Our Annual Baking Extravagenza

This weekend we enjoyed our annual Christmas baking weekend which means lots of laughs, a big mess, lots of love and lots of cookies.  My dishwasher decided to quite working on Saturday, so my hands are extremely wrinkly from all the dishes.  When my I was complaining Graham said, "mom, it's o.k. - it's just like living in the olden days." 

We distribute our cookies to neighbors and such, which makes it all the more special.  Friday night we made peppermint platters (read about it here peppermint platters) which we are using to deliver all of our goodies.  And the best part of all:  we were able to use my Grandma's old mixer, her rolling pins, bowls and her cutouts.  As we're baking, we really feel like she's with us in spirit and for that we are grateful.

Cooking with Grandma's Equipment
These bowls, rolling pin, mixer and cutouts are over 60 years old

1.   Sugar Cutout Cookies

Here's the recipe I used this year - turned out great:  Cutout and Frosting Recipe

This year I made the frosting a bit thinner (added a little more milk) so the kids could paint decorations on their cookies and it worked it really well for the kids.

Painting on the frosting

2.  Easiest Fudge in the World

INGREDIENTS
3 cups of chocolate chips
1 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of salt
4 tablespoons of butter

Combine and melt in microwave for 1 minute.  Stir.  Place in microwave for another minute (or less, don't overcook).  Stir and place in an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper or add to a small mini pan loaf.  We like the mini-sized fudge that we can easily give away.

Easy Fude on our Peppermint Platter

3.  Almond Bark Pretzels

INGREDIENTS:

1 package of almond bark
1 bag of pretzels
Sprinkles

Microwave almond bark for 1 minute.  Stir.  Microwave for another minute until melted.  Dip pretzels in bark, shake off extra with a fork and place on parchment paper.  

Graham was the master at shaking the excess off the pretzels

4.  Gingerbread Houses

We cheated this year and bought gingerbread kits.  The kids had a lot of fun with this!!

Greta's Gingerbread House

5.  Out-of-this-world Crock pot Hot Cocoa

INGREDIENTS

1 cup whipping cream
5 cups milk
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla

Add to crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours stirring every 1/2 hour.  Garnish with whip cream and candy cane.  Delicious!

White Hot Cocoa

We keep our recipes simple because the baking extravaganza is about the kids actively participating every step of the way as we try and make memories that hopefully last a lifetime.

Do you do any baking?  Someday I hope to make krumkaka, sunbakkels (sic), rosettes and lefse like my grandma used to make with her sisters.

Thanks for reading,

Kristin