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10 Things to Bake for Winter Holidays

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Categories Recipes

The winter holidays are a special time of year, filled with warmth, family, and, of course, delicious treats.

From sweet and indulgent cookies to savory and comforting pies, you’ll find the perfect treat to make with these healthy winter recipes.

Whether you’re looking for a classic holiday favorite or something new to try, here are ten delicious and festive treats to bake for the winter holidays. So grab your apron, and let’s get baking!

  1. Classic Gingerbread Cookies

If you’re looking for a classic holiday treat to bake, gingerbread cookies are a perfect choice. Gingerbread cookies have a rich, spicy molasses flavor that is perfect for winter holidays. 

You will need:

⅔ cup unsalted butter, softened

¾ cup brown sugar

⅔ cup molasses

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla 

3 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon ginger

1 tablespoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon allspice

½ teaspoon cloves

Directions:

  1. Combine melted butter, beaten egg, brown sugar, molasses, salt, and spices.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix baking powder and flour, combine with other mixture.
  3. Divide dough into rectangles, refrigerate for 1 hour. 
  4. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  5. Roll chilled dough.
  6. Use cookie cutters to make gingerbread man shapes.
  7. Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes until slightly brown at edges
  8. Cool cookies on rack.

Add some crushed candy canes to make them more festive.

  1. Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies

Cranberries are one of the most popular and healthy winter fruits, so it’s no surprise that they are a classic addition to a winter holiday cookie recipe. 

You will need:

1/c butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 ½ cup flour

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and egg
  3. In separate bowl, mix flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon, combine with previous ingredients
  4. Add dried cranberries and chocolate chips. 
  5. Drop two tablespoons of dough onto baking sheet. 
  6. Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are browned. 
  7. Cool on rack. 

You can also easily customize this recipe by swapping the chocolate chips with toasted almonds, walnuts, or pecans to change up the flavor. 

  1. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These macadamia nut cookies are topped with white chocolate chips, making them even more decadent and delicious. 

You will need:

1 cup melted butter

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

2 eggs

½ teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon almond extract

2 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

1 cup chopped white chocolate

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix butter, sugars, and eggs.
  3. Stir in vanilla and almond extract
  4. In separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt, combine with previous ingredients.
  5. Stir in chopped macadamia nuts and white chocolate. 
  6. Drop 2 tablespoons of dough onto cookie sheet. 
  7. Bake for 10 minutes. 
  8. Cool on rack.
  1. Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Crumble Topping

The pecan crumbles topping adds a crunchy autumn flavor to this classic pie. 

You will need:

1 pie shell

2 cups canned pumpkin

1 can condensed milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

Pecan Streusel Topping:

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup flour

¼ cup butter

¼ cup chopped pecans

Pecan Streusel Topping directions:

  1. Combine brown sugar, flour, and butter.
  2. Stir in chopped pecans.
  3. Set aside

Pumpkin Pie directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 
  2. Combine pumpkin, condensed milk, eggs, spices, and salt
  3. Pour mixture into pie shell. 
  4. Bake for 15 minutes. 
  5. Bake at 350 F. for 25 minutes
  6. Sprinkle pecan topping over pie.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown.
  1. Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

This rich and gooey chocolate peppermint brownie recipe is sure to become your home’s new holiday baking classic. 

You will need:

1 ⅓ cup flour

1 cup baking cocoa

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

¾ cup vegetable oil

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

⅔ cup crushed peppermint candies

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix together flour, baking cocoa, salt, and baking powder
  3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, vanilla, oil, and sugar, combine with previous ingredients
  4. Stir in peppermint candies 
  5. Spread mixture into greased baking pan.
  6. Bake 35 minutes.
  7. Cool on rack before cutting.
  1. Dutch Apple Pie

Apple pie is a classic fall dessert, and it’s the perfect addition to a winter holiday. 

You will need:

1 pie crust

8 cups peeled apples

½ cup sugar

¼ cup flour

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Cinnamon Streusel topping:

1/c butter, softened

1 cup flour

⅔ cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon white sugar

Cinnamon Streusel directions:

  1. Mix butter, flour, and sugars.
  2. Set aside.

Apple Pie directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Mix apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
  3. Pour mixture into pie crust. 
  4. Sprinkle cinnamon streusel mixture over the top. 
  5. Bake 45 minutes until crust is golden brown.
  6. Cool on rack.
  1. Eggnog Cheesecake

If you’re craving something sweet and creamy for your holiday dessert table, an eggnog cheesecake is the perfect choice.

You will need:

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust

1 package cream cheese, softened

1 cup white sugar

¾ cup eggnog

3 tablespoons flour

2 eggs

1 pinch nutmeg

2 tablespoons rum extract

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Mix cream cheese, sugar, eggnog, flour, and eggs. 
  3. Stir in rum extract and nutmeg. 
  4. Pour mixture into pre-made crust.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes.
  6. Reduce heat to 250°F.
  7. Bake for 45 minutes until cheesecake is firm.
  8. Cool on rack.
  1. Cranberry Orange Bread

This bread is easy to make, and it’s sure to be a hit at your dessert table. 

You will need:

2 cups flour

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ cup butter, softened

¾ cup orange juice

1 large egg

1 cup cranberries

½ cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and butter. 
  3. Mix eggs into mixture. 
  4. Stir in orange juice. 
  5. Add cranberries and walnuts. 
  6. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. 
  7. Bake for one hour. 
  8. Cool on rack. 
  1. Caramel Apple Pie Bars

These caramel apple pie bars are another perfect fall treat to add to your holiday baking table. 

You will need:

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup butter, softened

¼ cup shortening

1 ¾ cup flour

1 ½ cup cooking oats

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

4 ½ cups peeled apples

1 bag caramels

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 400°F.
  2. Combine brown sugar, butter, and shortening. 
  3. Stir in flour, oats, salt, baking soda, and apples. 
  4. Pour mixture into greased pan. 
  5. Melt caramels, pour over mixture. 
  6. Bake 30 minutes until golden brown. 
  7. Cool on rack before cutting into 6 by 6 rows.
  1. Candy Cane Fudge

This candy cane fudge is perfect for sharing at your holiday gathering. 

You will need:

2 packages vanilla baking chips

1 can condensed milk

1 ½ cup crushed candy canes

½ teaspoon peppermint extract

1 drop red food coloring

Directions:

  1. Heat vanilla chips and condensed milk until chips are almost melted. 
  2. Stir in candy canes, peppermint extra, and food coloring. 
  3. Spread in greased square pan. 
  4. Refrigerate for two hours. 
  5. Cut into squares.

The holidays are a time for indulging in festive treats. Whip up some of these festive treats for your friends and family this winter.