Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Start Here
    • Relishments Around the Web
  • Flexitarianism
    • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Reviews
  • The Berkshires
    • Boothbay, Midcoast Maine and More
    • Adventures in Other Places
  • Technology
    • My Favorite Technology Tools
  • Contact
    • Sponsor

Highlights: Christmas Cookies

Published on December 11, 2011 By Emily. Updated on December 11, 2011

Another sign that Christmas is on the horizon?  I’ve got cookies on the brain.  It just occurred to me that I don’t have any cookie swaps on my calendar this year and I had such a good time at the 2 I attended last year that I think I’m going to host one in January (let me know if you want in!)

IMG_2133

the results of my 2009 baking
 
IMG_3501
 
the results of the 2010 cookie swap #1
 
I’m planning on keeping my baking fairly low key this year, but I can’t go to school empty handed on the day before break.  It’s just not in my nature.  I think I’ve settled on what I’m going to do, but I might change my mind, given all of the posts I’ve seen lately:
 
Food In Jars has a recipe for thumbprint cookies that are a great way to use homemade jam.  You know, that homemade jam that I never got around to canning this summer?  I’ll add that to the file for next year.
 
What kind of holiday cookie are you?  Take the Washington Post’s quiz to find out.  I’m apparently a no-bake cookie, which surprised me, but I guess I am pretty busy.
 
Peanut butter buttercream sandwich cookies don’t scream Christmas to me, but they still look awfully tasty.  I really don’t know where Evan comes up with these genius ideas.  Also, a good reminder that my frosting making experience is almost non-existent.
 
Speaking of geniuses, Liz kicked off her 17 Days of Cookies at the beginning of this month and they all use the same base sugar cookie dough.  My favorite recipes so far are Nutella Cookies with Sea Salt Sprinkles and Caramel Toasted Coconut Stars, but I’m excited to see what else she comes up with.
 
If you like a little spice with your sweet, I’d take a look at The Kitchn’s collection of 10 spice cookie recipes. 
 
Julie mixed some of the best flavors of the season and posted Eggnog Sugar Cookies.  Um, yes please (and only 6 ingredients!)
 
It needs to be known that I have a (possibly unhealthy) obsession with all things shortbread.  These hazelnut and olive oil shortbread cookies on The Kitchn sounded fabulous until I saw the photo.  Then they looked and sounded phenomenal.  Also being added to my “to make” list? Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies… or Banana Chocolate Chip Sandwiches from Home Cooking in Montana.
 
On Smitten Kitchen, there are some mighty tempting looking Nutmeg Maple Butter Cookies, made even more adorable by the use of leaf and acorn shaped cookie cutters.  I bet they taste like fall.
 
Too busy to bake? Trust me, I feel you on that one.  There are some yummy ideas on Chow’s “Crazy Easy Christmas Cookies” list, so don’t despair!
 
I generally don’t believe in sugar substitutes (except maybe honey or agave, but never Splenda or Equal and anything with stevia in it tastes gross to me), but one Chow writer did some experiments to see how sugar substitutes affected her snickerdoodles.  In the end, it seems that she doesn’t believe in them either.
 
I had good intentions, as usual, to start my baking early this year.  Good thing there’s still time to do so and put these tips for freezing cookies into practice, from Life Your Way.
 
Apparently there exists a thing called Speculoos Cookie Butter.  And, according to Halley on Blunder Construction, it is amazing.  It doesn’t really seem like my kind of thing, but if I ever make it to Trader Joe’s again maybe I’ll try it.
 
Lastly, Bit Rebels shared this excellent mug with a cookie pocket.  I love that idea!
 
(if that wasn’t enough links, check out last year’s Christmas cookie highlights!)

Related Posts

October’s King Arthur Flour #Bakealong: Ruge...
Happy Easter!
Relishments Bakes Results: Apple Turnovers
It’s Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas
Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Filed Under: links Tagged With: baking, dessert, holiday

« It’s Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas
Before and After »

Comments

  1. Halley (Blunder Construction) says

    December 12, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    “It’s just not in my nature.” I love your attitude! This holiday just wouldn’t be the same for me if I wasn’t baking something, but I’ll be ready for a break from the oven very soon. Thanks for the shout out, by the way. I am already halfway through the cookie butter jar. Try it with sliced apples, if you can!

  2. Linda says

    December 23, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Wow they look so delicious, want to see the result for 2011.

Trackbacks

  1. » Highlights: Christmas Trivia » Relishments says:
    December 18, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    […] attempt to not add anything else to your to do lists.  I got some feedback last week that my cookie highlights simply added to the number of cookies people felt compelled to make and I don’t want to be […]

Welcome!

Welcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in flexitarian eating and cooking in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshires
Recipe Index
CSA Menu Plan
First Time?
 

Support Relishments on Patreon

Just so you know…

I’m just a girl who loves to cook and eat. This site is not a source for nutritional information.

Relishments is affiliated with various sponsors. Some product links on this site are affiliates; I may get portion of the sale. All opinions on this site are honest, regardless of revenue opportunities. Find out more about my policies here

Relishments is affiliated with…

View my food journey on Zomato!

  
Ahalogy Badge

relishments

Emily
It was a cold and cloudy morning, but we made it t It was a cold and cloudy morning, but we made it to our second annual strawberry picking at @mountainviewfarm413, which included E's first tractor ride (she was very excited). We picked about 9 pounds of strawberries and I'm looking forward to eating them! 🍓
.
.
.
#igers413_food #strawberries #LocallyGrowjln #PickYourOwn #LanesboroughMA
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires

#NorthAdams #NAmazing
Scenes from this morning in Adams, featuring @shir Scenes from this morning in Adams, featuring @shiredonuts, Poseidon Coffee, the Ashwillticook Rail Trail, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams Free Library and beautiful flowers.
.
.
.
#AdamsMA #igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires
I don't have clear words to express my feelings ab I don't have clear words to express my feelings about the state of the world lately. As a teacher and a mother, it has been extra difficult this week to be fully present in my roles without thinking about innocent lives that should have had longer on Earth. How what has happened in each of the many mass shootings this year can happen anywhere. If you are feeling sad and frustrated too, you are not alone.

I don't have answers, but I'm trying to take care of myself and my biological and school families. I'm saying "I love you" a lot to my children and my students. I'm closely following and sharing the work of @everytown while contacting my state and federal representatives and the president. I'm going for walks and getting fresh air and trying not to overload on news. I'm sharing good resources in my stories as I see them.
UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @aloh UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @alohr3!

 @thelazygenius' second book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen, is finally here and I'm so excited! I don't purchase many books, but I pre-ordered this last July because I knew it would be right up my alley and then I pre-ordered a second copy because I knew that I'd want to give one away.

Author Kendra Adachi has been one of my favorite voices in recent years. Her principles (shared through her first book, The Lazy Genius Podcast and her Instagram) have helped me focus my priorities and give myself more grace. 

This book is NOT a cookbook (it has just 2 recipes), it is a kitchen guide - to help you "have what you need, use what you have, and enjoy it like never before". It is beautiful (full color!) and thoughtful.

I'm very excited to send this book to one of you.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below with one of your greatest kitchen struggles. 
I'll draw a winner at 8 pm on Friday, May 6.
This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or The Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi.
.
.
.
#LazyGenius #KendraAdachi #NameWhatMatters #TheLazyGeniusKitchen #TheLazyGeniusWay #BookGiveaway
This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berk This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berkshire Teacher and Social Worker Appreciation Day free admission. After enjoying the student Art Invitational exhibit, the 4 of us took in several of the other galleries. Mass MoCA always impresses and it was delightful to be able to be out in the world with my kids.
.
.
.
#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #MassMoCA #ArtMuseum
Today I finally found my way into @plantconnector, Today I finally found my way into @plantconnector, in its new location on Main Street in North Adams. The shop is incredible - the displays are great and the plants are delightful. There's a refill station with bottles and jars for soaps, detergents and other products, a terrarium bar, and an abundance of sustainable and beautiful products. I'm now in the process of pondering who I can purchase Plant Connector gifts for in the coming months.
.
.
.
#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #ShopLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #PlantConnector
This is your periodic reminder that @berkshiremuse This is your periodic reminder that @berkshiremuseum is a great visit for all ages. The current Voyage to the Deep exhibit, which involves an interactive Nautilus submarine that my 5 year old spent literally hours in.  We also thoroughly enjoyed the Aquarium and Berkshire Backyard. Highly recommended - we'll be back soon!
.
.
.
#igers413 #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #BerkshireMuseum #PittsfieldMA
My January and early February menu plans for my @m My January and early February menu plans for my @mightyfoodfarm vegetables are finally up on the blog. See how we're making use of these beautiful items, as well as the items from the other pick up we made in the past month. 
Link in profile.
.
.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
One of my favorite things to do is bake from scrat One of my favorite things to do is bake from scratch.
But, in the interest of full transparency, this pie was made with Pillsbury pie crusts and a $5 bag of Walmart Granny Smiths. I used the recipe on the pie crust box.
I am very excited to eat it.
.
.
.
#RelishmentsBakes #BakingFromScratch #baking #igers413_food #semihomemade #pie #ApplePie
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in