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Winterfest Baking
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items This is my 1st series on my blog. It started all the way back in 2019. Recently been updating them. It has been fun to look back at them and see how much I have grown as a baker. Back then I didn't really know what way I was going to be writing. But,...
Sections
7
Link to Blog Post
Baking Basics & Pantry
Grains, Cereals & Snacks
Dairy & Refrigerated
Extracts, Oils & Liquids
Mix-ins, Sweets & Toppings
Link to Blog Post
This series has 28 recipes in it. Most of them are cookies. Others are recipes that come from my childhood. And others are just ones that I found one day scrolling through Pinterest. Feel free to Check them out.
1st ever post I shared on my blog way back in 2019. Still a cookie that I make whenever I have Candy Canes in the house. Feel free to fly on over, give it a read, a follow, and comment whether you would eat these cookies year after year.
Easy Candy Cane Crinkle Cookies
These are going to be my favorite cookies forever. Feel free to fly on over to my blog, give me a follow, like this post, and let me know if you have a favorite all-time cookie.
The Famous “Toolhuse” Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are just some really soft and gooey cookies. Who can beat the combination of cinnamon & cream cheese? Feel free to fly on over to my blog, give this post a read, a like, and let me know if you love this combination as much as I do.
Soft & Gooey Cinnamon Cream Cheese Cookies
Who doesn't love putting their fingerprint into a baked good? Feel free to fly on over to read this post, give it a like, and let me know if you put your thumbprint in before or after.
The Best Classic Thumbprint Cookies
This is such a fun pound cake. Feel Free to fly on over to read this post. Like and let me know if you have a recipe like this one, with a funny name in your recipe collection.
When’s Payday!?! Pound Cake
Can't beat 3-ingredient recipes. Feel free to fly on over to read this post. Like and let me know how you like your shortbread cookies.
The Ultimate 3-Ingredient Scotch Shortbread: A Simple Baking Therapy Recipe
This is a recent addition to our Christmas Cookies. Feel free to fly on over to this post. Leave a like and let me know what your most recent addition to your cookie collection is.
Traditional Italian Pizzelles: A Lesson in Baking Therapy and Connection
This is my childhood sugar cookie recipe. So many memories. Feel free to fly on over and give this post a read. Give it a like and let me know what recipe is close to your heart.
The Ultimate No-Chill Sugar Cookies: A Robby’s Baking Therapy Classic
Sometimes the best thing you can do is bake with sprinkles. Feel free to fly on over and give this a read. Give it a like and let me know what your favorite colors of sprinkles are.
Easy Confetti Cake Batter Cookies
These are simply Walnut Blondies, so good. Feel free to fly on over and read this post. Give it a like and let me know would you make this recipe?
The $0.45 Chewy Noels
I will always be shocked at the fact that the first pie I shared on my blog was a Mango pie. Feel Free to fly on over and read this interesting pie for yourself. Give it a like, and let me know if you like mangoes.
Easy Homemade Mango Pie Recipe: A Baking Therapy Guide
I can't go any point in time during November and December without making at least one batch of Puppy Chow. Feel free to fly on over and give this post a read. Leave a like and let me know do you call it Puppy Chow or Muddy Buddies?
Easy Homemade Puppy Chow Recipe (A.K.A. Muddy Buddies)
Comfort in cookie form. Feel free to fly on over to this post. Leave a like, and let me know what your number 1 comfort cookie is.
Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies: A Budget-Friendly Holiday Classic
One of the best ways to use up some cranberries hiding in your freezer. Feel free to fly on over to read this recipe. Leave a like and let me know what are some ways you use cranberries?
White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies: A Thanksgiving Favorite
My childhood Christmas Brunch, that I still make every year. Feel free to fly on over and read one of my family recipes. Leave a like and let me know what you have for Christmas (or any other holiday) breakfast.
Heavenly Kruggel: The Ultimate Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Casserole
If you like rice crispy treats, than you will love this recipe. Feel free to fly on over to give a funny present to your friends and family. Leave a like and let me know: do you like Marshmellows?
