OT: Holiday Baking - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: Holiday Baking

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I love baking at Christmas, we always baked with my Mother and Grandmother at Christmas as children and I hope to be able to carry the tradition on with my little one! I also love to bake gifts and take plates of baked goods in to work.

I am also always on the look out for new recipes and ideas and I know that there are more than a few members of the YLF community who are superb cooks!

So do you have a family recipe you can share? Are there any new recipes you are trying out this year? What baked goods do you particularly like to eat at this time of year?

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from wilson

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I don't have a recipe, but wanted to say this is a great thread!

Do you have any special recipes Fi? Just think, this time next year will be you baby's first Christmas. How exciting!

My children have begged me to make a gingerbread house with them for Christmas. If there is any advice on how to make it successfully (without going crazy!), I would love to hear it!

Dee

Ooh sounds fun! Instead of baking, my mom and I made candy around this time of year: fudge, toffee, peanut butter balls, and caramel.

Katiepea - my mom used to buy gingerbread houses undecorated from a local bakery for my sister and I to decorate. It was tons of fun, and it might be an option if the baking and assembling sounds too daunting.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I have a little notebook of recipes!

I tried to make a gingerbread house once in New Zealand at Christmas, but it totally collapsed because of the humidity, so I am not sure whether it will work or not.

One of my favourite recipes are these Finnish Cardamom Cookies. The recipe comes from a cookbook that I bought at the Tennament Museum in New York - I love the fact that this is someone elses family recipe!

Cardamom Cookies

Ingredients
1 cup white flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 egg
3/4 cup white sugar
120g butter - melted and cooled

Preheat the oven to 180 C or 350 F. Stir together dry ingredients (except sugar), whisk eggs and whisk in sugar and butter. Stir wet into dry (sometimes I add a little more flour at this stage - you need to be able to roll dough into balls). Roll teaspoons of mixture on to lined baking trays and press down gently with a fork. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on a rack. You can leave them as is or dip into melted white chocolate.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Mmmmmmmmmmm. They sound yummy AND easy (my kind of biscuit)! If I make these, I think I'll post a picture of them to show you the outcome (if I can get my camera out before they are all eaten of course).

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

I spent this morning at the kindy break up (*sob sob* my baby is now a school girl!), and it was so nice to see the array of holiday food that was mostly homemade! Lots of cupcakes with christmas decorations, gingerbreads, macadamia biccies, teacups (these were soo cute - a round biccie with a round marshmallow glued on top and half a "lifesaver" lolly glued on the side as the handle - wish I'd taken a pic!!).

Kirstie the kindy kids actually made a gingerbread house - it was a kit that they "glued" together with icing (i think), and then decorated - and if this class of 4-5yr olds could do it I'm sure you can too!!! I think they said they got the kit at just a regular supermarket... (and our supermarkets up here generally don't stock as much variety as the bigger ones down your way!)

The thing I've made for the past few years that has been a HUGE hit with the girls is Mango Sorbet!! Its so nice and light and cool and the girls love watching the ice cream maker churn it up!

crwilson

Veteran

I love holiday baking! Because my oldest daughter has so many allergies, we're doing completely allergen-free baking this year, so I'm trying all new recipes. I'm definitely going to miss some of my favorites. So far, we've only made roll-out sugar cookies, but I was pretty impressed with the way that they turned out, and M was thrilled with using cookie cutters and then adding frosting and sprinkles. I want to try a gingerbread house, too, but I like the idea of buying a pre-made one and then decorating it. Since we won't be eating it anyway, I won't have to worry quite as much about the wheat allergy, at least.

shana

Veteran

Oh Fi, I didn't know you were pregnant! Congratulations!!! When will your little bundle of joy arrive?

I love holiday baking. We generally do the traditional - sugar cookies & gingerbread. I'd love to do more and expand my repertoire but there never seems to be enough time!!! The cardamom cookies sound yummy!! I'd really like to try & make a traditional Stollen this year and have a collection of recipes cut out of magazines/newspapers/scribbled on napkins that I need to go through.

