Making a list of Christmas baking and making

[Marthe48]

I'm going to make a pan of baklava, Mexican wedding cakes. I'll make a low-carb, gluten-free nut roll and some rum balls. My grandson would like cinnamon hardtack. I might make fudge. That's the one I'm not sure I should make. Too tempting. There are many wonderful bakers on the family, and my kids get cookie plates from all of their friends who are also wonderful bakers. We all observe a low carb or gluten free diet.

Who is baking this year? If you share your plans, maybe I'll try something new.

[Bobstandard]

1. We're making Panettone

Even though there is a bakery we know of in San Francisco that makes a wonderful panettone that we’ve loved for years, and even though a large grocery store nearby has a display of at least a dozen different panettone from bakeries in Italy, France and the States, many of which I’d like to try and I’m sure are delicious, this year we’re going to make our own. To paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, we do this not because it will be easy, but because it will be hard. We’re already dealing with the issue of finding high quality versions of stuff like dried citron. (Ideas anyone?) We expect to try three or four recipes before settling on one, then another couple tries to get it perfect.

[usonian]

2. Funny, I asked about a Panettone pan, and there were none. Just paper cylinders.

Hey, they get the job done.

I am tempted to bake stuff, or head to Sam's Italian Deli in Fresno. They have citron and other cool stuff.
But that's a long drive -- much longer for you ---

Since it is so long, I might make anise biscotti. They carry the pricey Leonard ones that are so loaded with anise, unlike others.

Sam's also has frozen sfogliatelle. You'd need dry ice to keep it frozen. I saw some once at Trader Joe's of all places, but "Stuff Comes and Goes at Trader Joe's" so don't count on anything being there except staples.

There should be lots of supplies in SF and East Bay, I am thinking A.G. Ferrari and others.

Funny thing, (number 2), I was searching all over for mafaldine (pasta) and it seemed to have vanished from stores. So I ordered 8 packages online (came from SoCal, I think) and of course, they showed up about 6 months later on Sam's shelves. I guess it's like the former "worldwide bucatini shortage" that abruptly ended. 🇮🇹

[Kali]

3. caramel corn

and probably the same cream cheese cherry cookies I make every year, wedding cookies sound good. Mom used to make them (pecans, right?) and called them snowballs. Might have to do a batch or two.

[Marthe48]

4. I make mine with walnuts

Aldi had really good prices on nuts, at least yesterday. I got pecans for 3.39, 6 or 8 ozs. Got 2 lbs of walnuts for 8.99.

I used to call them Russian teacakes. Now I make the same recipe, but call it by another name.

[Kali]

8. I have heard them called that too.

pecans are the local tradition in Northern Mexico and we have a few trees, so that is all I know. LOL
have to buy them though because the damn squirrels overran us this year. we got about a dozen pecans off 3 old trees.

[Marthe48]

9. The squirrels are fiends

I put seed out for the birds and they are lucky to get a few.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. we always called them Mexican Wedding Cookies

I think they have about a dozen names

[Emile]

5. Not to take away from your post, but

have you tried the new Reese Peanut Butter popcorn? OMG it is delicious.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/REESE-S-Peanut-Butter-Chocolate-Drizzled-Popcorn-5-25-oz-Sharing-Size-Bag/1143678285

My wife is googling cream cheese cherry cookies, she says that really sounds good.

[Kali]

7. eh, that sounds a little too over the top for me, but I bet everyone else in the family would like it.

here is my recipe:

1/2 cup butter
3 oz cream cheese (I double recipe and just use whole pkg, so 4 oz is fine)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
~cup crushed rice crispy cereal
maraschino cherries, halved

cream butter, cream cheese, and sugar. add extract then dry ingredients (mixed/sifted). refrigerate dough. roll into ~1 inch balls then in cereal. push a cherry half, cut side down into cookie to slightly imbed and flatten. bake 350 F for ~10-12 minutes. barely browned on bottom. should be kind of soft and fluffy inside, rather than fully crisp

[Emile]

11. My wife says thanks for the recipe.

[Marthe48]

10. I've had the Harry and David moose tracks popcorn

I literally can't stop. I hope you enjoy your homemade Reese PB popcorn

[MOMFUDSKI]

6. I always make my mom's Pecan Fingers.

Husband loves them. I hesitate to make any other cookies because he will eat them all and gain weight. I am diabetic so can only have a few at a time. But it is my Christmas tradition since forever. Happy baking to you!

[Staph]

12. From time to time, I've made a Buche De Noel (Yule Log) as a Christmas dessert.

But I now have a brother-in-law who can't have caffeine, and a Bûche De Noël is loaded with chocolate and instant expresso in the filling and icing.

