I am in the process of putting together a bunch of Christmas tins full of cookies & other sweets for my friends, family, & for the less fortunate. I have always baked the same cookie & the same candy every year, but I would LOVE to switch it up this year & maybe try something new! I would like very much to have all of you (who are interested), post your favorite Christmas recipes, whether it is cookies, or candy, or brownies, or fudge, or anything that you consider to be a sweet Christmas treat!

It is a tradition in my family to bake & decorate sugar cookies for the Christmas holiday/ season. If you know of a sugar cookie recipe that is absolutely d'lish, please don't hesitate to share it! I usually go with a basic recipe (flour, sugar, egg, sometimes sour cream to soften them, & some nutmeg to add a little something special), however I am so bored with that recipe!

Also, I am thinking of making spritz cookies, which from everything I've read thus far requires the use of a cookie press. Do any of you know if there is a way to make spritz cookies w/out the press? A piping bag perhaps?

Happy Holidays to you all!

I'm making marshmellows (chocolate dipped and pumpkin pie spice flavor), caramels, chocolate chip raspberry blondies (all ready made and somewhat eaten lol), chocolate raspberry thumbprint cookies and sugar cookies with royal icing. Probably be sharing the recipes, if they turn out, on my friend's and my shared cooking diary, cookingwiththebesties. I got the marshmallow and caramel recipes from ReadyMade magazine and the others from online or Vegan With a Vengeance (although they're not vegan because I use regular milk and butter). The blondies are yum!

How do you make a pumpkin pie spice flavor dipped marshmallow? What is a raspberry blondie?

It's the marshmallow recipe, then you mix in pumpkin pie spice before letting it set. I haven't tried them yet. Blondies are like the anti-brownie. lol. The dough is slightly like chocolate chip cookie dough, but lighter because you don't use brown sugar. Pour half the dough, add choco chips, then smear on raspberry jam, then add the other half of dough. Bake and eat. They should come out cake-like, but because I have no idea how to bake for my new high altitude, they came out with a chewy brownie consistency. Ehh... they still taste good! lol. Still waiting for my sugar cookies to cool so I can make the royal icing and decorate them. Also waiting for my baking utensils to be done in the dishwasher so I can start the marshmallows.

I think if you're going for a cake -like texture, use more egg. I think, lol. I will research it & get back to you. :)

This recipe called for yogurt instead of egg, so that probably made it really moist. Everything I bake comes out heavy it seems. I dislike high altitudes! lol.

ME TOO! Since moving to Denver I have to remember to use the High Alt. directions and it blows.

Has anyone had experience with making "stained glass" cookies? My family & I will be trying that this year, and we have come across a gingerbread stained glass cookie recipe. I'm not sure how we're going to pull it off, considering our lack of experience (lol), but they look really fun & super yummy!!! I am thinking about using either sugar cookie + melted jolly ranchers (for the stained glass look), or gingerbread + melted pepermint candies. Which combination of the 2 recipes appeals to you the most?

Also, many experienced cookie chefs who have successfully made the stained glass cookies say that they have used the gingerbread+coloured candies, or peppermint* to create Christmas tree ornaments (just an idea for the arts fartsy)!

I have no idea how to do those. It seems like they would stick to my teeth so badly. lol.

jolly ranchers deff. Thats what my mom uses

we make "bark" candy for our neighbors. Honestly I am not sure why its called bark candy but its really good.

Pretty much its melted choc, layed from dark, to milk to white choc. With crushed candycanes sprinkled on the top. You stick the mold (we use a thin cookie sheet) into the freezer for 2 hours and then use a sharp knife as a kind of "ice pick" and break it into jagged peices.

It's summer here! I'm making ice cream! HAHA!