Holiday Baking Begins!
It’s no secret that I love to bake.
But I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little scared at the length of my holiday cookie list this year. Just take a gander below.
Last year, I made boatloads of cookies. One evening, we were rushing to a party and Mr. How Sweet was actually ready before me. If you knew us, you’d know this never, ever happens. But I asked him to make a cookie tray and… he made the best cookie tray I’ve ever seen. He piled the cookies up at least 6 inches high and it just looked fabulous and delectable and impressive and amazing. I like having lots of cookies around for the holidays to take to parties and give as gifts. It’s the Mother Lovett in me.
I just need to find a way to manage my time for all of this. Yikes.
Holiday Christmas Cookie List
Peanut Butter Blossoms: this is my all-time favorite holiday cookie.
Cut-out Sugar Cookies: these go like hot cakes in our house. I use tons of sprinkles.
Mother Lovett’s Thumbprints: some of Mother Lovett’s favorites! These were frequently found in the freezer 6 months later.
Red Velvet Cake Balls: just a batch of red velvet cake, combined with cream cheese frosting and dipped in white chocolate.
Soft Gingersnaps: made these for the first time last year, and ended up making FIVE additional batches. DELISH.
Festive Chocolate Covered Oreos
Festive Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods: inspired by Sabrina, these were a hit last year.
Big, Soft Sugar Cookies: can’t wait to make these. I used to OD on Lofthouse sugar cookies.
Mother Lovett’s Butterballs: I don’t love these, but my mom really does. And they remind me of Mother Lovett.
Salty Chocolate Turtle Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars: cookies in bar form!
Mother Lovett’s Orange Cookies: there cake-like cookies are divine and my mom loves them.
Seven Layer Bars: some people call these Congo bars, I think? I don’t measure a thing and make the layers super thick.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Yeah… I have no idea where I will store all these cookies (besides my freezing cold garage) and how I will manage to not blow through the entire list by December 20th. And by “blow through,” I mean eat. All of them. And this doesn’t even include new cookie recipes that I will be sharing with you throughout December.
How will I manage? How will I stay sane? How will I fit into my pants? That is the real question.
But all I really want to know is…
What am I missing? What is your favorite cookie that you just can’t resist? What cookie screams Christmas to you? What is on your list? Are you even as wacky as me and make a list? If you have a recipe, please leave a link!
137 Comments on “Holiday Baking Begins!”
Yummy!!! I was thinking that I’d make boxes of chocolate candy to give to people during the holidays. Pretzel rods, pb truffles, peppermint bark, chocolate covered cherries….the list goes on and on!
That sounds like a great idea!
I’ve been beaten to the punch, but shortbread HAS TO be included. It’s not Christmas without. Of course, like any good critic, I have no tried and true recipes to offer….I’ll just sit here and tell you what you’re doing wrong :)
And gingerbread men could also be added, though I do like your Gingersnaps as an alternative. Anything ginger, really.
Anything with ginger!
Ginger molasses cookies, traditional gingerbread…
I have a whole list I need to get on too! I think last year I made 15 dozen cookies and I have a feeling it might be more this year, but I wish we could do it together. How much fun (and a kitchen disaster) would that be?!?
It would be a blast!
spritz are one of my favorites and they just scream Christmas to me.
My aunt makes these pecan roll cookies that are just so flipping good. I helped her make them one year and the amount of butter in them is enough to make your heart stop, but it is worth every single extra hour at the gym that you’ll need to fit back into your pants after eating the whole batch yourself.
Recipe please!
Love the collection of christmas cookies recipes! I made the peanut butter cookies today. Yum!!
I just bookmarked this page as holiday cookies – I can see a lot of baking in my future.
Great list! I can’t wait to see some new posts!!
Great list! My mom makes these chocolate cookie balls with crushed hazelnuts in them. So good. I love making classic gingerbread too!
Wow what wonderful lists of cookies! Very timely for Christmas baking indeed! Thanks for sharing.
