I’ve always loved cooking and baking, but there’s something about doing it around the holiday season that feels that much more fun and special! Growing up, I would always help my mom in the kitchen, especially for holiday parties and get togethers. Being in the kitchen around this time of year always reminds me of the hours we would spend making cookies, prepping for Thanksgiving, and taste-testing just about everything (arguably the best part, no?) and brings back great memories! While it’s not quite as fun when I’m doing it by myself, I still like to create some festive treats for gatherings and celebrations. I never like to show up empty-handed somewhere, especially during the holiday season. It’s nice to have homemade desserts on hand (you can freeze any you don’t use right away!) and to bring them to the host/hostesses home on a pretty platter that they can keep as a “thank you” gift!
Items featured in this post:
antique copper measuring cups, marble serving platter, 6 piece copper bakeware set, mixing bowl set, striped apron, holiday dish towels
If you’re in the market for some new baking supplies this holiday season, consider looking at the selection that Walmart has. Not only do they have fantastic prices on your kitchen essentials, like measuring cups, mixing bowls, and baking sheets, but they also have some festive goods, too! This collection of cookie cutters is so cute. I used some of the things that I recently ordered to make up two different cookies for a weekend with friends and everything held up and washed super easily. If you shop their selection, don’t forget that you can get free delivery on orders over $35!
Now onto the tasty part: the cookies and desserts I like to make this time of year! I usually stick the classics and things I’ve made before, since it’s less likely that I’ll mess them up! My favorite things to make: Ritz crackers with peanut butter and chocolate (making them in this post!), ginger snaps, classic cutout cookies, fudge, and chocolate-dipped pretzels (an easy crowd-pleaser!). If I’m feeling particularly adventurous, I may make some sort of toffee or something, but usually stick to those listed above.
I think what I like so much about the classics is that there’s no mystery – people know exactly what they’re going to get when they pick one of them up. Surely you’ve been to a holiday party before where you’re browsing the dessert table and can only identify one of the options. While that’s not a bad thing (it’s always good to expand your horizons, right?!), I love the comfort that comes from seeing a ginger snap or classic cutout cookie and knowing it’s going to be good.
As I mentioned earlier in the post, one of my favorite hostess gifts this time of year is to make something homemade (or you can do a store-bought dessert) and bring it on a pretty platter or serving dish. If you want to gift the hostess with something as a thank you for hosting, you can let her know that the platter is hers to keep! Everyone can use a pretty platter, either for food or just as a decorative piece, so it’s a win-win.
And now I’m going to go enjoy the fruits of my labor and indulge in a cookie or two! Will you be doing any baking this holiday season? If so, what are your favorite things to make? I can always use more ideas!
A big thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own.
