Holiday cookies and breads

In article <[email hidden]>,

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

Gingerbread cookies
Cranberry bars
Lemon bread
this year we're adding cranberry pistachio biscotti to the mix.

marcella

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

I always make gingered banana bread and cinnamon-nutmeg chocolate chip
cookies. I usually make small rolled sugar cookies in xmas shapes and
gingerbread men too.

--

saerah

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

Quoted message said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

peanut brittle!

One time on Usenet said:

Quoted message said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

peanut brittle!

Oh! Thanks for the reminder, I need to make some peanut brittle for my
father this Christmas...

--
Jani in WA (S'mee)
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

If it's for presents, what does the BF care how cakey or not it is?
LOL.

Usually I make Almond Toffee Crunch, old-fashion fudge, pecan tassies,
chocolate mint sandwich cookies, dream bars and maybe a raspberry
chocolate cookie bar. However, nobody's going to be around at
Christmas so I might just skip the whole baking thing. ;-) God knows,
I don't need any of it.

N.

Quoted message said:

what do you all bake for the holidays? I've gotten rave reviews for these
the past 2 Christmases.

Cranberry Noel Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2- 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
3/4 cup dried cranberries, finely chopped
1/2 cup pecans, toasted
1- 1/2 cup coconut, finely chopped

1 In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat
the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2
minutes. Add milk, vanilla, and salt. Beat until just combined. Gradually
add flour, cranberries, and pecans. Mix on low speed until fully combined.
2 Divide dough in half. Shape each half into 8-inch logs, about 2 inches in
diameter. Roll logs in coconut, pressing lightly to coat the outside of the
logs. Wrap logs in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
3 Heat oven to 375°. Using a sharp knife, cut logs into 1/4-inch thick
slices. Transfer to ungreased baking sheets, about 1 1/2-inches apart. Bake
until edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a rack to
cool. Store up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
4 Lynne's note: I toasted pecans at 350 degrees in the toaster oven for
about 10 minutes. Cranberries needed to be whirled in food processor they
were hard to chop finely. On the other hand the food processor was too rough
on the pecans and they did better with the Pampered Chef Food Chopper.
Cookies do spread a little and they do turn brown, but they are tasty either
way.

Servings: 60
Yield: 5 dozen

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

Sadly, I just never was any good with the baking, so i rely on the kindness of
others to supply me with my holiday baked goods.

--
..:Heather:.
www.velvet-c.com

King's Crown said:

Quoted message said:

what do you all bake for the holidays? I've gotten rave reviews for these
the past 2 Christmases.

Cranberry Noel Cookies

recipe (snip)

Those cookies sound lovely, I think I will make a batch to take out to
friends for dinner this Sat. nite. Thanks so much, I even have the
cranberries in my cupboard. And pecans for that matter....
I usually make my favourite Scottish shortbread. I'll post the recipe
later.

Cheers
Bronnie
Oz

I make the following for the holidays: fruitcake (I know, but my
husband loves them); springerle; lebkuchen; chocolate pecan fudge;
chocolate/coconut balls; Chocolate Amaretto truffles; pain de chocolat;
stollen; pizzelles; waffle cookies; speculatius; kolacki. Carol

Our life may not always be the party we would have chosen, but while we
are here, we may as well dance!

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

I always make shortbread and peanut butter cookies. I'll do that again
this year too but I bought a cookie press today so want to include make
spritz cookies. I also make bread and pies but making bread is a rather
a normal couple times or more event here so I don't really consider it
part of my holiday baking.

tert in seattle said:

Quoted message said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

peanut brittle!

Oh I make that as well, and fudge, and crystral cut candies, and a
popcorn ball tree. I didn't include those in my reply as none of these
things are baked.

mexican wedding cakes
macaroons & chocolate macaroons
date-coconut yule logs
cranberry butter cookies
cream cheese spritz cookies
chclate covered pretzels and oreos
peanut butter fudge

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

Biscotti, either Fruitacke or Fruitcake Cookies, Fudge (not every year),
and assorted pies. I might try some Cheese Straws this year too.

