Here is some really special advice for your Holiday Baking from Elizabeth. I hope you enjoy and if it inspires you to bake a bunch of cookies this Holiday, check out our FREE Party Plan. It’s a bluprint with everything you need to know on how to host a Cookie Exchange Party. You can view it here> Holiday Cookie Exchange Party Plan
Cheers to Elizabeth’s Mom the inspiration for her post – I love her too!
Post by Elizabeth:
Some of my sweetest childhood holiday memories surround cookies! My mom is the Queen of baking holiday cookies. As children, my brother and I eagerly awaited the month of December knowing it would bring the first appearance of cookie tins on the kitchen counter. Once that day came, they just seemed to multiply before our very eyes until the counter was lined with tins filled with COOKIES!
The highlight of every afternoon and evening was deliberating over the contents of the various tins and prudently making a cookie selection. The anticipation was almost as delectable as the treats. What to pick…sugared, sprinkled, chocolate coated, jelly filled, powder coated, frosted, rolled, pressed, cut out, spiraled, checkerboard, striped, crunchy, soft, melt in your mouth. If it’s possible to taste a childhood memory, I certainly can – it warms my heart, too!
I’ve continued this tradition with my children, hoping it will become a “sweet” memory. As my mom always did, I add a special ingredient, love. So it’s crucial that my holiday baking be greeted with pleasure and joy. To stay in my happy “cookie” place, I rely on a few basics.
1. Stock Cookie Ingredient Basics – butter, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, confectionary sugar, vanilla extract, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, eggs, chocolate chips, unsweetened baking chocolate. Anytime the mood strikes or time permits, I can whip up a batch or two – no shopping required!
2. Maintain Basic Baking Tools – mixer, cookie sheets, cooling racks, spatulas, timer, dry and liquid measuring cups and spoons and, of course, working oven).
3. Organize Cookie Decorating Materials – cookie cutters, regular and neon food coloring, sprinkles, jimmies and other fun cookie decorating items are stored in one container for easy and quick access. Once the family is gathered for our annual making and decorating of the sugar cookies, I have all the “fun stuff” right at our fingertips – no hunting, searching, digging (believe me your helpers can lose interest real quick if you don’t move things along). This is the sugar cookie recipe we’ve used for years,
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/sugar-cookies/90993177-b5fe-4cc7-a6b6-8f58913d36e8.
4. Inventory ingredients and tools for non-basic cookie recipes – purchase those needed.
5. Take Cookie Requests – ask family members to for requests so no one can say, “how come you didn’t make my favorite cookie?” They may change from year to year, so don’t make assumptions.
6. No last minute baking. Rushed baking can turn out badly. Set aside time specifically for baking; avoid squeezing it into a hectic day.
If you don’t consider yourself a baker, here are a few key tips:
- Be Precise. Start with a good recipe and follow it exactly – it’s important to use the correct measuring cups and spoons.
- Be Attentive. Use an oven thermometer to make sure your oven is heating accurately, use a timer and don’t get distracted in another room. Burnt cookies do not lead to joyfulness.
- Store Properly. Allow cookies to cool thoroughly before storing in airtight containers.
- Practice Makes Perfect. The more you bake, the easier it becomes.
- Pass on Tradition. Tap an experienced family member to share their skill and traditions. Baking is a great way to share and carry on family traditions.
- The Ultimate Comfort Food. Homemade cookies are a special gift, share them with someone you love.
When I got married, my mom passed onto my household her “Betty Crocker’s Cookie Book”. It contains my tried and true recipes for holiday baking (pictured above, see below for names). You can find all the recipes at www.bettycrocker.com.
Special thanks to my mom for her gift of patience, time and love not only during the Christmas Season, but every day. Happy Holiday Baking!
Pictured: Bettycrocker.com (From top to bottom, L to R) Chocolate Crinkles, Holiday Snickerdoodles*, Holiday Thumbprints, Easy Holiday Cutouts, Gingerbread*, Russian Tea Cakes, Soft Molasses, The Ultimate Spritz, Peanut Butter Chocolate . *Recipes are doubled for cookie exchange quantities
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If you want to stay away from refined sugar this holiday but still eat all your fav holiday recipes, take a look at this http://www.RoseCole.com/HolidayCookbook . There is also a cool video at the bottom showing Rose Cole making one of her famous dishes. Enjoy!
Thank you to my most precious daughter for her wonderful, caring and giving of herself in all that she does. It is in being with family that we are most blessed and I am truely blessed.
That is really very good article. I am glad to know. Thanks!