LOVE all these cookies! as soon as thanksgiving passes, i’m always in the mood for christmas music and lots of baking!! and since its a chilly night, i’m def trying out one of your recipes tonight :)
Mmmmm, Coconut Cream Macaroons always complete my list. They are soft and chewy and delish. I’m sure you could make this recipe even better…maybe add some Malibu? White Chocolate Chips? I usually only chocolate drizzle (dunk) half of them with chocolate. You have to try them sometime! It’s like the cookie equivalent to your cupcakes. (But your cupcakes are the best, I want them for my b-day next month!)
sorry, recipe can be found here:
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/coconut-cream-macaroons/A47B9899-5221-451F-BB00-3980616404D8?WT.mc_id=paid_search_200200_636117&WT.srch=1&esrc=11183
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies..my absolute favorite!
Um….all I can say is, YUM!!! I always end up making raspberry oat bars, oatmeal raisin and craisin pistachio biscotti. Cannot WAIT to see your cookie posts!
My mom always made tons of different christmas cookies, so I have done the same. My favorite ones are these cream sandwich ones from a betty crocker cookbook. The cookie part is kind of like a sweet pie crust and the middle is buttercream frosting.
I plan on adding the Oreo Balls to my Christmas cooking this year!
I was looking up options for how to deliver baked goods to friends and found that the Container Store has some great prices and cute tins/boxes.
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/giftWrapWonderland/homemadeGiftIdeas?N=80031
Today I ordered some containers. I found a coupon code on retailmenot.com for 20% off any order and one for FREE shipping. Great deal. They have plain white baker boxes for .99c/each that I think would look really cute with ribbon and a bow.
So Oreo Balls (we call them Oreo Truffles), have adorned our table for a long time, those are a one of our favorite. I have to go with the Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies for one of my favorites, light taste, goes great with hot _____. We also get started this week, I like to make Rum/Boubon Balls (they need time to ferment), I usually add a little Kalula. I always tuck a few on the cookie plates we give. I guess I have a lot of favorites. I need to invest in some of those new AS SEEN ON TV expandable waist buttons things…
I have been invited to 3 cookie exchanges, first one the end of this week. I am bringing a new recipe (Chai Spiced Spiral Cookies/and/I am trying Pink Salted Carmels) ENJOY!
Ooo can’t wait to see all your baked goodies!! :-)
i haven’t made them yet, but i just found a recipe for almond sea salt chocolate chip cookies…mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. i’m hoping they are as good as they sound!
I just stumbled upon your blog. It’s beautiful! I thought I was a Christmas Cookie nut, but you top my ambitions by a mile! I was looking for a recipe to use my candied sweet potatoes from our Thanksgiving table and found yours. I look forward to following your baking adventures. Happy baking and happy holidays! Michelle
You have so many fantastic ideas!! I can’t wait to try the chocolate dipped pretzel rods, chocolate covered Oreos, and red velvet cake balls!! But where are the gingerbread men?!?! I came upon two fantastic recipes last year for molasses cookies and ginger cookies. Just two that I can’t leave out of my holiday baking now!
I make a list too … Christmas isn’t Christmas for me without shortbread, and chocolate mountains (some ppl call them macaroons).
Forget about homework. I’m spending the rest of my day reading through your recipes! This could be very bad… :)
Your list of cookies looks amazing! We usually make 5 or 6 different kinds, and it’s hard to pick a favorite, but the cranberry coconut chews always go really quickly!
The recipe we use is very similar to this one:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000000682575
I might need to try out some new recipes this year, thanks for all the great ideas! :)
OMG!! Cookie overload! Where do you live again?! I’ll be right over ;)
I love peanut butter blossom cookies and oreo truffles. I have no self-control when it comes to those. Or fudge. There was some chocolate mint fudge last night at a family gathering and I couldn’t walk by it without cutting off a hunk. But I ate each bite while walking or standing up so they don’t count, right?!
