CHRISTMAS BAKING

Hi Rachel,

You're not alone! I have been thinking about Halloween treats, an awesome Thanksgiving cake, and my annual Christmas cookie swap already

The most popular Christmas item around this house is FUDGE. yum.
Also, peppermint pinwheels and of course gingerbread men / people.

I think the biz card on the homemade Halloween treats is a great idea, can I use it, LOL.

Have fun!

I thought I was the only one thinking that far ahead!! I found some neat cooke cutter from www.sweetc.com in the sape of mittens/sweater/hats. Also I collect cookie tins with winter pictures on them and would love to see if I could make a couple of them into cakes.

I like to make "Buckeye Balls" they're very delicious!! Made with chocolate and peanut butter and parafin wax. If you need the recipe just PM me.

Lazy_Susan

Oh, Buckeyes are my absolute favorite....... love those things.........

Here is a thread from last year with lots of recipes:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-11675-favorite.html+favourite+cookie+recipe

Cindy

For Christmas, yep, fudge is number one for me, with oatmeal cookies, and I add those little dried cranberries to those, oh yum..... can't forget the old standby chocolate chip! And I love pumpkin cookies for all holidays...........

I thought i was the only one who was thinking about the holiday baking.

Cindy6250 THank you for that link! WOW

Candy Cane fudge is so yummy!

The biggest hit I made last year was the christmas mice - no baking required and they were a HUGE hit.
Christmas Mice Picture

I love Christmas baking!

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/49732/Christmascookies2.JPG

These are some of my goodies.

I make homemade turtles, fudge, buckeyes, truffles, chocolate suckers,
then so many cookies I can barely remember them all...candy cane cookies, thin mints, Reese Cup surprises, three colored cookies, Mexican Wedding Balls, Spritz, too many others to think of this time of year!

Here is a good, easy, no fail recipe for peppermint fudge. When I make it I actually replace the 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate with another cup of milk chocolate. HTH, Kristen

2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
Dash salt
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
3/4 cup crushed hard peppermint candy


DIRECTIONS:
In saucepan, over low heat, melt chips with EAGLE BRAND® and salt. Remove from heat; stir in extract. Spread evenly into waxed paper-lined 8-or 9-inch square pan. Sprinkle with peppermint candy.
Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off waxed paper and cut into squares. Store covered in refrigerator.

I make peanut butter fudge, chcoalte fudge, white choc. cranberry cookies, sugar cookies, brownies, choc. crinkles, mexican wedding cookies (I put red and green glitter in powder sugar), peanut butter cookies, mini cakes (baked in foil pans and decorated), mini chocolate and pecan tassis.. I usally start right after halloween. I have time before that I will get ahead start.


White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon brandy
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped dried cranberries*



Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and brandy. Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into the sugar mixture. Mix in the white chocolate chips and cranberries. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. For best results, take them out while they are still doughy. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.


*** Dried cranberries soak in hot water for 10 minutes and then chop.


Makes 24 servings

*************************

Chocolate Crinkles
Source: Better Homes and Gardens


4 eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sifted powdered sugar



Directions
1)  In a mixing bowl beat eggs, granulated sugar, chocolate, oil, baking powder, vanilla and salt with an electric mixer until combined.

2)  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. If necessary, use a wooden spoon, to stir in remaining flour until combined. (Dough will be soft.) Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours or till dough is easy to handle.

3)  Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in powdered sugar to coat generously. Place balls 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake in a 350 degree F oven 10 minutes or until edges are set and tops are crackled (do not overbake). Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool.


Makes 72 cookies.


Prep: 25 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Bake: 10 minutes per batch

haha...I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking about holiday baking!

Rachel,
I LOVE the idea of doing a witches' lair in the car port! This will be our family's first Halloween in our new house too. I just told my husband your idea and he really likes it too.

For Christmas I love making chocolate-dipped pretzels, turtle pretzels, elfin bites (little squares of shortbread with sprinkles), snowballs, chocolate crinkles...I can't remember them all! I can't wait to start baking!

Leslie

You guys are giving me the itch!

Leana - How do you store all your baking if you start after Halloween? Do you freeze? I'm just curious. I might do the same as it frees up time closer to Christmas when it gets absolutely crazy.