Are you looking for easy Christmas baking ideas for gifts this year? Maybe you’re looking to add something to finish off a gift? Furthermore, maybe you’re looking to spoil your co-workers or neighbor with a little treat to let them know how much you are thinking of them this holiday season.
WE ALL LOVE BAKED GOODS AND NOTHING FEELS BETTER THAN SHARING AND LETTING OTHERS FEEL CARED FOR.
Furthermore, if you have pets, especially dogs. Stick around and I’ll be sharing a recipe to give a Christmas baking idea for your pet! To show how much you love them and it will be budget-friendly!
Today I am going to be sharing the following recipes with you that we will be making this Christmas season.
Please be advised these were recipes located on the internet or collected along the way from family and friends. When possible I will try to indicate the correct source for the recipe.
Our Supply List includes a general list of items needed for baking
- Cookie Sheets Best Cookie Sheets
- Mixing bowls or Kitchen Aid Mixer
- Wooden Spools
- Spatula
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Mats The Nine Best Silicone Mats
- cooling racks
- cookie cutters
LIST OF CHRISTMAS BAKING RECIPES FOR GIFTS THIS YEAR!
PRETZEL HUGS:
Ingredients:
- circle or square-shaped pretzels
- Hershey Kisses https://www.hersheyland.com/kisses
- M & M’s
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 250 F degrees
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Align pretzels on the sheet. Unwrap Hershey’s kisses and place them on each pretzel. Stick in the oven until the hug begins to melt down. Takes approximately 4 minutes.
- While in the oven, get your M & M’s ready! As you will have to move quickly before they cool down.
- Remove pretzel hugs from the oven and gently press an M & M down on each one. The Hershey hug should flatten out when you press the M & M and down.
- Let the pretzel hugs cool completely and let the chocolate set for about ten minutes in the refrigerator
This recipe came from Sally’s Baking Addiction here is a link to her website. https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/pretzel-hugs/
The next recipe is passed down from my mom. After all nothing says the holidays more than tradition and carrying on those traditions passed to you.
SUGAR COOKIES:
Ingredients:
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup of butter/margarine
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
Mix together and form a ball. Wrap with a cover and chill overnight in the refrigerator. Take out a couple of hours to soften before rolling out and pressing the cookie cutter into the dough. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees until lightly brown on the edges.
Frosting:
- 1 egg white beat until foamy
- 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/8 tsp vanilla
- 1 3/4 cup icing sugar
Mix with a hand mixer until egg whites are foamy. Add the cream of tartar and vanilla and icing sugar slowly. Add food coloring of choice.
Also another fan favorite for Christmas baking for gifts is Oreo Coal.
Ingredients:
- 40 Oreo cookies
- block cream cheese softened
- 16 oz semisweet or melting chocolate
- 1/3 cup Oreo cookies crushed or cocoa powder
Directions:
Using a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Grind the Oreos into crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a medium bowl and furthermore, add cream cheese. Use a fork to mix until well combined.
Using one tablespoon of the mixture form it into a ball. Place them on a plate and into the fridge for about thirty minutes to one hour to firm up.
Melt the chocolate either in the microwave or in a double boiler until melted and smooth. Dip each Oreo ball into the melted chocolate, then set it onto parchment paper. Sprinkle immediately with crushed Oreos.
This recipe for Christmas baking came from Delish. Please see the link to the recipe and check out their website. Delish website Oreo Coal
Salted Caramel & Chocolate Pretzels
Ingredients:
- Salted Caramel Chips
- Chocolate Chips
- Pretzels
- Small Ziploc Bag
- Pink Himalayan Salt
Instructions:
Basically lay out the pretzels on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Afterward, take the small Ziploc bag and cut off one corner of the end. Furthermore, melt the chocolate and salted caramel chips and stir them together. Scoop the melted chocolate into the Ziploc bag. Drizzle the chocolate over the pretzels and then sprinkle with the pink Himalayan salt. Put in the refrigerator to set.
In essence, the next item on our list is one of the easiest to make but packs such a powerful punch in taste, texture, and quality.
Mint Bark:
Ingredients for Dark Chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups of Cacao butter
- 2 or 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 3/4 cup Maple Syrup or Agave
- 1 1/2 cups of cacao powder
Ingredients for White Chocolate
- 1/3 cup of cacao butter
- 1/3 cup of coconut oil
- one block of chopped white baking chocolate
- 12 drops of mint essential oil
Instructions:
In a double boiler mix the ingredients for the dark chocolate. Furthermore, once everything is melted pour the liquid ingredients into a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then follow the same steps with the ingredients for the white chocolate in a double boiler.
Now comes the fun part! Take the cookie sheet with the liquid dark chocolate and pour the white chocolate into the same cookie sheet. Swirl the two chocolates with a toothpick or wooden spoon. Furthermore, put the cookie sheet in the freezer to set. Break into pieces and store in a Ziploc bag.
Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie Bars
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter melted
- 1/1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup cocoa
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 1/4 chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 2/3 cups peanut butter chips
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:
Heat over to 350 degrees F. Grease a pan 13 x 9 x 2.
Combine melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl and beat well. Add flour, cocoa, and milk and beat until blended. Stir in 1 cup of nuts. Spread into prepared pan.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until edges pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool
Melt 1/2 cup butter and peanut butter chips in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Add sweetened condensed milk, stirring until smooth, and pour over the baked layer.
Place chocolate chips in a small microwave bowl and place in microwave to melt chips. Drizzle the melted chocolate on the bars and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of nuts.
Refrigerate for one hour or until firm and cut into bars.
Subsequently last but not least is a treat for your dog! I found these quite easy to make and roll out. I feel you are going to love these!
Garlic Biscuits for your dog
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 2/3 cup stone ground cornmeal
- 1/2 cup sesame seeds
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
Directions:
Mix the flour, cornmeal, and sesame seeds in a large bowl. Additionally, beat the two eggs with milk, chicken broth, olive oil, and garlic. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix them into a firm dough. Let sit for fifteen minutes. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough into a thickness of a quarter of an inch. Cut with Christmas cookie cutters. Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool once removed from the oven.
This recipe came from a book I picked up at the Good Will Store titled 1001 Natural Remedies by Natural Health Magazine. I hope you enjoyed this post and we will be back soon with more content for Christmas!
