Holiday Baking Gone Wild!
I couldn’t help myself. I started some holiday baking today. I made the shortbread cookies dipped in confectioner’s sugar (sometimes they call them Mexican wedding cakes or Christmas cookies). I figured, I could freeze them today and defrost them when it’s time to start sending things out. I’ll give it a shot, anyway. My master plan is to spread out my baking so that it’s actually fun instead of overwhelming.
This year, I’m planning to send out lots of holiday treats to teachers, daycare workers, mail lady, relatives, etc. I’m going for the kind that store well and are crowd-pleasers. Last year, I made Kentucky Bourbon balls for the first time, and let me tell you, it was heart-wrenching to give those away. They were SO GOOD. The basic ingredients were bourbon, finely-chopped pecans, confectioner’s sugar, and sweetened condensed milk. Then you dip them in melted chocolate. To die for. And what’s better is that they taste better as they age. When they’ve been stored about 2 weeks, they’re perfect. Something about the bourbon reacting with the rest of the ingredients–oh, you had to just pry them out of my hands.
I’m also thinking of making the chocolate covered toffee, the kind that resembles peanut brittle and is covered in milk chocolate. Problem is, the first time I made it, the sugar didn’t caramelize (my candy thermometer wasn’t working right). The second time, I burned it. This may or may not work for me this year.
An all-time holiday favorite for my family is Buckeyes. They’re made of crunchy peanut butter, fresh butter, and confectioner’s sugar…then you dip them in melted chocolate.
Do you bake during the holidays? What are your family favorites?
Michelle posted in Writing @ 10:47 pm | Viewed 2089 times
Missie Says:
Fudge, especially the peppermint kind, and all kinds of cookies. I am starting my baking early too.
p.s. I believe you have my snail mail address from before, so if you need a taste tester….I am willing to put myself out there for you. That’s just the kind of friend I am. :whistle:
Taryn Raye Says:
I have the desire to bake/make goodies, but seems I don’t get around to making a lot of them. One year I made spiced pumpkin cookies using real pumpkin (I recall your blog about making the pie from scratch. I cut and cooked the pumpkin for the cookies- I’ve come to the conclusion that getting it in a can is much, much easier).
But some of my regular treats I alternate between are chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, chocolate surprise cookies, homemade apple pie, turtle pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, pineapple surprise dessert, no bake cookies(when I can get them to turn out). I’m sure there’s more, but can’t think of anymore at the moment.
One I’d like to make sometime is the butterscotch haystacks or whatever they’re called- chow mein noodles, peanuts, and butterscotch.
Now I’m getting hungry. :hungry:
Michelle Willingham Says:
Taryn–what’s the turtle pumpkin pie like? Sounds yummy!! And the pineapple surprise? :hungry:
Melissa Mc Says:
I make fudge. That’s the big holiday hit around here. I used to a lot more, cookies, etc, and hope to do more this year since I’ll just be starting a new book, not on deadline.
beth Says:
I’ll volunteer to taste test as well…and did you post the recipe for the bourbon balls? Cause I think I need that.
I’m actually not usually a big Holiday baker but I’m really in the mood for it this year so I’m probably going to break out my cookbooks and do some perusing.
Taryn Raye Says:
Michelle! Tell you what…I have to get my kids off the bus and fix supper at the moment, but once I get that done, I’ll hunt up my recipes for the turtle pumpkin pie and the pineapple surprise and email them to you.
Taryn
Fedora Says:
Yum! I’ve gotten lazy with kids–I used to bake shortbread, chocolate chip, ginger cookies, biscotti, and wedding cookies, but now I’ve fallen into using premade dough… :duh:
How to Party with an Infant Says:
I can’t wait tomake my pumpkin rum mousse!