Oreo Cookie Coal: The Funniest 3-Ingredient Christmas Treat
I love this cake with every fiber of my being. Feel free to fly on over and see why I love it so much. Leave a like and let me know, have you ever made something that looked bad, but tasted great?
Why This (Not So Pretty) Carrot Cake is My Favorite Baking Memory
My go to birthday cake every single year. Feel free to fly on over and see my favorite cake. Leave a like and let me know: do you have a specific cake for your birthday?
Easy Instant Pot New York Cheesecake: A Mindful Baking Therapy Recipe
One of the first recipes I remember making before I had my blog. Feel free to fly on over and read one of the easiest recipes. Leave a like and let me know: do you like peppermint or do you think it is glorified tooth paste?
Easy 2-Ingredient White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Recipe
These are non-alcoholic cookies using Sparkling Juice. Perfect if you are given a few bottles from a food distribution. Feel free to fly on over and give this post a read. Leave a like and let me know, do you like sparkling juice?
Easy Champagne Cookies Recipe
Still baffles me that this cake was made just 3 days after the "ugly" carrot cake. Feel free to fly on over and find out how these two cakes are so different. Leave a like and let me know do you like coconut?
Easy Italian Cream Cheese Cake Recipe with Walnuts 🎂
Sometimes you just need a simple fluffy cookie. Fly on over to my blog and give this recipe a read. Leave a like and let me know how you like your cookies.
Light & Airy Whipped Shortbread Cookies 🍪
These cookies are ones that I am going to be making again. Feel free to fly on over and see the recipe for yourself. Leave a like and let me know what some of your favorite cookies are.
Italian Christmas Cookies: The Ultimate Cinnamon Roll Twist 🍪
While not my go to recipe, they were still really good. Feel free to fly on over and read this post. Leave a like and let me know if you have a cookie party every December.
Soft & Spiced Gingerbread People 🍪
Gotta love the 2 ingredient, healthy desserts. Feel free to fly on over to and read this amazingly simple recipe. Leave a like and let me know what your favorite 2 ingredient dessert is.
2-Ingredient Chocolate Pomegranate Clusters 🍫
This is the exact same recipe as the Sugar Cookie recipe, but in different shapes. Feel free to fly on over and give this one a read. Leave a like and let me know how you make your sugar cookies.
Nostalgic Hashtag Sugar Cookies 💖
A fast and easy dessert dip. Feel free to fly on over and give it a read. Leave a like and let me know what you would use a dunker for this dip.
5-Minute Brownie Batter Dip (Easy Dessert Recipe) 🍫
I still make this recipe, any time I have too much peanut butter in the house. Feel free to fly on over and read this recipe. Leave a like and let me know if you have ever made these cookies before.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies (Easy & Gluten-Free) 🥜
Baking Basics & Pantry
The flour, sugar, and pantry basics behind every Winterfest bake. If a cookie in this series needs it, it starts here.
There are 19 recipes that use this. I usually get the 10 lb bag of Great Value flour. But that doesn't mean that you have to.
Great Value All-Purpose Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour, 5 lb Bag
8 Recipes require some baking powder. You only use teaspoons at a time, and the shelf life of baking soda is 6 months to a year. So make sure to grab some fresh, so that your treats rise perfectly.
Great Value Double Acting Baking Powder, 8.1 oz
There are 8 recipes that need baking soda. Baking soda needs acid (such as buttermilk or brown sugar) to activate. Open a fresh box for the best rise, as old boxes absorb pantry odors!
Great Value Baking Soda, 1 lb
Once again there are 8 recipes that require brown sugar. There is about 4.5 Cups in each bag.
Great Value Light Brown Sugar, 32 oz
1 recipe needs this. Who doesn't love sprinkles in a cake? They are just so much fun.
Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix with Candy Bits, 15.25 oz Box
1 recipe requires brownie mix. There is nothing wrong with making boxed brownies or cakes. I do it every now and again.