Here's a festive cookie to use up those cranberries you mentioned:

Cranberry Cookies
(from Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library, 1971)

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp orange juice
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped nuts
2 1/2 cups coarsely chopped frozen cranberries

Heat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugars, stir in remaining
ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart on greased
cookie sheets and bake 10 to 15 minutes.

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

Mainstays of Christmas-time baking here are almond-coconut macaroons,
biscotti, gingerbread men, Mexican wedding cakes, soft molassas
cookies, spritz, and sugar cookies.

For candies I have to make at batch of divinity fudge for Dad, my mom
won't make it because it has "raw" egg whites in it. I also make rum
balls, ganache truffles, buck-eyes, needhams, and maple fudge.

Jessica

When I first read the recipe it sounded like an odd combination on
ingredients (dried cranberries, pecans and coconut), but like you I had all
the ingredients and gave them a try. They were SO good and look really
pretty for a cookie swap I made them for.

Lynne

"Bronwyn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

King's Crown said:

Quoted message said:

what do you all bake for the holidays? I've gotten rave reviews for
these
the past 2 Christmases.

Cranberry Noel Cookies

recipe (snip)

Those cookies sound lovely, I think I will make a batch to take out to
friends for dinner this Sat. nite. Thanks so much, I even have the
cranberries in my cupboard. And pecans for that matter....
I usually make my favourite Scottish shortbread. I'll post the recipe
later.

Cheers
Bronnie
Oz

ooooh popcorn ball tree. That sounds yummy and fun for kids to eat. Do you
go horizontal or vertical with the tree. I see popcorn balls stacked
skyward.

Lynne

"~patches~" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

tert in seattle said:

Quoted message said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

peanut brittle!

Oh I make that as well, and fudge, and crystral cut candies, and a popcorn
ball tree. I didn't include those in my reply as none of these things are
baked.

On 30 Nov 2005 12:23:33 -0800, "Marge" <[email hidden]>
rummaged among random neurons and opined:

Quoted message said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

krumkakke
sugar cookies
almond tile cookies
spritz cookies
gooey balls

I also make hard candy, put them in pretty glass containers and give
those to the neighbors, my banker, dry cleaner, hair dresser, etc.

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
AAC(F)BV66.0748.CA

"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret had been as
old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had been as full as the
waitress's, it would have been a very good dinner."

-- Duncan Hines

To reply, replace "spaminator" with "cox"

King's Crown said:

ooooh popcorn ball tree. That sounds yummy and fun for kids to eat. Do you
go horizontal or vertical with the tree. I see popcorn balls stacked
skyward.

Yes, the tree is vertical. I got the idea from Better Homes & Gardens
Cookies and Candies (1966) when my kids were little and my first attempt
at making a gingerbread house was a disaster. The book was actually my
dMIL's and I really cherish it since she passed away. It has become a
family tradition for us to have a popcorn ball tree at Christmas time 🙂
Half of the popcorn balls are tinted pink and the other half are left
white according to their design but in recent years I just leave them
all white. I start at the bottom to form a base then work upwards until
there are 4 popcorn balls. Then I insert 3 candy canes tied with a bow
in the centre of the 4 top balls. I use Christmas greenry around the
base.

Quoted message said:

Lynne

"~patches~" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

tert in seattle said:

[email hidden] writes:

>I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
>thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
>with oatmeal and raspberry jam.
>
>I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
>cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?
>
>what do you all bake for the holidays?

peanut brittle!

Oh I make that as well, and fudge, and crystral cut candies, and a popcorn
ball tree. I didn't include those in my reply as none of these things are
baked.

Marge said:

I bake for presents each year. I've already made brownies. I'm
thinking chocolate chips, Mexican wedding cakes, biscotti, a bar cookie
with oatmeal and raspberry jam.

I had the idea for a cranberry bread, but bf says he thinks it's too
cakey, so maybe pumpkin bread?

what do you all bake for the holidays?

1. butterscotch/semi sweet chip cookies (with pumpkin spice and vanilla
nut flavoring..yum)
2. Chocolate Mint Brownies
3. Plum pudding
4. Italian Rum Cake, with slivered almonds
5. double fudge bundt cake with rum custard filling
6. Cranberry Apple breads/muffins

I'm addicted to baking for the holidays and generally start around
November 1... with TONS of sugar cookies, with many many many flavors
and shapes.

CJ