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!)
the results of my 2009 baking
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!)
“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!
Wow they look so delicious, want to see the result for 2011.