love recipes with versatility!
salted caramel shortbread bites
These are dangerously delicious. And extra dangerous because I can't seem to get them to set, so if I cut them to give to anyone else, the caramel slowly slips, slides, and spreads all over the place once they are removed from the fridge. So guess where they are? Yup. In the fridge. The WHOLE pan of them. Tempting me every.single.time I open the fridge or walk past the kitchen. So, in reality, the WHOLE pan of them isn't in the fridge. You knew that. I knew you knew that. It's really only about 90% and the rest is in my belly. Ok, ok, 80% or maybe 75% ... but it LOOKS like 90% because the caramel has oozed all over the pan and covered the bottom where those few pieces have been removed!
chocolate mint crackle cookies
I use the cookie dough recipe from here (use butter not margarine, skip the vanilla, nuts, and rolos), add in some peppermint extract, roll Tbsp sized balls of dough in white sugar and then powdered sugar, and then lightly flatten them with the bottom of a glass before baking. When they are hot out of the oven, the tops are nice and soft and you can make 'decorations' stick. Last year I did some with crushed candy canes and this year I tried some Andes mint chocolate chips for a few.
whipped shortbread
There are so many recipes out there for shortbread. Different ratios of sugar, flour, cornstarch, and butter. Or not those same 4 ingredients at all. Some dip in chocolate. Or add sprinkles on top. Or inside. Those nasty candied cherries are often pictured on top. You can mix in nuts or leave them plain. Some are baked and cut into bars and others are baked as individual round cookies. Or shapes. This is the recipe we've enjoyed the last several years and I am not tempted to try out any of the others!
*cream together 1 cup softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar
*gradually add in 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1 1/2 cup flour
*roll Tbsp sized balls
*use the bottom of a glass (dipped in powdered sugar so it doesn't stick) to slightly flatten the balls
*bake at 300 for 12 minutes
*makes 30-33 cookies
lemon bars
I've never made these before but needed a way to use up more lemons from our friendly neighbor. They were really yummy. The kids didn't like them. But the faculty and staff at Leighton's school did. And so did the friends I shared with at the playground this morning!
pumkpin cream cheese muffins
This is one our favorites year round! I sweeten the cream cheese with a little brown sugar and vanilla.
cranberry walnut apple white chocolate chip muffins (how's that for a holiday mouth full?!?!)
1.5 cups flour (all purpose or a mix of all purpose and whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 oil, melted butter, or applesauce
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup dried cranberries
3/4 of a large apple, skin on, diced
1/2 cup chopped walnues
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes
Nigella Lawson's yorkshire puddingOk, I know these aren't in the category of Christmas baking in the technical sense. But, they were something I baked in the oven the other night. That counts, right?!?! And they were amazing. So I thought I'd share. I didn't get any photos, but trust me when I say they will be made again, so there will be plenty of opportunities to photograph them in the future!
everything looks amazing. wish we could do some trading (and my oven timer just went so i need to go rescue MY cookies now!)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see yours!
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