Great Value Fudge Brownie Mix, 18.3 oz Box
3 Recipes use cornstarch. It is the best way to thicken up anything.
Great Value Corn Starch, 16 oz
13 recipes use granulated sugar. Like with the flour, I usually buy the 10 lbs. of sugar. But you don't have to buy that much if you aren't baking as much as I do.
Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar, 4 lbs
13 Recipes use powdered sugar. Powdered sugar is a great topping and with the cornstarch already in it. It is another thing that can help thicken up a dessert.
Great Value Confectioners Powdered Sugar, 32 oz
Grains, Cereals & Snacks
The grains and cereals that show up in the Winterfest bakes, from the oats in the cookies to the crackers that keep the kitchen going between batches.
1 recipe needs these. I usually get this or Chex cereal. Depending on what is available.
Great Value Rice Squares Breakfast Cereal, 12 oz
Only 1 recipe uses egg noodles. And it would taste so different with a different type of noodle.
Great Value Wide Egg Noodles, 16 oz
1 recipe requires graham crackers. And for this particular recipe it has to be the honey ones, because the cinnamon graham crackers don't taste as good at making a crust.
Great Value Honey Graham Crackers, 14.4 oz, 8 Count
1 Recipe requires oatmeal. This is the size container that I always buy and it lasts me a few months.
Great Value 100% Whole Grain Old Fashioned Oats, 42 oz
1 recipe calls for pretzels. And they are perfect for antlers.
Great Value Crisp and Salty Mini Pretzel Twists, 16 oz
1 recipe calls for sandwich cookies.
Great Value Twist & Shout Chocolate Flavor Sandwich Cookies, 14.3 oz
I love costco oatmeal
Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, 10 lbs
Dairy & Refrigerated
The butter, margarine, eggs, and cream cheese for the Winterfest bakes. I bake with margarine in place of butter, the full amount, so the margarine is here too.
15 recipes use butter. Know that whenever I say butter in a recipe it is interchangeable between butter, margarine and even shortening.
Great Value Sweet Cream Salted Butter, 16 oz Box, 4 Sticks, Refrigerated
1 recipe requires buttermilk. But you can easily make buttermilk without buying this. Add enough milk you need plus 1 Tablespoon of acid (vinegar or Lemon juice).
Upstate Farms Low Fat Cultured Buttermilk 1 Quart – Walmart.com
1 recipe uses carrots and it is a glorious little cake.
Marketside Organic Fresh Whole Carrots, 2 lb Bag
1 recipe calls for Pomegranates. Note that I got fresh Pomegranates from a food distribution.
Great Value Pomegranate Arils, 12 oz (Frozen)
4 recipes require cream cheese. This is just one block of cream cheese. Feel free to check out the recipe in order to see how many you will need.
Great Value Cream Cheese Brick, 8 oz (Refrigerated)
13 recipes need eggs. I usually get the 32 pack of eggs simply because that is what works for my household. You may only need a dozen eggs.
Great Value Large White Eggs, 12 Count
Approx. 3 recipes need margarine. Again butter, margarine and shortening are interchangeable in my book.
Blue Bonnet Vegetable Oil Spread, 45 oz
2 recipes use milk. You can use any milk that you would like. This is my preferred milk.
Great Value, 2% Reduced Fat Milk, Gallon
2 recipes need sour cream. You can't go wrong with sour cream.
Great Value Original Sour Cream, 24 oz Tub
Only 1 recipe requires whipped topping. I have no control when it comes to this stuff. I only buy it at Thanksgiving to Christmas time because I know that I will put it in every coffee that I drink.
Great Value Whipped Topping, Dessert and Fruit Topping, 8 oz (Frozen)
1 recipe calls for some mangoes.
Fresh Red Mango, Each
Extracts, Oils & Liquids
Vanilla, almond extract, and the oils and liquids that give the Winterfest cookies their flavor. A little goes a long way in these recipes.
1 recipe requires corn syrup. Not exactly one of my favorite things to bake with. But I will bake with it.
