Holiday Baking 2025

[abasket]

Whatever is your holiday. Christmas. Hanukkah. Kwanza. Winter.

Had to edit because the “create a thread” window was odd.

I’m in the mood to shake it up this year. Less cookies/bars. Some new selections. I’m tired of the peanut butter/kisses cookie! (Though I’ll still make it).

Are you trying anything new? Include a difficulty level.

Links welcome.

I’m thinking of doing a Sister Pie (Detroiters, IYKYK) for a Salted Rosemary Shortbread.

Peppermint Oreo Brownies. (Basically any brownie recipe, half the batter in the pan, lay a layer of Oreo (any flavor) cookies, top with other half of batter and crush and sprinkle anything you want on top.

[leftrightleft]

Had to look up Sister Pie since I have a new family member from the Detroit area:)

I’ve baked some loaves of cinnamon bread and will make PB blossoms. Sadly I love to bake but not many sweet eaters in this family.

I would love to try my hand at a Buche de Noel but it probably wouldn’t get eaten and looks like quite a bit of work.

[abasket]

A local French bakery that normally goes mostly bread products is going a Buche de Noel - I’ve thought of getting one!

[abasket]

I always do lemon bars cause they are my favorite. H only eats frosted cut outs - the most time consuming ones!

I think I’m punting seven layer bars this year. Hope I don’t ruin Christmas.

[leftrightleft]

I had lunch at a little french pastry shop recently and my friend ordered one for Christmas Eve- I thought about it as well but honestly my family wouldn’t eat it. Such a bummer!

[sabaray]

For something new this year, I’m doing a dark and stormy cookie I saw in the NYT. I always do a gingerbread and a buche. I’m making Chex mix and caramelized pecans. I’ll do some peanut blossoms and candy canes, maybe pecan crescents. I do like to bake, I just need people to eat it!

[abasket]

I will do pecan crescents too (mine are similar to what people call snowballs or wedding cookies)

I’ll look up Dark and Stormy

[momofboiler1]

Someone posted in the Thanksgiving thread a cranberry curt tart that my D and I are going to make for Christmas.

I’m using this recipe https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/cranberry-curd-tart/ minus the whipped cream topping and I’m going to decorate like this photo:

[thumper1]

I do a Christmas cookie baking thing with a good friend. We each make two cookies at our own houses. Then we make the rest of the cookies together doing it two afternoons. We did it last weekend. We made:

Chocolate Crinkles
Peppermint Blossoms
Chocolate Ginger Truffles
Pistachio Cranberry cookies
Spritz
Buckeyes
Russian Tea Cakes
Italian Wedding cookies
Seven Layer Bars
Coconut meringues
Cherry Blossoms (if you find this recipe online, it calls for regular chocolate kisses. NO! Get the chocolate kisses with the cherry cordial inside…it’s a game changer).

Our goal is to have a variety that looks nice on a cookie tray and has a variety of flavors. I have dozens and dozens of cookies here. Our DD got her tin today. DS will have his mailed to him this weekend. Some will be given as gifts. Everywhere we go this holiday, we will take a cookie tray.

And…our neighborhood is having a cookie swap on December 21. For that, I am making the peppermint blossoms and chocolate Ginger truffles.

[abasket]

Are those pistachio cranberry ones the ones you form a roll and then slice? You’ve posted before I think. Ugh, I’ve made them and love them! Too many choices!!

[thumper1]

Yes…the pistachio ones are the ones you slice from a roll. They are really delicious, and particularly with a cup of tea!

[BunsenBurner]

I’m planning to make these (with regular butter though):

[thumper1]

6-8 servings? How many cookies does this make? They sound delicious!

[BunsenBurner]

I don’t know! I am still in the planning stages. I will let you know when I make them.

[thumper1]

These are what I made myself. The orange cookies are actually pink…the cherry blossoms!