Holiday Baking

[EtaPhiZTA]

This thread has had me so excited about trying some new recipes for Christmas cookies that I mentioned it to my husband. Today he surprised me by buying me the Professional Kitchen Aid Mixer that I have had my eye on I guess he figures he will reap the rewards from this gift!

[AOIIalum]

Enjoy! I have a regular kitchen-aid and LOVE it. It makes baking so much easier, especially if you're into sticky cookie doughs or heavier bread doughs!

[AchtungBaby80]

I had these big grandiose plans to make gingerbread men, but unfortunately, I a) ran kinda short on time, and b) got lazy, so I made the super-easy cake mix gooey things you all were raving about. I think they came out OK! The first batch I kind of overcooked, but the rest of them look nice...I haven't tried one yet as they're for a party tomorrow night, but I let Boyfriend sample both flavors (strawberry and devil's food) and he really seemed to enjoy them. Thanks to whoever posted that recipe!

[honeychile]

Southern Living has put out their list of the 75 Top-Rated Cookie Recipes online. I think that anyone can log in, but if you'd like a recipe from the following list, I'll get it for you. I haven't tried them all (Hah! Would that I could!), but I've yet to go wrong with one of their recipes (well, the ones I thought would work in our family).

75 Top-Rated Cookie Recipes

No-Bake Granola Bars
Amaretti Cookies (awesome!)
Amaretto-Walnut Brownies
Angel Cookies
Broadway Brownie Bars
Browned Butter-Pecan Shortbread
Butter Cookies
Cake Mix Cookies (this sounds like the "gooey cookie" recipe!)
Candy Bar Brownies
Candy Shop Pizza Cookies
Caramel-Filled Chocolate Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Cookies
Chewy Red, White, and Blue Cookies
Chewy Scotch Bars
Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies
Chocolate Crumble Bars
Chocolate Kiss Cookies
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate Snack Bars
Chocolate Wedding Cookies
Chocolate-Almond Cookies
Chocolate-Chip Supreme Cookies
Chocolate-Chocolate Chip-Peppermint Cookies
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Chocolate-Dipped Orange Cookies
Chocolate-Glazed Brownies
Chocolate-Marshmallow Brownies
Chocolate-Oatmeal Chunk Cookies
Chunky Chocolate Brownies
Citrus Bars
Clear-The-Cupboard Cookies
Coconut-Macadamia Cookies
Cranberry-Caramel Bars
Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies
Cream Cheese Cookies
Crunchy Lace Cookies
Date Pinwheel Cookies
Domino Cookies
Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Double-Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Double-Chocolate Brownies
Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Giant Oatmeal-Spice Cookies
Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies
GrandLady's Cinnamon Cookies
Granny's Christmas Cookies
Heavenly Chocolate-Chip Meringue Cookies
Key Lime Bars with Macadamia Crust
Layered Brownies
Lemon Butter Cookies
Lemon Icebox Cookies
Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
Lemon-Poppy Seed Cookies
Linzer Cookies
Luscious Lemon Bars
Magic Cookie Bars
Magnolia Cream Cheese Brownies
Millionaire Shortbread
Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread
Nutty Oatmeal-Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Oatmeal Cookies
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut Butter-Kiss Cookies
Peanut Butter-Toffee Turtle Cookies
Pecan Pie Cookies
Quick Peanut Butter Cookies
Raisin-Oatmeal Cookies
Raspberry Shortbread
Santa's Shortbread Cookies
Spicy Zucchini Cookies
Spritz Cookies
Sugar Cookies-1
Sugar Cookies-2
Swedish Holiday Cookies
Turkey Cookies
Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vanilla Meringue Cookies
White Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal Cookies
White Chocolate-Orange Dream Cookies
Chocolate Cappuccino Cookies
Cinnamon Chip Icebox Cookies
Mississippi Mud Dessert Brownies
Shortbread Cookies

ETA: As a bonus, here's their Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe, for a special dessert:

Red Velvet Cheesecake
Makes 8 to 10 servings
Prep: 20 min.; Bake: 1 hr., 25 min.; Stand: 1 hr.; Chill: 8 hrs.