This is VERY exciting! Can’t wait, I’m making the brie and cranberry quesadillas very soon! I linked you on my blog today :)
A lot of your cookies are on my list, as well as cranberry cheesecakes squares, pecan tassies, and gullettes – one of those recipes handed down for generations! Easy to make, but deadly – I don’t know of ANYONE who can stop at one! We make them with 1 lb. softened butter creamed with 2 lb. brown sugar. Add some vanilla (1-2 t) and 9 eggs. Then gradually add about 2 lbs. flour, about a cup or two at a time until the dough is very stiff. Refrigerate dough overnight, then heat gullette iron and roll dough into balls. Cook dough until golden brown. (Usually this recipe gets made two or three times since the entire family wants them!)
gingerbread cookies with cream cheese swirls!!!! I LOVE cookies, I had cake batter cookies on thanksgiving and they were OUT OF THIS WORLD!
jessica~~~do you have the recipe for the pb blossoms???if so and its already posted~~would ya let me know!!!????thanks
I just returned from a Thanksgiving weekend extravaganza in the mountains, ready to bake Christmas cookies! I was ridiculously excited to find your list as I was in the process of making my own :) Thanks for the additional inspiration!
Fudge Nut Cookies! My childhood favorite. http://zoedawn.wordpress.com/2010/11/25/fudge-nut-cookies/
wooohoooo~~~i have the soft gingersnaps in the oven as i am typing!!!!
Let me know if you like them!
I love Peanut Butter Blossoms too! For a super yummy twist, use a miniature peanut butter cup instead of the chocolate! Delish! :)
We’ve made these for the past few years and love ’em…
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/hazelnut-chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe2/index.html
(and we always make biscotti- tried cranberry pistachio, triple orange- to go with chai tea, and dark chocolate- too!)
My kids will love these!
You’re missing raw cookie dough. Hahah, my brother eats that stuff like its the finished product!
I haven’t sat down to make my list yet, it’s on my to-do list though, haha. I will obviously be making tons of cupcakes (gingerbread, peppermint and maple are three that I definitely plan on doing), and I do have an order for chocolate chip and chocolate peanut butter chip cookies for my friend’s mom so those are also on the list. When I’m not rushing to get to class, I’ll have to go through your list because I’m sure I’ll be making some of your recipes!
Okay, I know I’m a little behind the times with this post, and I’m sure someone has already mentioned this, but my Christmas cookie list is just not complete without some classic snickerdoodles!! And, I may have to add a couple from your list, too! :)
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I am impressed with all the different cookies that you have on your list. I love making lists…and I’ve got one started for baking holiday cookies also. Besides the family favorites, how can we fit in all the new recipes??? Just made Triple Espresso Brownies and thought of you. They are super moist and yummy.
Those sound incredible. Wish I had one right now!
I got so many recipes for my cookie list this year from your site! In fact I did all my truffles this weekend. I did Oreo truffles, Cookie Dough truffles, and the pumpkin balls.
I’m also doing your Cherry Cream Cookies, those delicious pumpkin and butterscotch cookies, some orange cranberry pinwheel cookies, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, and Pioneer Woman’s cookie dough and candy treats: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/01/cookie_dough_and_candy_/
Yum Yum Yum!
Props to you – I could NEVER do my truffles this early. They’d be gone by Dec. 24!
Wow! That is one impressive list. I can’t wait to hear how you made out with it!
Kathy
http://www.kidculture.wordpress.com
Mmm, that list is so tempting! I clicked through to a bunch of older recipes and got ideas for things to make myself. So far I’m already planning on making biscotti to send to my family far away, since I think they’ll travel well.
You’re making all those cookies? I’m impressed. If our apartment kitchen wasn’t s tiny I’d attempt more than 4 kinds…a Christmas cookie must in our house growing up was lemon bars. Love, love, love ’em.
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My own Grandma Marge…you could say she was a little on the Mother Lovett side of things made, well, there’s no name. Basically its peanut butter, and Karo syrup and Special K cereal all mixed together and they come out like a cross between candy and a cookie and it wouldn’t be Christmas without them!
oh my gosh I think I have a recipe for that in Mother Lovett’s recipes!!
Try them! They’re super quick and kind of amazing!