Have you started baking for the holidays?

[soocool]

I plan on doing all my baking starting next weekend. So I made up the list of ingredients that I need and went food shopping today. Boy have eggs, butter, and extracts gone way up in price. Luckily I was able to get a buy1 get1 on McCormick vanilla and almond extracts and one store also had a buy 1 get 1 on butter.

So instead of the regular 7 different kinds of cookies I normally make I am only focusing on 4 (apricot rugelach, sugar cutout cookies, pecan butter cookies, and mint meringues) and will make 2 different kinds of pizzelles - orange/chocolate and creme de menthe/

So have you started baking yet?

 

[elrohwen]

Nope! But then my main holiday baking is a few loaves of bread that I usually wait to do when I'm with my mom (they'd get stale or have to be frozen anyway). Though I'm thinking of making some cookies to bring into work this year - I like making them, but they never get eaten with DH and I around. We don't have much of a sweet tooth.

 

[purselover]

Yep I made my first bach of spice cookies yesterday and tomorrow I plan on attempting gingerbread.

 

[pinkstars]

Yep I made my first bach of spice cookies yesterday and tomorrow I plan on attempting gingerbread.

That's funny! It's the other way around for me, I've made some gingerbread and I'm going to try making some cookies this weekend.

When I made my gingerbread I couldn't find the recipe that I got from my mom, so I just used the recipe in my Better Homes & Garden cookbook, and after I had gotten almost all of the ingredients together remembered that my mom had emailed me the recipe! So I finished the recipe I used, but I think my mom's tastes better.

http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2010/12/07/white-chocolate-topped-gingerbread-cookies/ This is the cookie recipe I want to make.
I want to make snicker doodles, but I get kind of lazy after making about one baking sheet worth of cookies. We'll see, hopefully I'll get motivated.

 

[bebe]

Not right now, but I'll do a little bit next weekend.
I had planned to bake Black Gold Cookies and Biscotti for a friend,
but I nixed those time consuming projects and bought her
William Sonoma Chocolate Mix and the fluffly Vanilla Marshmellows they sell.
But a bow on it and call it done.

 

[soocool]

Well, I wasn't going to bake this year (I've cut out almost all sweets) and then my DH complained, then DD, then my dad, then my sister. So I said if you want me to bake then someone else has to clean up. So I will bake but am not cleaning up

 

[Amber St. Clare]

I made a mega batch of muffins yesterday. I'm trying to get my guys to do their traditional cookie baking this weeking. but my son has informed me that he is too old {25} to do it any more. My husband will carry out that tradition himself. So I assured of having sugard cookies and chocolate chips. I will make:

Oreo Cookie Cheesecake
Thin Mint Brownies
Orange Chiffon Cake
Lemon Squares
Coconut bread
Pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin Muffins

 

[IdLikeToBuyAVal]

This is my great grandmother, Maudena's peanut butter cookie recipe. It's the easiest to make (and remember!) and makes uber-peanut-buttery cookies! I love that it's unfussy and just plain good!

1 c. peanut butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Combine, roll spoonfuls into balls before placing on baking sheets. Use a fork dipped in sugar to make cross hatches on top. Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes (depending on how you like your texture.)

This is a small recipe and usually makes between 12 and 15 cookies depending on size. I usually do heaping tablespoonfuls.

 

[diamondringlover]

I am making cut out cookies tomorrow, I will have some to eat and the rest I will freeze! I usually only make these cookies, I dont do alot of holiday baking.

 

[swingirl]

This is my great grandmother, Maudena's peanut butter cookie recipe. It's the easiest to make (and remember!) and makes uber-peanut-buttery cookies! I love that it's unfussy and just plain good!

1 c. peanut butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Combine, roll spoonfuls into balls before placing on baking sheets. Use a fork dipped in sugar to make cross hatches on top. Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes (depending on how you like your texture.)

This is a small recipe and usually makes between 12 and 15 cookies depending on size. I usually do heaping tablespoonfuls.

No flour?

 

[purselover]

Yep I made my first bach of spice cookies yesterday and tomorrow I plan on attempting gingerbread.

That's funny! It's the other way around for me, I've made some gingerbread and I'm going to try making some cookies this weekend.

When I made my gingerbread I couldn't find the recipe that I got from my mom, so I just used the recipe in my Better Homes & Garden cookbook, and after I had gotten almost all of the ingredients together remembered that my mom had emailed me the recipe! So I finished the recipe I used, but I think my mom's tastes better.

http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2010/12/07/white-chocolate-topped-gingerbread-cookies/ This is the cookie recipe I want to make.
I want to make snicker doodles, but I get kind of lazy after making about one baking sheet worth of cookies. We'll see, hopefully I'll get motivated.

