#JenB Bakes ... December Desserts and Breads

 

There are so many baking/dessert possibilities to create in December ... in previous years, I tried out some new cookies (Grinch Cookies and Crinkle Cookies in 2018,  Peppermint Puffs in 2019) and some Blackham classics ... gingersnaps, Swedish Spritz, chocolate chip with red&green m&ms, copycat Swig cookies, chut-out sugar cookies, mint and marshmallow brownies, and of course, Chex mix! Between finding the time, and trying NOT to put on pounds over the holidays, I didn't get to making everything.

2022 holiday desserts included Swedish Spritz with my cute snowflake and tree cookie press patterns. One of the templates broke ... so I had to order a whole new set (I HAD to). I made one batch of peppermint puffs, just dropping them by the spoonful rather than messing with a bag and tip (not quite as cute, but they were just for Coop and I to eat. Me with crushed candy cane sprinkled on top, Coop prefers them without). Swig cookies were prepped for parties ... they are great to make ahead and freeze, as are the brownies (the former brought to both family Christmas parties, the latter just to the Westra gathering). Chex mix is an annual holiday treat too, something the gluten-free crowd can eat.  Not made by Jen, but there were the classic Westra gingersnaps, and Gray made a light cheesecake pie. 

Cinnamon pull-aparts were baked up Christmas morning (while Jen does make cinnamon rolls from scratch, these were just Rhoads set out over night to rise). Jen prepped chicken noodle soup and breadsticks for both family parties, adding some orange rolls/regular rolls, and Brazilian cheese rolls too. 

While the rolls can be baked ahead of time, the breadsticks really need to be baked fresh. There were two full pans brought to the Blackham Bash ... and we ran out of breadsticks. So for the Westra party, it was a double batch of dough, and five pans of breadsticks (in addition to the rolls).  We'd had ONE of these plastic lids for the big baking sheet, and Gray pulled it out to transport the pans to the first party. It was so handy, that he bought several more ... early (and appreciated) present for Jen, and it made a HUGE difference, making the pans stackable, both for raising and for transport. They are a game changer!

The Westra party was held at the new house in Highland. Two ovens in Shane and Alicia's kitchen, and another over in the attached home of the folks. So there were a couple pans of breadsticks going in the main kitchen, and the Brazilian cheese rolls baking up in Mom/Margie's oven ... with Jen running in between. The two kitchens are quite close together, but still, quite a few steps on the Fitbit getting the breads baked up for the Westra party. Jen had a 20k day on Christmas Eve. Hopefully holding off some of the calories from all these carbs!