It’s just a few weeks until Christmas and I’m starting to look through my old recipe book and recipe cards for those special holiday recipes. I’m sure you have them too! There’s my mom’s molasses cookies, Fresh Cranberry Fudge, and a friend’s chocolate chip cookie recipe I only make at Christmas. We make homemade cocoa mix for our hot cocoa station and buy the ingredients for peppermint bark. Soon I’ll make my favorite Chex mix and chocolate covered pecans for my dad. He and my mother-in-law get a few batches of homemade biscotti too.
Some of those recipes are already on the blog along with some things I make for gifts, like my Maple Granola and custom spice blends. A loaf of Cranberry Pecan Sourdough Bread would be a great gift as well. A few of our favorite Christmas treats aren’t posted yet so you’ll have to wait for those! There’s also a link to my post about making cookies ahead to save you some stress and make the Christmas celebrations easier to enjoy.
Cookie Recipes
Here are a few of my favorite cookie recipes I’ve posted and one of my favorite tricks for making the holidays more fun and less stressful
Spicy Frostbite Cookies
These cookies are chocolate chip cookies with a twist. Spicy Frostbite Cookies have ginger and cinnamon in the dough and you roll them in spiced powdered sugar before baking. There are a few extra steps but it’s worth it when you sit down to a couple of these delicious cookies!
Crisp Gingersnaps
These are my mom’s Crisp Gingersnaps. Full of molasses and spices they are the perfect crisp and a bit chewy texture. If you like classic gingersnaps you will love this recipe!
Shortbread Cookies
Having a few rolls of Shortbread Cookies in the fridge or freezer is a lifesaver at Christmas! You can divide the dough into several portions and make custom flavors. Pecan and chocolate cherry are two of my favorites. They are also delicious plain or drizzled with chocolate. Obviously!
Oatmeal Macaroons
Oatmeal Macaroons may not be the most glamorous looking cookie but they are one of my most popular ones. Usually I just add chocolate chips but dark chocolate chips and dried cherries or cranberries are especially delicious!
Pride of Iowa Cookies
Another old fashioned cookie, Pride of Iowa Cookies, will be a hit! They have chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts in them and are so easy to make. We grew up on these cookies!
How to make and freeze cookie dough
Every year I spend a day making all our usual holiday cookies, shaping them, and freezing the dough for later. This is perfect for one of those busy days when you need a couple dozen cookies for a last minute party you forgot about. I’m including a link for Dori Greenspan’s World Peace Cookies because they not only are incredible cookies but you have to make them ahead.
Gift Recipes
I’ve collected up a few of my favorite recipes to make for gifts. These are great ideas for that person who already has everything and a few are perfect to whip up for a last minute gift.
The Best Maple Granola
For years I’ve given mason jars of Maple Granola as teacher gifts at Christmas and it’s always well received. It’s great to make a big batch in advance so you can package it up as needed. The jars are easy to decorate with fun fabric, ribbons, or bows.
Cranberry Pecan Sourdough Bread
This gift does take some planning but Cranberry Pecan Sourdough Bread is a great gift. I like to wrap it in a pretty tea towel but a ziptop bag with a message written on it and a bow is pretty too. You can substitute walnuts or raisins if you prefer.
Seasoning blend recipes
Spice blends are perfect for gift giving! Lots of them use the same spices and herbs so you can make several and give a collection. One to try is Garlic Herb Steak Seasoning for a friend who likes to grill although I use it on all sorts of things. Another good one is a customized Chili Powder. You can make it as spicy as you want or try different kinds of dried powdered chiles. A pretty jar of Cajun Seasoning is a great gift too. Again, make it as spicy or mild to suit the lucky recipient’s tastes.
Hot Cocoa Mix and a fun tradition
Every year I set up a hot cocoa station in our kitchen with a jar of homemade Hot Cocoa Mix, another jar of marshmallows, candy canes, and fun mugs. The kids love making themselves a mug of hot cocoa, especially if it’s snowing! A jar of Hot Cocoa Mix with a special mug makes a great gift. Usually I leave enough room in the jar for some mini marshmallows.
Christmas recipes and traditions
I hope you will give some of these recipes a try this year and see if you want to add any to your family’s traditions. Food and special treats have become part of our family’s memories and traditions and I’m so glad to share a few with you. Merry Christmas!
Kelly Edwards
The smell of cookies baking and flour on the counter, left over from where my Daddy and I would make pies, are two of my favorite holiday memories. This year I am making all homemade gifts, including homemade vanilla (I started it at the beginning of June) steak seasoning, and chili seasoning. I already have each of my kids a hot chocolate set up…not as adorable as your’s…and will be making hot chocolate for them to go along with it. I love all your ideas. I’m going to add your chili seasoning too, they will all love to have something from “Ms. Audra”.