Anonymous
Post 12/29/2025 01:04     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
Anonymous wrote:I love to bake, but my hand surgery is failing, so this might be the last year I can bake the way I want to. We had planned a vacation for Christmas so I made all my cookies ahead of time and distributed them early. Had several of my regulars tell me this is the highlight of their year and they eagerly wait to see what I’ve whipped up this year.

I made chocolate chip cookies, gingersnaps (B Dylan Hollis recipe), cranberry orange shortbread, cardamom spice cookies (my favorite), birthday cake cookies (cheat cookies with boxed cake mix), snickerdoodle blondies, mint chocolate rice crispies treat, white chocolate pistachio cranberry cookies, fudgy Nutella brownies, baklava, apple spice scones,


Oh, and just got back from vacation, so started Swedish cardamom buns. Decided to start at like 10:00 PM, so will finish it tomorrow. Easter doughs usually taste better with longer rests anyway.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2025 01:02     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
I love to bake, but my hand surgery is failing, so this might be the last year I can bake the way I want to. We had planned a vacation for Christmas so I made all my cookies ahead of time and distributed them early. Had several of my regulars tell me this is the highlight of their year and they eagerly wait to see what I’ve whipped up this year.

I made chocolate chip cookies, gingersnaps (B Dylan Hollis recipe), cranberry orange shortbread, cardamom spice cookies (my favorite), birthday cake cookies (cheat cookies with boxed cake mix), snickerdoodle blondies, mint chocolate rice crispies treat, white chocolate pistachio cranberry cookies, fudgy Nutella brownies, baklava, apple spice scones,
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2025 21:43     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I bought a bunch of cookie ingredients but now I don't have the energy, maybe I'll do it after Christmas.

DH made fudge from a giant tub of marshmallow fluff, overcooked it, and now I don't know what to do with two big trays of brick hard fudge. I asked him to just make half at a time but ....


OMG, same. I was just staring into my kitchen wondering if I could manage to get up and make the easiest-to-make cookies. I think it's a "no."


I have had this holiday before. I hope someone bought/brought you some tasty treats!

Maybe next year, right?
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2025 21:41     Subject: Re:Holiday Baking Thread
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid wanted to bake cookies for school club so I helped do molasses crinkles and brown butter snickerdoodles. 4 batches of cookies later, I'm pretty much done. I did 2 rounds of homemade chex mix (tabasco garlic, and a sweet&savory south Indian version) for neighbor/friend gifts. I was going to do homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning, but the take-and-bakes were on sale and, well, I'm okay with that for this year. We always have way too many sweets and treats, even when I'm not the one making them!


I want some Chex mix. I’ll have to try and make some today. The stuff that you buy is just nowhere near the same.


+1
Chex mix is a great idea for us savory types on this baking thread.
I'll try to score some of these to swap out for the very unpopular pretzels:
They never have them at the grocery stores but I have seen them at cvs I think.

I made some at thanksgiving and it wasn’t as good as I remembered. I found the bagel chips at grocery store.


This is the tabasco/garlic version I made: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11316/pws-chex-party-mix/, swapping 1/2 gardetto's garlic rye chips for some of the pretzels (I used snyder's minis because they're cute and they hold seasonings better). Overmeasure all the dry spices, use the max suggested butter, tabasco and garlic, and I added an extra T of Lea & Perrins. I also tossed it with a bit of Vulcan's Fire Salt (https://www.thespicehouse.com/products/vulcans-fire-salt) once it was out of the oven, but not quite cooled. Careful heating that stuff; the peppers in it are no joke!
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2025 17:05     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
Frangelica: i haven't made this yet but I saved this for baked brie
https://chewtown.com/2015/08/baked-brie-with-frangelico-and-sage/
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2025 16:58     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
I made eggnog cookies for a school event and they were amazing! Wish I’d made a double batch at the time, because I was too tired to bake again before Christmas. When I have the time, I like making peanut butter blossoms and double chocolate crinkles (Sally’s Baking Addiction).

The kids helped me make peppermint bark, saltine toffee/ “Christmas crack” (which we all hated and threw away), and Rice Krispie treats (with sprinkles, marshmallow bits, and chocolate shell drizzle).
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2025 16:33     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have made ginger snap cookies, Christmas frosted sugar cookies (the cut out kind), and going to attempt to make a Buche de Noel on Christmas Day for dinner. A bit nervous about that one. Send tips my way or if you have a tried and true recipe for one


I'm going to do Sally's Baking Addiction Buche de Noel next week for an after Christmas party that I'm hosting. I just made her Chocolate Cake Roll and the Buche de Noel is almost identical, except different flavors/ingredients. When I unrolled the cake after it cooled, it did crack. But once I frosted it with the chocolate ganache, it covered the imperfections. So I would imagine the same would be true with the Buche. I used a towel instead of parchment paper when I rolled it. And go slowly when unrolling.

The PP and I ended up also using Sally’s recipe. It turned out perfect! Not a single crack! I did a different recipe for the mushrooms since I wanted to do a Swiss meringue. It was a two day process with some of the steps requiring multiple cooling hours. I don’t think I could have made it if I was making an entire Christmas meal. But I was just responsible for dessert this year.

And now I have a whole bottle of Frangelica liqueur to use up! Any suggestions?
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2025 12:46     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
Anonymous wrote:Meringues in the oven now. Making a Swiss roll cake later today (maybe it will become a buche de noel this year maybe just a Swiss roll...)
Making cinnamon rolls, will start the dough this afternoon. And cranberry orange bread.


Wow!
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2025 11:11     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I bought a bunch of cookie ingredients but now I don't have the energy, maybe I'll do it after Christmas.

DH made fudge from a giant tub of marshmallow fluff, overcooked it, and now I don't know what to do with two big trays of brick hard fudge. I asked him to just make half at a time but ....


OMG, same. I was just staring into my kitchen wondering if I could manage to get up and make the easiest-to-make cookies. I think it's a "no."


Every fudge recipe says to cook to 235° but that always ruins it. 225° is soft and creamy.


I can't manage fudge for some reason even with a candy thermometer. I do much better just buying it. Luckily we live near candy shops where there are always fudge choices. And you only need a little bit of fudge anyways.

If people are really good at fudge and are gifting it I would say that's the one last homemade thing that people are grateful for.... and fudge only. None of that peanut butter horror!
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2025 10:36     Subject: Holiday Baking Thread
Chocolat chip cookies
Brownies
Peanut Bloosom Hershey Kisses cookies
Coffee cake
Sugar cookies
Mandel Bread