Have you done any Christmas baking yet?

[ntburns22]

For all you early bakers how do I keep them fresh for Christmas?

 

[C.Ann]

I found them at Wal-Mart. They are Pillsbury Sugar Dough Sheets. There are 2 sheets per pack and the package made around 2 dozen cookies. They were great for DS.

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Thanks! You're a life saver!! I'll have to check our Walmart and see if they have them.. It would save SOOOOO much time!

 

[poohbear1029]

Best is to freeze them - or if you live in a cold climate, keep them in the garage, like I used to. If you need to frost the cookies, freeze unfrosted and decorate as needed.

Most of mine I am distributing this week at a cookie swap and to the neighbors, so it isnt much of a concern this year.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Yep! Together, DH and I have baked 2 batches of cut-out sugar cookies from scratch (about 150 cookies altogether, lol) and decorated half of them using buttercream icing with the cake tips....tons of fun! DH made two batches of those peanut blossoms, the peanut butter cookies with hershey kisses on them, 1 batch of gingerbread men, and I made my first attempt at peanut butter fudge. It didn't set up right, but I know what I did wrong, and have been happily eating the peanut butter "soup" out of the pan with a spoon. It tastes like it would have been awesome fudge!!! Oh yeah, we made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, but that's a weekly event around here.

 

[poohbear1029]

Yep! Together, DH and I have baked 2 batches of cut-out sugar cookies from scratch (about 150 cookies altogether, lol) and decorated half of them using buttercream icing with the cake tips....tons of fun! DH made two batches of those peanut blossoms, the peanut butter cookies with hershey kisses on them, 1 batch of gingerbread men, and I made my first attempt at peanut butter fudge. It didn't set up right, but I know what I did wrong, and have been happily eating the peanut butter "soup" out of the pan with a spoon. It tastes like it would have been awesome fudge!!! Oh yeah, we made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, but that's a weekly event around here.

oooh...save it as a sauce for over vanilla or chocolate ice cream!

 

[saucymb]

Friday night I made 10 dozen chocolate covered cherries...they have to sit in the fridge for two weeks to "ripen", they'll be good by Christmas! I was all set to make fudge 15 minutes ago, but I just discovered that my candy thermometer somehow was broken during our last move.

Next week I have a schedule that I'll stick to each night in order to have my goodie boxes ready by the 24th.

 

[Robinrs]

Funny you should ask this... LOL!
I decided to try a recipe I saw this weekend on the Food Network, Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies! I thought I'd try them out first before giving them to people and BOY, they won't make it to my people the way they taste!! Yum YUM!!!

I got it from Sandra Lee, the semi Homemade lady. It was soooo easy, a mix with cream cheese, eggs and flour. It tasted WAY better than a packaged cookie and may become my signature cookie from now on!!

BTW the batter is worth the try by itself!

 

[zippeedee]

I've made a cream cheese based sugar cookie for years. They are much easier to roll out and cut than regular ones. If I get too tired cutting them, I roll the dough into balls and bake it, then dip the cooled cookies into melted red or green "chocolate" wafers and sprinkle with colored sugar.
I also roll the dough into 8 inch circles, sprinkle with cinnamon, sugar, raisins and/or nuts and/or chocolate chips, cut into triangles, roll them up like crescent rolls and bake them. Yum!
I can't wait to start baking this week.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

I'm actually going through my recipes right now trying to find which ones I can make a little lighter since I'm on a diet. Hmph @ me choosing this time of year to start a diet!

 

[thelionqueen]

I've started making cookie doughs and freezing them. I'll do the actual baking on Wednesday....

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkles
Ginger Snaps
Butter Spritz
Cranberry Orange Biscotti dipped in chocolate
Oatmeal Raisin
Chocolate Chip
Peanut Butter Kisses

I think I'll try it!!

 

[MELSMICE]

Let's see, so far I've made..............

Chocolate covered pretzels
White chocolate covered Oreos
Spritz cookies
Muddy Buddies
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Mexican Wedding Cakes
Jelly Sandwich Cookies (don't know the real name for these)
Homemade Oreos
Shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate
Have the "dough" made for Buckeyes & hopefully will get those done tomorrow.

& also homemade cinnamon bread (actually name is Swedish Coffee Bread). I made about 18 loaves of this 2 weeks ago & we'll finish up the last loaf for breakfast tomorrow! Looks like I need to make more.

There are a few more cookies I would like to make if I can get to them. I take cookies platters into my dance studio during the holidays. Everyone seems to enjoy them.

I

 

[candykisses]

This is my baking week. We bake alot for family and friends. We'll make carmel cups, peanut butter blossoms, apricot and nut rolls, cream wafers, thumbprints, lady locks, pecan tassies, black bottom cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, chocolate chip, cherry squares then pumpkin cake, cranberry orange bread and date nut bread.

I can't wait to get started.

 

[Kitty 34]

I've made several batches of fudge which I have already shared with my 7th graders.

 

[PaulaSue]

choc chip, oatmeal raisin, pb with kisses, mexican wedding, sugar cakes, pumpkin choc chip, sugar cookies, M&M cookies, choc chip bread, pumpkin bread, cinnamon bread, choc chip muffins, and choc cake for my b-day. I think that is it, I have been baking up a storm on Thursday and Saturday.

 

[C.Ann]

Okay.. I never should have asked.. You guys are making me feel so inept.. LOL I've always been known as "The Cookie Queen" at Christmas time and here I haven't baked so much as ONE cookie..

Tomorrow I'll have to get out my special Christmas Baking Binder and see what recipes I'm going to use this year.. M&M cookies for sure - or my DD will kick me out on the street...

 

[Robinrs]

I've made a cream cheese based sugar cookie for years. They are much easier to roll out and cut than regular ones. If I get too tired cutting them, I roll the dough into balls and bake it, then dip the cooled cookies into melted red or green "chocolate" wafers and sprinkle with colored sugar.
I also roll the dough into 8 inch circles, sprinkle with cinnamon, sugar, raisins and/or nuts and/or chocolate chips, cut into triangles, roll them up like crescent rolls and bake them. Yum!
I can't wait to start baking this week.

Great ideas!

I actually made them into little balls and but a chocolate chip in the center of some of them. They were EXCELLENT!

Funny you should mention the Cookie Queen, C Ann. For years I've been known as that for my chocolate chip cookies! I had a small business, Shipman's Chips (my last name) back in NY, where I sold my cookies from my desk at HBO and nearly BROKE Mrs. Field's down on the first floor.

This year I thought I'd branch out after 20 years of chocolate chips. I am so amazed by the variety I found here on this thread! After only doing one cookie for years it was a LEAP for me to try just one more!

 

[Tantor]

DONE as of yesterday.

Made Cranberry and Pistashio Biscotti
Butter Tarts
Butterscotch Cruchies
Oh Henry Bars