#47 | holiday baking season

I'm getting ready for Season Two of my own personal Bake Off

It was around this time last year that I got an intense craving for holiday cookies, but I had nothing on my calendar that would indicate an opportunity to eat holiday cookies.

Naturally, I took this as a sign that I should bake some myself. I’ve casually made cookies before but I wouldn’t call myself a baker so I found some recipes online, picked up all the ingredients, and started making the doughs.

This is truly the only photo I have from last year’s endeavor, so there’s definitely room for improvement on the photography this year.

You may not be surprised to learn that it quickly spiraled out of control. What started as a few different cookie recipes eventually became six different cookies plus peppermint bark, gingerbread popcorn, chocolate covered pretzels, rice crispy treats, and a (failed) attempt at toffee.

I spent the month of November making the cookie dough & piling them into my freezer to be baked in December. I ordered cellophane bags, cookie boxes, and festive ribbon to tie it all together to gift to local friends & family and I have to say, I did a pretty decent job for being a total beginner!

I would not necessarily recommend going all in on holiday baking like I did, but it was a good distraction at a time that I needed to be distracted. If that’s you too, here’s what I’m planning to make this year:¹

• White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies — these were a favorite last year & I might even skip the white chocolate because the cookies themselves were great

• Snowball Cookies — easy to make & melt in your mouth buttery

• Peanut Butter Blossoms — I might switch up this recipe but there will definitely be a peanut butter blossom on this year’s menu

• Rice Crispy Treats — I didn’t have any leftovers of these & I was very sad about it! Might need to double the recipe this year

• Gingerbread Popcorn — I’m definitely doubling this recipe this year. It was such a sleeper hit and really easy to make (double the amount of sauce!)

• Iced Oatmeal Cookies — these are a new addition this year but the warm spice of the oatmeal cookie feels festive

• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies — had to round things out with something chocolate! I’ll consider adding peppermint extract to this; I made Peppermint Blossoms last year & didn’t love the recipe but I did love the flavors!

• Lace Cookies — these are a maybe, but I’m so tempted to make little sandwiches out of them with melted chocolate in the middle!

I’m excited to get started this year, now that I feel more confident in my abilities & know what I’m doing. I also got a KitchenAid stand mixer for Christmas so that’s going to save my wrists!

Please let me know if you have any favorite cookie recipes that I should try!

1. I reserve my right to do less 😝