That recipe looks delicious, I may need to try it seeing as I love white chocolate

 

[purselover]

I made a mega batch of muffins yesterday. I'm trying to get my guys to do their traditional cookie baking this weeking. but my son has informed me that he is too old {25} to do it any more. My husband will carry out that tradition himself. So I assured of having sugard cookies and chocolate chips. I will make:

Oreo Cookie Cheesecake
Thin Mint Brownies
Orange Chiffon Cake
Lemon Squares
Coconut bread
Pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin Muffins

Oh wow this all sounds amazing!! I wish I could come to your house.

 

[MagsyMay]

NO! But I have a cookie exchange on Sunday and am in desperate need of some good (relatively easy, I'm not the best baker!) recipes, so keep on posting them!!

 

[Jessie702]

No, i havent started baking for the holidays yet...too early, but i made cookies tonight. Homemade chocolate chip, and they came out really tasty. I bake all year round, strictly because i love baking. I tried a fudge receipe found on the other thread, but add my own, but the top layer of it is kind og grainy, im gonna taste it later, and see how it came out. Ill post some pictures.

 

[Dandi]

I just got home from the supermarket actually! I'm loaded up with chocolate, sugar, butter, flour, all my cuppie type stuff. Plus I made the mistake of checking out a brand new cupcake baking and supplies shop in my city... $150 later I'm set to go I've got about 12 dozen cuppies to make for various people and parties, I'm going to have to make a stack and freeze them because I'll run out of time during Christmas week!

Only 14 more sleeps until Santa is here! EEK!

 

[pinkstars]

NO! But I have a cookie exchange on Sunday and am in desperate need of some good (relatively easy, I'm not the best baker!) recipes, so keep on posting them!!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Allys-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies/Detail.aspx This is my absolute all time favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. I keep looking for one that could be better, but I haven't found one yet!

Would some short bread dipped in chocolate count as a cookie? Hehe, our neighbors would give everyone a plate of goodies during the holidays and I loved that!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/01/cookie_dough_and_candy_/ I've wanted to make these for awhile, I just haven't gotten around to it. They would probably be yummy!

Okay, then I have this recipe http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/sweet-treats-jam-diagonals/, again I'm not sure if you would consider them cookies but they're good. And really not too hard, at least I hope not!

Goodluck! I can't wait to make some cookies now.

 

[somethingshiny]

I haven't started baking for the Holidays because I have Dec birthdays all around me. So, I've made a delicious birthday cake and brownies for one, and just finished making a lovely cheese cake and peanut butter fudge for tonight. I plan on Holiday baking this week however I am cutting way down. I'm only going to make 3 kinds of cookies (probably 10 doz total), 2 kinds of breads, and maybe 1-2 of either cakes/pies/cheesecakes. This year my sis is making the candies, my mom is making some of the cookies, and we'll just do without the rest. Usually by the middle of Dec I have 12-15 doz cookies and a couple pies in my freezer and fudge and candies made. I love baking but just don't have the time this year with JT and Lily. JT would rather be playing in the snow and Lily isn't happy in the high chair for very long yet.

 

[IdLikeToBuyAVal]

This is a small recipe and usually makes between 12 and 15 cookies depending on size. I usually do heaping tablespoonfuls.[/quote]
No flour?[/quote]


Nope! And you'd never know it. The texture is just like other peanut butter cookies, crisp on the outer edges and just a little chewy in the middle. And, they actually puff up like normal cookies when you bake them too. Delicious! I just made a double batch for a Christmas party today!

 

[Mannequin]

I usually bake a TON of cookies during the holidays. This year, I am scaling back because we will be gone on our honeymoon throughout most of the holiday (8 days). I am baking this weekend for a cookie exchange! Tonight, I will be starting with 6 dozen White Chocolate Candy Cane cookies. Depending on how well that goes, I may make more for my students at school for their holiday parties on Friday if I am not too pooped. Otherwise, I will make more cookies this week.

 

[Bunny007]

As we speak!

Buckeyes
Key Lime meltaways
Key Lime mini tarts
Mint chocolate brownies
Blood orange tarts w/ salted caramel

 

[pennquaker09]

My KitchenAid fizzled!

 

[soocool]

As we speak!

