Now it really is the most wonderful time of the year — my 2018 holiday baking list is here!
Last Christmas I ended up sick right on the holiday — some kind of stomach bug that kept our whole family from attending the usual Christmas Eve and Day festivities. Emilia was only a month old, so we played it safe and kept everyone home. I was heartbroken to miss all of the traditions that make the season so special, and I wrote a note on my phone labeled “CHRISTMAS 2018!” with the things I didn’t want to miss this year.
The most important reminder on that list? In the middle of being miserable I typed: “DO NOT MAKE SO MANY COOKIES.”
Despite that note, I baked a lot last year. Emilia was in that sleepy newborn phase and Max loved helping in the kitchen, so we made big trays of cookies for friends and family. Then we stayed home on the 24th and 25th — the days when most cookies get eaten — and suddenly we had mountains of leftovers. I ended up bringing the surplus to my mom, who slowly enjoyed them for months.
My baking list is long again this year, but this time I may make just one batch of each cookie so we still get variety without being buried in sweets. I have several tried-and-true recipes coming in the next few weeks, favorites we’ve loved for years that will be perfect for cookie trays.
Pro tip: when assembling large trays, I often buy a few small store-bought cookies to tuck into crevices — they’re cute and help fill out the tray nicely.
I also put together a super fun holiday baking playlist to listen to while you bake or wrap gifts.
One of our holiday traditions for the past two years has been making a Buche de Noel with my friend Lacy. We love it and plan to do it again, usually alongside candied citrus peels and homemade amaretto. We also make whiskey or bourbon-flavored pretzels and other small treats to round out our boxes and trays.
I often prepare several doughs in one day and chill them, then bake over the next couple of days — it saves time and keeps holiday baking manageable.
My 2018 Holiday Baking List
Here’s what I’m baking this season — a mix of classic favorites and a few new spins. They’re dependable, delicious, and perfect for sharing.
– Salted dark chocolate chunk cookies — rich, chewy, and undeniably delicious.
– Peanut butter blossoms — my all-time favorite; I always go back to these.
– Perfect cut-out sugar cookies — a foolproof, simple recipe that holds its shape and tastes great.
– Soft snickerdoodles and chewy chai snickerdoodles — I can’t choose between the two.
– Soft gingersnaps — sometimes I multiply this recipe to make a big batch because we love them so much.
– Old-school Oreo balls, chocolate coconut truffles, and buckeyes — classic holiday truffles and candies are always crowd-pleasers.
– Mother Lovett’s pink and green thumbprints — a must-have for my mom and aunt every year.
– Mother Lovett’s orange cookies — another long-time family favorite that’s always popular.
– Peppermint pattie brownies — a festive, chocolatey option for your tray.
– Peanut butter–stuffed chocolate pretzel bark — salty, sweet, and perfect for gifting.
I’ll also include peppermint bark, chocolate-covered Oreos (a quick win), and store-bought white-fudge Oreos drizzled with dark chocolate and sprinkles as an easy, attractive addition.
Other cookies on my list include:
- Lemon crinkle cookies — a bright, zesty addition I tried last year and loved.
- Salted pistachio chocolate shortbread — inspired by a famous shortbread idea, with my own spin.
- Cashew butter buckeyes — an incredible variation that could rival the classic peanut butter version.
- Chocolate crinkle sprinkle cookies — always a hit when we serve them.
- Autumn monster cookies — chunky, chewy, and full of mix-ins.
- Peanut butter fudge — I usually try a different recipe each year, even though we have a family standby.
What’s on your holiday baking list this year? I’d love to hear your favorites and any must-make recipes you can’t live without during the season.