Debora

Veteran

Fun thread, Fi! When it comes to Christmas cookies, everyone has a favorite in my house. I usually end up making a ton!. DH and DS love sugar cookies, I like gingersnaps, and DD always requests chocolate toffee bars. The past few years we have made the following salty chocolate- pecan candy recipe. I love the blend of sweet and salty, and always use Ghirardelli baking chocolate when making it.

http://find.myrecipes.com/reci.....0001665331

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Vani

Veteran

We don't have a family recipe as such since at the time I was growing up in India, folks didn't do much baking at home. I do bake these cookies and it is very likely this is a recipe I will hang on to for a long, long time as they are always a super duper favourite at home and at work. This is a Ghirardelli recipe and I always only use Ghirardelli chocolate because that is the best, most easily accessible baking chocolate I have found. My only modifications are that I don't add nuts and I don't form the dough into logs. I just spoon the dough onto the cookie sheet.

Ultimate Double Chocolate Cookies

Yield: 24 cookies

12 ounce(s) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
11 1/2 ounce(s) 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
6 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
3 eggs
1 cup(s) sugar
1/3 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1 cup(s) chopped walnuts

Directions
In double boiler over hot water, melt bittersweet chocolate chips and butter. In large bowl with electric mixer or whisk, beat eggs and sugar until thick; stir into chocolate mixture. In small bowl, stir together flour and baking powder; stir into chocolate mixture. Gently mix in semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts. Using a sheet of plastic wrap, form dough into two logs, each 2 inches in diameter and about 12 inches long. As dough will be quite soft, use plastic wrap to hold dough in log shape. Wrap tightly; refrigerate at least 1 hour or until firm. Heat oven to 375°F. Unwrap dough; with sharp knife, cut into 3/4-inch slices. Place slices 1 1/2 inches apart on greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet.

Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until shiny crust forms on top but interior is still soft. Cool on baking sheet; store in airtight tin up to 1 week.

Anonymous

I grew up making decorated iced sugar cookies cut out with cookie cutters, some gingerbread men and bears (cookie cutter) and those cookie press spritz cookies. All were fun for kids to make with all the rolling out or pressing out and decorating.
Now, I'm the only one with a sweet tooth, so don't bake. I appreciate the baked yummies from school kids to set out.
Vani, those sound wonderful!

anne

Veteran

It was gingerbread man city at our house today as we made gingerbread men to give as gifts to the girls clasmates and the kids at playgroup. Yum!

WE also assembled and decorated a gingerbread house as part of an evening at church. We used pre-baked kits and I bought one extra to do at home with my daughters. I do have the reciep though, if anyone wants it.

I have been thinking of making dukkah to give away as my "food" gift this year, rather than something sweet (which I like a bit TOO much!)

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My mom goes crazy with holiday baking, and maybe because of that I never have. The thing that really means holidays to me is the marzipan fruit that my mom makes- but I can't have it anymore
I discovered this year that I can do a decent sugar free low carb Macaroon, so that is my baked good alternative that I am brining to holiday gatherings.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Hmm - maybe I might by a gingerbread kit to make with DH's young cousins who we spend Christmas with!

Shana - thank you for the congratulations, I am due at the end of March. My aim for Christmas is to avoid looking like I am expecting triplets! Funnily enough, I have been wanting to try Stollen too and am trying to find a recipe. I would be interested in knowing what one you end up trying!

Katiepea - I would love to here if you try these. They really are good and are slightly different from the normal spices that you use in cooking.

Debora - that looks so good. I love pecans, so will definitely be giving that one a try.

Vani - thank you for contributing a recipe too. Funny that you and Debora mention the same chocolate. I have heard about it, but not seen it in the UK.

Anne - Dukka is very yummy and I think that it makes a fantastic present.

