Five years running and right after Thanksgiving, it’s time to talk holiday baking!
This year feels different for me because I have a bun in the oven. I wasn’t sure how much I’d be able to bake, when I’d have the energy, or how much time I could carve out—honestly, I still don’t know. I expected to be too tired or uninterested in holiday baking, but the opposite has been true. I’m excited to bake, which is huge coming from someone who doesn’t always consider herself a baker. There’s the nostalgia of Mother Lovett recipes, of course, but there’s also a relief in making familiar recipes without the pressure of testing, styling, and photographing each one repeatedly. It’s wonderfully freeing.
I’m still a little worried about timing—most of my cookie making and holiday food gifts get made in mid- to late-December. I rarely freeze anything, and this year that probably won’t be possible. Still, I plan to go full force with holiday cookies while I can. We love to bring enormous, over-the-top cookie trays to gatherings throughout the season.
Here’s my (ambitious while ten months pregnant) baking list. Tell me what you’re making in the comments!
Homemade peppermint pattie cookies — favorite, favorite, favorite.
And while we’re at it: homemade peppermint pattie brownies. These are so, so good.
Homemade baklava — made in one pan and fairly simple, and I’ve been craving it.
Cake batter chocolate bark — too fun to pass up.
Classic peanut butter blossoms — I can’t stop with these. I didn’t love the kiss as a kid, but this was my favorite cookie growing up.
Chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies — one of the only ways I enjoy oatmeal.
Chocolate fudge pistachio thumbprints — my pistachio obsession is real.
Sparkling white chocolate lemon truffles — unique and gorgeous.
Soft snickerdoodles — no words needed.
Soft gingersnaps — I’ve made this recipe for five years running; it’s to die for. No one in my family likes traditional gingerbread, but these are perfection.
Giant rainbow cookies — adaptable and delicious.
Double chocolate cheesecake cookies — yes, cookies and cheesecake.
Holiday thumbprints — complete with Mother Lovett’s pink and green food coloring. A total throwback and a tradition. They aren’t my favorite, but my mom and aunt adore them; I’ll have one to honor ML.
Crazy confetti compost cookies — gloriously trashed up and oh-so-good.
Chocolate fudge s’mores thumbprints — I’m all over the s’mores vibe.
Mother Lovett’s orange cookies — another nostalgic tradition that I love.
Mocha coconut fudge — I make this version because Mother Lovett’s fudge was legendary. This flavor is my favorite.
Oreo truffles — an old-school throwback and always a huge hit.
In recent years my cousin and I have also made a few homemade gifts: candy cane vodka, homemade amaretto (always a huge hit), candied citrus peels, and last year I made my own cocktail bitters. I’m thinking at least two of those—especially the amaretto—will make the cut this year.
Spill it—what’s on your list?