Christmas Baking 2008

**TravsQueenie** · 09-17-2008, 04:16 PM

Hello all!

As the Holidays approach, I'm trying to figure out my baking schedule. Last year (my first Christmas as a newlywed), I waited until Christmas Eve to bake cookies for gifts. This year, I DON'T want to wait that late!
My favorite kind of cookie is a Peanut Butter Blossom (peanut butter cookie with a Hershey Kiss on top). However, instead of a Kiss, I use Reese cups. Do you think these can be baked in the next few weeks and frozen for two months? Will they still taste OK?

Also, what are you baking for the Holidays?

Thanks in advance for the replies!

**Michelle** · 09-17-2008, 04:29 PM

They *can* be frozen--I've done it before, but the Hershey's kiss looked "old" when I took them out to defrost. They tasted great, they just didn't look the same as when you make them fresh.

Maybe you could make the cookies, make an indent with the candy but then take the candy out? Freeze the cookies, and then put them in the oven at a low, low temp (maybe just a warm setting if you have that) to defrost & you can pop the candy on top then?

**Parksfamily5** · 09-17-2008, 05:30 PM

I usually wait and buy all of my baking items right before I decide to start baking. I don't pay attention to prices. Now that I am starting to be more frugal, I was wondering when to buy these items. Should I stock up now or do they go on sale around Thanksgiving? Does anyone know? Thanks for any advice.

Heidi

**TheRootedNomad** · 09-17-2008, 06:31 PM

****Baking supplies will start going on soon but generally the best prices are around Thanksgiving.

I don't generally freeze my baked gifts. I just don't have the freezer space for it. I make the cookies a few days to a week or so ahead of time. Some cookies will stay for several weeks so a week ahead of time is really not a big deal. I generally don't give a lot of cookies for this reason though as compared to (don't laugh) fruitcake (only to those who request it, fudge, and bourbon balls are given more frequently. The cookies I generally bake an entire day about a week out and the ones that get icing have that done on a seperate day.

The fruitcake and bourbon balls I'll do soon so they can marinade.

**madhen** · 09-17-2008, 08:29 PM

I start baking right after Thanksgiving, and freeze everything up. Typically, by Christmas, I have several dozen varieties ready to turn into platters.

**Ceashels** · 09-18-2008, 09:56 AM

Bourbon balls are the best!

This year we'll be making homemade marshmallows for the other choir members and they last up to 3 weeks in a ziptop bag. This way I can make them a week ahead of time and not have a lot of work the day of the giving.

I am still baking off the dough balls from last Christmas so this year I won't have too many batches of cookies to make. Yay! I can make other things I won't eat. hehehe

I think you could easily make the dough ahead of time and roll it into balls and freeze, then defrost, add the candy and bake closer to the time you are giving the gift. It would save you the mess and time, but you will still have nice fresh cookies for an afternoon of just baking them off.

**madhen** · 09-18-2008, 04:49 PM

Brandy balls are just as easy and make a nice complement to the bourbon balls. I typically make both for my Christmas platters. Brandy balls are rolled in choc sprinkles. Bourbon in cocoa.

**santoria** · 09-18-2008, 10:21 PM

I make:

ginger bendies (soft ginger cookies)
nanaimo bars (regular and mint)
matrimonial bars
sugar cookies

and a bunch of others.

I do the www.allrecipes.com cookie a day too...

jack daniels fruit cake (making those this weekend)

**Lady_V** · 09-19-2008, 07:18 AM

I wanted to make cookies for DD's teacher... and then I found out her son has peanut allergies... so she's off the list.

I am saving the plastic coffee containers and decorating them with the printouts (I think it was Folgers who had them last year). DD is going to help me make them and we will give them to

DD's Godfather & his dw
DD's Godmother & her dh
DD's Aunt & Uncle

I plan on making--
chocolate chip
double chocolate chip
oatmeal
oatmeal raisin
oatmeal butterscotch

I will also have some on a (Dollar Tree) platter to bring to my ex-inlaws... seriously, what do you give people who can afford to buy the moon (and come pretty damn close

) They like cookies, they usually have a gathering at their house Christmas night... and what they don't eat, they bring to the office to give clients.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 09-19-2008, 07:30 AM

I've been helping out a friends inventory company by doing some extra stocking and we've spent this week stocking Dollar General Stores with NEW McCormick Spices. Most run from 2.25 to 3.oo for the large sized bottles of cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, etc. Plus we've pulled their sprinkles and placed them on the clearnce racks for a buck.

Laurie in Bradenton

**nancycg56** · 09-19-2008, 07:32 AM

For those of you who make bourbon balls ~ could you please post the recipe? Thanks so much!!!

**Parksfamily5** · 09-19-2008, 07:37 AM

Do most dollar general stores carry the same thing or are they all different? Thanks for the tip Laurie.

**madhen** · 09-20-2008, 03:32 PM

I just Betty Crocker:

3 c. finely crushed vanilla wafers
2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. finely chopped walnuts
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. bourbon
1/4 c. light corn syrup.

Mix it all up, shape into 1" balls. Roll in coating. (If the coating doesn't stick well, I will sometimes have a small bowl of whatever liquor I used, pop the ball in the bowl to wet it, THEN roll it in topping. Put on waxed paper and allow to dry a bit. Pop into freezer until you are ready to use it.

For rum balls, use same amt of rum. For brandy balls, use same amt of brandy.

I will vary the coating on each variety: i.e, cocoa, choc sprinkles, finely crushed nuts, etc.