Khris - I would love your recipe for macaroons, if you wanted to share. Marzipan is a flavour of the season for me too. Normally I don't really like it, but at Christmas I love a little taste!

bj1111

Veteran

@anne...do you have a dukkah recipe? fell in love with a version i had in tasmania.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Fi- I just substitute Splenda for sugar, unsweetened coconut for the sweetened, and use coconut flour rather than wheat flour. I just found a recipe online.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Oh my goodness! Christmas bakingat my parents' place used to involve a bewildering array of delicious things! Mom loved to be able to throw together a platter of sweet treats for the guests that were always coming and going. She always has homemade fruitcake and would sometimes throw in gumdrop cake too. Others included thumprint cookies with raspberry jam, shortbread cut into fun Xmas shapes, almond Christmas cookies with red and green cherries (for a seasonal touch), chocolate chip meringues, and a dead simple batch of gooey chocolate/coconut squares from the Eagle brand website.
This year I'm definitely making the jam thumbprints for the family festivities, and I'll probably volunteer to do another one too. Mom hates baking, but I love it.

MsMary

Veteran

My son and I have been making and decorating sugar cookies every Christmas season since he was 3 months old -- this will be our 25th year! I always say that Cookie Day is the best part of the season. We even have Cookie Day hats! LOL

This year I think we are going to branch out into cake balls!
http://www.bakerella.com/its-b.....christmas/
http://www.sporkorfoon.com/spo.....balls.html

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Vani

Veteran

Oh Mary, you are in for a treat and so much fun with those cake balls. I brought them to work once and now they are always expected of me for any and all potlucks. Good luck!

Oh,and if you figure out how to get the candy melts to run thin enough to dip the cake pops without adding vegetable oil, please let me know

taylor

Veteran

My daughter and granddaughter have taken over the baking duties this year! I passed on all the family recipes:)

anne

Veteran

bj - I don't have a recipe yet ( haven't actaully ever made it myself) but my mum makes it so I'll get her recipe!

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Woot Christmas Baking!! Mary I love those Cake Pops they are so cute! I am toying with making a few little things to give away as pressies - limoncello, raw chocolate or date & organge truffles and my favourite one would be Rocky Road slice. Hmm salivating now even though Im eating lunch....

Maya

Veteran

Perhaps unimaginitive, but I soooo love ginger cake and have been craving it for weeks.

Autumn and winter are my favorite eating seasons because all the delicious, aromatic spices come out to play. I take in all I can of spiced drinks, desserts, curries, and hearty vegetable stews.

This year for Thanksgiving we had Mexican hot chocolate after dinner, with churros. It was the best idea in the world.

wilson

Those cardamom cookies sound amazing! I am going to try them this weekend. I adore cooking so baking has kind of taken a back seat. My favorite recipe is for a flourless chocolate torte with a raspberry coulis (I'm not allergic but it is gluten-free for anyone who does have an allergy; I will post the longish recipe if anyone would like it). It is so perfectly rich and creamy that I can only eat a small sliver at a time.

I also like to bake chocolate puddings this time of year that are (again) incredibly rich and creamy. They are kind of like individual lava cakes. These are good for dinner parties because you can assemble them a day or two in advance then bake (only 10 mins) and serve warm while guests visit after dinner.

Chocolate Puddings

4.5 oz dark chocolate (125g)
4.5 oz butter (roughly 1 stick and 1/4 of another stick of butter; 125g)
3 large eggs at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs sugar (150g)
2 and a half Tbs flour (35g)
6 ramekin dishes

Preheat an oven to 400 degrees

Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Whisk every now and then until melted

In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar and flour just until blended

Gradually whisk in the melted chocolate and butter. Set aside for 5 or 10 minutes.

Grease and flour the ramekins. Tap to get rid of excess flour. Pour mixture into the ramekins, dividing equally.

Bake for 10 minutes (just until the tops rise and crack slightly)

Pour loads of heavy cream (double cream) over the tops of each pudding and serve warm.

They will keep in the fridge for a few days but allow to come back to room temperature before baking.