1 1/2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
2 (1-ounce) bottles red food coloring
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

-Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; press mixture into bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
-Beat 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar at medium-low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Add eggs and next 6 ingredients, mixing on low speed just until fully combined. Pour batter into prepared crust.
-Bake at 325° for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 300°, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until center is firm. Run knife along outer edge of cheesecake. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; cool in pan on a wire rack 30 minutes. Cover and chill 8 hours.
-Beat 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Remove sides of springform pan. Garnish, if desired.

[smiley21]

You simply cannot do hoilday baking with out snickerdoodles. Best cookies ever.

And my mom makes an eggnog pie that brings people to their knees. Seriously. They all just rave about her famous pie. It is really good.

[honeychile]

First, Red Velvet Cake is a delicious experience, not just a dessert. If you're not excited by it, someone didn't make it right.

Eggnog pie - I'd LOVE that recipe!!

Lastly, I know people whose last name is Kingelkine - nicest people you'd ever meet. They had a cat named Snickerdoodle. Wouldn't you have just loved to have been at the vet's when they brought the cat in? "Next is Snickerdoodle Kingelkine!"

[smiley21]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Lastly, I know people whose last name is Kingelkine - nicest people you'd ever meet. They had a cat named Snickerdoodle. Wouldn't you have just loved to have been at the vet's when they brought the cat in? "Next is Snickerdoodle Kingelkine!"

Why did I not think to name my cat Snickerdoodle?! I love that name! Maybe it should be her middle name....Madison Snickerdoodle....lol maybe not.

Anyway, I love that story.

[ThetaDancer]

To the top.

Any new ideas people feel like sharing?

[scbelle]

I usually make sugar cookies, peanut brittle and boiled cookies.

The boiled cookies are sooo good (my husband's fave) and easy to make:

2 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
1 stick margarine
1/3 c. cocoa

Boil these ingredients for 3 minutes and then add:

2 c. oatmeal
1 tsp. vanilla
3 TBS. peanut butter

Mix really well and remove from heat. When nearly cooled, put spoonfuls of mixture on wax paper.

[Fawn Liebowitz]

mmmm cookies...every post I read that included the word "gooey" made me think of Earp's gooey buns, though - ick.

[ForeverRoses]

I make Rum Balls and Burbon balls every year.

I also make orange-chocolate cookies (two orange flavored wafers with chocolate chips with a layer of chocolate in between to hold them together). This year I am going to try to make irish cream- chocolate chip pound cake in snowman shaped molds.

I never noticed before, but all of my holiday baking includes alcohol!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I make Rum Balls and Burbon balls every year.

I also make orange-chocolate cookies (two orange flavored wafers with chocolate chips with a layer of chocolate in between to hold them together). This year I am going to try to make irish cream- chocolate chip pound cake in snowman shaped molds.

I never noticed before, but all of my holiday baking includes alcohol!

Try substituting Kahlau for the Rum, and add about 1/4 cocoa to the Rum Ball recipe - 'tis good!

I have to check out my reciepts before the weekend...

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Try substituting Kahlau for the Rum, and add about 1/4 cocoa to the Rum Ball recipe - 'tis good!

I have to check out my reciepts before the weekend...

I'll have to check out the Kaluha balls.

I already add white raisins to my rum balls-- and I use Captain Morgans or Sailor Jerrys Spiced Rum, so I'm not sure if the chocolate would go well or not. (The burbon balls have cocoa in them).

Oh, and I once made the rum balls with Malibu Rum and added flaked coconut and crushed pineapple (well drained). that was yummy as well! But the husband doesn't like coconut so I haven't made them since.

[honeychile]

Gotcha. My rum balls are fairly simple: finely minced pecans, powdered sugar, cocoa, rum, and I think Karo. (this has been a rough day...!)

[ThetaDancer]

Bump!

I'm already getting excited for holiday baking. Any new recipes?