Christmas Cookie and Candy Time!

It’s official, the holiday season is here in full swing. Can you believe it? The time of endless goodies, candy, tasty food and all of this in abundance. Yes, food does seem to be a big focus this time of year, explains all of the resolutions we all will be making in a few weeks to loose weight and eat healthier.

One of my favorite things about the Holiday season is the baking and candy making. I love being able to go into my kitchen and create the tasty treats that are a must have, if for nothing more then traditions sake. You know you have some of those. The cookie that just says it’s Christmas time. The candy that grandma always had on hand for when grand kids stopped by.

One of my favorite holiday cookies have always been rolled sugar cookies. All of the endless shapes, sprinkles and icing. Decorating cookies in my house is a tradition. My kids get involved and we all have a fun afternoon of sugar sprinkles, candy and icing in all of the colors of the season.

The best sugar cookie icing I have made is just a mixture of powdered sugar and enough water to make it the consistency you want. I like it to be about the thickness of pancake batter. Color your icing any color you desire or just leave it plain, adding your color with sprinkles and colored sugar.

Gingerbread cookies are just the perfect flavor for the holiday season. Whether you make a gingerbread house or just simple cut out men or trees. This recipe is amazingly close to the traditional gluten-filled version you may remember.

If you really don’t want to have to roll out cookies, try these melt in your mouth sugar cookies! Grandma’s sugar cookies are just like my grandma used to make for me when I was little. So good and full of wonderful memories of cooking in my grandma’s kitchen on a winter afternoon.

Candy making is another tradition. For me, it was started by my grandmother who made many kinds of candy each holiday season. I loved her peanut brittle. It was just one of those treats that made the holiday season special. She only made it for Christmas, though she made more batches than she could count. Thankfully it’s an easy recipe and is almost fool proof! I made it many times as a young teenager.

Another of grandma’s favorites was peanut butter fudge and I’ll admit that it’s become a favorite of my kids too! Another easy recipe that always worked well. What could be better than chocolate and peanut butter together?

This year, I have found a new favorite. My family has declared that this recipe has got to be added to our “traditional holiday candy” list. What is it? Marshmallows! Yes, you read that right. They are super easy to make if you have a good stand mixer and a candy thermometer. Dip the peppermint marshmallows in melted chocolate and you will have an amazing treat to add to your cookie exchange plates. Everyone will be amazed! I know my husband was when I made them this year. He had no idea anyone could just “make” marshmallows. :)

Are you looking for a super easy candy that everyone will absolutely love? Avalanche bark makes a stunning presentation and is so amazingly tasty! Spread it out thin on a baking sheet for a traditional bark presentation, or press it into a loaf pan for a thicker “hunk” of tasty goodness.

All of these ideas make wonderful gifts, are perfect for that cookie exchange at the office or with your church group and will make the holidays special for your loved ones too. It’s amazing how a little time spent in your kitchen can bring so much holiday joy to everyone around you. Even if you just buy a cookie mix and make it your own special creation, it just makes the holidays that much more special!

Have a safe, happy and tasty Holiday Season!