So I'm going to try substituting peanut butter powder. It will be a light-colored bark!

[Marthe48]

13. Going from mahogany to maple

I've seen pictures, such a pretty dessert. Let us know how it turns out

[justaprogressive]

14. One word

Marzipan.

[yellowdogintexas]

15. This is high baking season for me, and I love it. Baking is therapy for me

So far:
Thanksgiving: chocolate pound cake and hot yeast rolls

Sunday School Class Christmas Auction: chocolate pound cake and rum cake (this was last night)

This coming week:
For Tarrant County Democratic Party Online Silent Auction: chocolate pound cake and rum cake.

I may also get a request from the live auction winners from last night - they get to request a cake when they need it and pick the type of cake.

Family Christmas party: Chocolate pound cake and rolls (at least these folks are consistent! The cake was my grandmother-in-law's signature dessert.

Gift of gratitude to a good friend: Coconut layer cake with pineapple and coconut mixed with the frosting between the layers and frosted on the outside with Ermine Frosting and lots of coconut. He does not know it but he is also getting a quart of boiled custard because you have to have custard with this cake!

I am trying to use up all my rum because I want to start using a locally made rum from a distillery owned by a staunch Democrat! He is so generous with our fundraisers, so I bought a bottle of his bourbon. I am definitely going to bake him a bourbon cake as a thank you (just not between now and Christmas)

[Marthe48]

17. Thanks for reminding me

My grandson also requested a chocolate rum cake. And I'll make hard sauce to go with it

[yellowdogintexas]

22. I have been tempted to try a chocolate rum cake or even a chocolate bourbon cake

I found recipes for both on Pinterest.

[Marthe48]

23. I found a recipe last year

My friend used to send me a Capt. Breck's Chocolate Rum Cake. I think he retired, because she hadn't sent one for a long time. I longed for it, and found a recipe that is very near to what she sent. And thanks for reminding me again-I need to get a bottle of rum. Low on all my alcohol!

[yellowdogintexas]

24. Chocolate pound cake #3 is out of the oven and cooling on the counter

It slipped right out of the pan, too.

This one is for the Democratic Party Online Silent Auction

The Rum cake for the auction will probably be made tomorrow. They will go in the freezer until I take them to headquarters.

The Party is hosting a combination ballot draw and holiday party next Wednesday night. I am going to make a second rum cake for that.

As expected, one of the folks who bought cake at the live auction last Saturday has requested a cake for Christmas Eve. Italian Cream Cake for her husband's birthday.

[yellowdogintexas]

25. after all these rum cakes, I have found the perfect rum cake recipe

combine the dry ingredients and whisk together in a large bowl

combine the wet ingredients and whisk, then mix with the dry. You can just mix it with a whisk. Because it calls for melted butter and oil, there is no creaming. No stand mixer. Her unique method for coating the pan is awesome.

eggs are separated and the whites whipped into a merengue which you fold into the batter. I use my hand mixer to whip the egg whites.

https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/rum-cake-from-scratch/

I have made it using rum or bourbon.

PS I made another rum cake last night. I still have a coconut cake, an Italian Cream Cake and yet another chocolate pound cake before Christmas. I have used up an entire package of Costco butter, 10 pounds of sugar, untold numbers of eggs and at least 10 pounds of flour.

[spinbaby]

18. I just this morning started baking

I’m off to a late start this year. Chocolate chip and ginger snaps to start, then we’ll see. I have to bake nut free because of an allergy in the family, which is a bit frustrating.

[Marthe48]

19. It is hard to do

At Thanksgiving, I baked rolls for a family that has nut, dairy, and egg allergies. I baked a batch of water rolls, and a batch of milk rolls after the water rolls were done. Also have to watch for gluten-free, vegetarian and low-carb. Sure not like it used to be

[yellowdogintexas]

26. try these somewhat adult cookies

adult because they have cayenne pepper in them

https://grannysfavorites.wordpress.com/2017/01/15/mexican-chocolate-icebox-cookies-2/

Make them up ahead of time, shape into a roll, then freeze until you want to bake them. Very heavy chocolate.

[True Dough]

20. I had to come looking for this thread, Marthe!

I spotted the title yesterday and thought it was in the Lounge. Later, I saw this post on a friend's Facebook page and I immediately thought of your thread. I'm not encouraging you to make these for Christmas, but figured you might be inspired...

[Marthe48]

21. lolol

I'm stealing that for my nephew! Usually he asks me to send rum balls. Thanks for the the good laugh. True Dough!