Cakes and Cookies-Holiday Style
When I think of the holidays, one thing that comes to mind is all the awesome cakes and cookies that celebrate the season that come in many shapes, sizes, and flavors.
Decorated cut out cookies and Gingerbread are festive treats that mark the holidays with their signature flare and spiced touch.
Memories And Inspiration
Looking back, first married and starting to learn how to bake. Over the years and after my kids arrived, we decided to have some fun with decorating sugar cookies come December time!
Kids love this, its such a great way to get the whole family involved in celebrating the season. We humbly started off with a simple powdered sugar icing and tons of sprinkles.
Not only did we have fun, we made some great memories and huge messes! However, wearing more of the sugar then the cookies, but it was all worth it!
Now my kids are grown and the cookie decorating gets a solo run by yours truly. This year I wanted to make some new designs to my Christmas cookie collection and definitely uniquely incorporate gingerbread cake.
Cookies
Cookie designs this year were a springboard off ones I made for some of our Embassies. Working alongside a non-profit organization, the cookies will be delivered to the various embassies during the holidays. Check out my post here.
In addition to those, I’m adding some of our traditional cookies to the mix that are family favorites. Trying some new ones too!
2019 Favorites
- Decorated Christmas Trees, Stars, Gifts, and Wreaths
- Chocolate Snowflakes
- Blue Snowflake Globes
- Candy Canes
- Peanut Butter Kisses
- Chocolate Krinkle
- Raspberry Linzer and Thumbprints
- Chocolate Peppermint
Just love all the colors of the cookies and when put onto platters as gifts, it makes for a great collection and flavors that will please everyone’s sweet tooth, as well as, the eye.
Cakes
Last year, I made gingerbread cake cutouts, you can check out the post here. On tap for this year, is a gingerbread cake village. Great discovery at Home Goods, was this neat silicon pan that is perfect for miniature cakes.
This gingerbread village reminds me so much of our years in Germany and driving through all the German towns.
I take my favorite Gingerbread cake recipe and whip it up and pour into each of the greased silicon molds, about 2/3 full. This is baked off at 350 for about 30-35 minutes.
Once cooled I slice off the excess while still in the mold to make them flush with the top of the mold. Removing them is a snap, they come out super easy.
Great Centerpiece
Light dusting of powdered sugar is all you need to make them pop. You can place them on a platter with holiday candies and garland. It makes a great centerpiece and gift! And, it’s totally delicious!
What are you favorite cakes and cookies for the holidays?