Buckeyes
Key Lime meltawaysKey Lime mini tarts
Mint chocolate brownies
Blood orange tarts w/ salted caramel

The Key Lime Meltaways sound really yummy. Would you be willing to share your recipe?

 

[soocool]

My KitchenAid fizzled!

I bought a new KitchenAid 5qt mixer last month, because my original 4qt (20+years) sound like it may fizzle soon. I have really used it well all these years that I am surprised that it has lasted this long.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

I made a mega batch of muffins yesterday. I'm trying to get my guys to do their traditional cookie baking this weeking. but my son has informed me that he is too old {25} to do it any more. My husband will carry out that tradition himself. So I assured of having sugard cookies and chocolate chips. I will make:

Oreo Cookie Cheesecake
Thin Mint Brownies
Orange Chiffon Cake
Lemon Squares
Coconut bread
Pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin Muffins

Oh wow this all sounds amazing!! I wish I could come to your house.

I absolutely HATE to cook, but I LOVE to bake. I don't do much during the year, but do a lot during the holidays. Also, I'm chronically unemployed, so I have a lot of time to kill......

 

[Bunny007]

As we speak!

Buckeyes
Key Lime meltawaysKey Lime mini tarts
Mint chocolate brownies
Blood orange tarts w/ salted caramel

The Key Lime Meltaways sound really yummy. Would you be willing to share your recipe?

Gladly

Key Lime Meltaways

You can make these with regular limes as well, but if you run into some key limes, they’re worth it.

You could also keep the logs frozen for up to two months, and use them as the meltaway craving hits.

Yield: 5 dozen

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Grated zest of 4 tiny or 2 large key limes
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour (a.k.a. 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until fluffy. Add lime zest, juice, and vanilla; beat until fluffy.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add to butter mixture, and beat on low speed until combined.

3. Between two 8-by-12-inch pieces of parchment paper, roll dough into two 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Chill at least 1 hour.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Place remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Remove parchment from logs; slice dough into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart.

5. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, just three or four minutes. While still warm, place cookies in the sugar-filled bag; toss to coat. Bake or freeze remaining dough. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

 

[Porridge]

I finished icing my last cake today! I'm dead proud I made a few of these as presents. The colours didn't come out too well in the photo, but the fondant bow and snowflakes are a lovely glittery gold. It's a fairly standard christmas fruitcake.

 

[soocool]

As we speak!

Buckeyes
Key Lime meltawaysKey Lime mini tarts
Mint chocolate brownies
Blood orange tarts w/ salted caramel

The Key Lime Meltaways sound really yummy. Would you be willing to share your recipe?

Gladly

Key Lime Meltaways

You can make these with regular limes as well, but if you run into some key limes, they’re worth it.

You could also keep the logs frozen for up to two months, and use them as the meltaway craving hits.

Yield: 5 dozen

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Grated zest of 4 tiny or 2 large key limes
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour (a.k.a. 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until fluffy. Add lime zest, juice, and vanilla; beat until fluffy.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add to butter mixture, and beat on low speed until combined.

3. Between two 8-by-12-inch pieces of parchment paper, roll dough into two 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Chill at least 1 hour.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Place remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Remove parchment from logs; slice dough into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart.

5. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, just three or four minutes. While still warm, place cookies in the sugar-filled bag; toss to coat. Bake or freeze remaining dough. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Thanks for the recipe! If I can't get key limes will regular limes works as well?

 

[soocool]

You are such an artist. Definitely too pretty to eat! --yummy

 

[gemgirl]

I finished icing my last cake today! I'm dead proud I made a few of these as presents. The colours didn't come out too well in the photo, but the fondant bow and snowflakes are a lovely glittery gold. It's a fairly standard christmas fruitcake.

Holy fruitcake Porridge! You made that? Have you ever thought of going into business baking custom cakes?

 

[Porridge]

I finished icing my last cake today! I'm dead proud I made a few of these as presents. The colours didn't come out too well in the photo, but the fondant bow and snowflakes are a lovely glittery gold. It's a fairly standard christmas fruitcake.

Holy fruitcake Porridge! You made that? Have you ever thought of going into business baking custom cakes?

Aw thank you Gemgirl! What a lovely compliment. I do get a few orders - I started off doing it for friends parents, friends of friends etc, but they are starting to pile up now! I'm not all that efficient, I like to take my time pottering around the kitchen. It really enjoy baking and decorating, but I don't have any ambitions to turn it into a business at the moment. I would definitely think about it if I ever found myself out of work!

ETA thank you soocool! I'm proud as punch of this one