Ahhh — how are we already at one of my favorite posts of the year? I can’t believe it’s that time again.
I’m already deep into holiday baking mode. Max is so excited to help with cookies, and I love having him in the kitchen even if everything takes many times longer than when I work alone.
Here’s my usual approach for getting a huge batch of treats ready for friends and family: make several doughs on one day and refrigerate them, then bake over the next couple of days whenever I have a free moment. It saves time and keeps things manageable when a little helper is around.
Last year my cousin Lacy and I made our first Buche de Noel and absolutely loved it, so we’re planning to make it again. When we team up for a baking day we also make candied citrus peels, homemade amaretto and some kind of boozy pretzel or another seasonal treat. It’s a fun, full day of baking and sharing.
Aside from that special day, these are the cookies and treats I plan to make for the huge cookie trays we love to gift at Christmas:
Salted dark chocolate chunk cookies — because we can never get enough of a classic chocolate cookie with a little salt on top.
Peanut butter blossoms — my all-time favorite cookie. They’re nostalgic and always disappear fast.
Perfect cut-out sugar cookies — a foolproof, simple recipe I rely on for decorating and gifting.
Soft snickerdoodles and chewy chai snickerdoodles — both are cozy and beloved additions to any holiday platter.
Soft gingersnaps — I often double or triple this recipe because they’re a crowd favorite and store well.
Old-school Oreo balls, chocolate coconut truffles and buckeyes — bite-sized and indulgent, great for a variety platter.
Mother Lovett’s pink and green thumbprints — a holiday classic I can’t imagine skipping.
Mother Lovett’s orange cookies — another family favorite that always gets rave reviews.
Bourbon-soaked cherry oatmeal chocolate chip cookies — rich, slightly boozy and wonderfully chewy.
Peppermint pattie brownies — minty, fudgy, and festive; a great way to mix up the cookie tray with a bar dessert.
Pretzel peanut butter-stuffed chocolate bark — salty-sweet, crunchy and perfect for gifting in small portions.
Double dark chocolate peanut butter cup cookies — intense chocolate and peanut butter, seriously decadent and highly recommended.
That’s my tentative list so far — a mix of classics, family favorites and a few more indulgent options. I’d love to hear what’s on your baking list this year and any new recipes you think I should try.