Wintertime, to me, is all about the holidays, and the holidays are all about food, family, and friends. While this isn’t true for everyone, I am always giddy for the holidays so that I can start baking, cooking, and eating! Because of this, I spend a lot of my non-wintertime days searching for recipes and treat ideas that I can try to perfect in the winter. I know, I know, I could make these things at any time, but it doesn’t have the same feeling as cooking in the winter! So here’s a list of the recipes I’m gonna try out this winter to get me in the ~winter wonderland mood~.
1. Sugar Cookies
Yes, of course, the classic, number one holiday treat. But here’s the thing – they are tricky lil boys. Baking is a science, people, and I was never good at science!! The dough has to be precise in order to get the right texture, and decorating?? I have not perfected that and I do not know anyone who has. Luckily, these are delicious no matter what happens to the dough, and no matter how much I disappoint my middle school art teacher with my decorating “skills.”
Check out this recipe for some scientific wisdom from Alton Brown: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/sugar-cookies-recipe-1914697
Or this one if you’re looking for a vegan alternative: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/vegan-sugar-cookies/45ab6889-511a-4345-9391-9ea5c00c8d4a
2. Gingerbread Cookies
Fun fact: my boyfriend’s mom makes the best gingerbread of all time and I’m not exaggerating. However, I haven’t asked for her recipe so I’m trying to figure out a way to make it myself and then we can have holiday gingerbread battles and it will be very rom-com movie-esque fun! But, gingerbread is a classic and if you don’t like gingerbread, it’s probably because you haven’t had good gingerbread ever. So give it a shot!! Imagine making lil gingerbread people with your kids. It’s adorable, it’s quintessential, it’s probably never going to happen because children don’t have long enough attention spans, but it’s NICE TO DREAM.
Check out this recipe from a ~genius~ (apparently): http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/the-most-wonderful-gingerbread-cookies-80156
Or this one from the SAME WEBSITE for you vegans: http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/vegan-gingerbread-cut-out-cookies-345086
3. Hot Chocolate
No, I don’t mean hot chocolate from a box!! I’m not talking Swiss Mix. I mean real, homemade hot chocolate. Not only can you control the level of chocolaty-ness, but you can make as much (or as little) as you want. On a cold winter night, this is the stuff that dreams are made on.
Check out this recipe from the Queen, Martha Stewart (but don’t be afraid to put your own spin on in it – like using soy or almond milk if you’re vegan!): https://www.marthastewart.com/353001/homemade-hot-chocolate
4. Scones
I’m drooling already. But listen, folks – these are real scones. These aren’t those fake, weird, triangular(????) American scones that are everywhere and are disappointing. I’m talking Great British Baking Show scones, I’m talking Nigella Lawson scones, I’m talking your English grandmother breaking out tea, clotted cream, and jam SCONES. So don’t expect anything but buttery, flaky, deliciousness. (Do expect to do some conversions, though, because literally only three countries use imperial units anymore – use this website if you don’t want to do the math yourself: http://www.metric-conversions.org/converter.htm )
Check out this recipe from the BBC because this are not triangular, you monsters: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4622/classic-scones-with-jam-and-clotted-cream
Or this one from the cutest website I’ve ever seen if you’re vegan: http://wallflowerkitchen.com/vegan-scones-clotted-cream/
5. Red Velvet Cupcakes
Maybe it’s the red color, maybe it’s the fact that these cupcakes are essentially one cupcake masquerading as a different one, but there’s something about red velvet cupcakes that make me think of Christmas!! Cream cheese frosting is a requirement, but you could add some green food coloring for some REAL Christmas flair, or you could just add some sprinkles for a light touch of jingle bell rock.
Check out this recipe (that I have used about 1 million times because I spend my summers feeding children cupcakes for some godforsaken reason): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/red-velvet-cupcakes-recipe-1924412
Or this vegan baby: https://lovingitvegan.com/vegan-red-velvet-cupcakes/
6. Cranberry Orange Loaf Cake
This definitely isn’t a classic, but I’ve been seeing it on pinterest so much and it looks so good and so holiday-esque that I have to try it. Plus, loaf cakes are like… my favorite kind of treat. Moist, tasty, but much easier to cut than a regular cake. It’s kind of like eating bread!! But it’s also cake.
Check out this recipe (and try not to drool): http://www.kitchme.com/recipes/cranberry-orange-loaf-cake
And YOU BET I found a vegan one: http://neuroticmommy.com/2015/11/25/vegan-cranberry-orange-loaf-cake/