Great Value Light Corn Syrup, 16 fl oz
1 Recipe calls for lemon juice. This container is just great to have in the fridge.
Great Value Lemon Juice, 15 fl oz
1 recipe calls for molasses. It is great to have in a pinch if you need to make brown sugar. Just add a little molasses to some granulated sugar.
Grandma's Unsulphured Original Molasses, Whole, 12 fl oz Jar
Approx. 5 recipes call for shortening. I have used shortening as a substitute for butter or margarine.
Great Value All Vegetable Shortening, 48 oz Can
13 recipes require vanilla. This is my go-to for vanilla every single time I am out. I am just in love of this product.
Molina Mexican Vanilla Blend, 8.3 FL OZ - Walmart.com
1 recipe uses vegetable oil. I buy this size of vegetable oil at least every 3 weeks or at least once a month.
Great Value Vegetable Oil, Heart Healthy and Versatile, 48 fl oz Bottle
1 recipe requires chocolate syrup and what you don't use in the recipe you can use in some milk.
Great Value Chocolate Syrup, 24 oz - Walmart.com
1 recipe calls for sparkling juice. The rest can be given to the fancy kids.
Welch's Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Juice Cocktail, White Grape, 25.4 fl oz Bottle
Mix-ins, Sweets & Toppings
Chocolate chips, sprinkles, candy canes, nuts, and everything that gets stirred in or scattered on top. This is the fun aisle of the Winterfest kitchen.
2 Recipes call for candy canes. However, given that it is June when I am creating this, we are using these peppermint candies.
Great Value Peppermint Starlight Mints Hard Candy, 10 oz Bag
5 recipes need chocolate chips. They create the perfect eyes for cute cookies.
Great Value Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips, 12 oz Bag
2 recipes call for white chocolate chips. Walmart has these and they are close enough.
Great Value Vanilla Flavored Baking Chips, 11 oz
4 recipes call for "chopped nuts." I just chose walnuts because they are the easiest to work with.
Great Value Chopped Walnuts, 4 oz
1 Recipe calls for coconut
Great Value Sweetened Coconut Flakes, 14 oz
1 recipe calls for cranberries. I usually get the fresh. But if I were to make those cookies again today, off season. I would pick up these.
Great Value Sweetened Dried Cranberries, 6 oz
1 recipe calls for jelly of any kind.
Great Value Strawberry Preserves, 18 oz
1 recipe calls for marshmallows.
Great Value Marshmallows, 10 oz Bag
There are 2 recipes that need peanut butter
Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter, 40 oz
1 recipe calls for pecans
Great Value Chopped Pecans, 4 oz
1 Recipe calls for pineapple.
Great Value Canned Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice, 20 oz
1 recipe call for raisins
Great Value Sun-Dried Raisins Carton, 12 oz (340g)
Red hots are in 2 of my recipes
Red Hots Original Cinnamon Flavored Candy, Theater Box, 5.5 oz
Sprinkles are in 4 of the recipes.
Great Value Rainbow Decorating Sprinkles, 2.7 oz
1 recipe calls for brownies.
Freshness Guaranteed Brownie Bites, 13.93 oz (Baked, Shelf Stable)
This is one of the best deals right now.
Kirkland Signature Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, 4.5 lbs
Spices & Seasonings
Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and the rest of the Winterfest spice shelf. These are the smells that mean Christmas baking has started.
There are 5 recipes that require cinnamon.
Great Value Kosher Ground Cinnamon, 2.5 oz
1 recipe requires cloves. When you are shopping for spices, don't worry too much about the per unit price because you have to remember you are using 1/8 of a teaspoon for something like cloves.
Great Value Ground Cloves, 2 oz
1 Recipe calls for Ginger. Again, you are using small amounts of ginger.
Great Value Ground Ginger, 1.5 oz
3 recipes call for nutmeg. This is one of my favorite spices.
Great Value Ground Nutmeg, 1.5 oz
15 recipes call for salt. And yes, you do need to add salt to baked goods. Unless you have some health reasons.
Great Value Iodized Salt, 26 oz