If there are two things I love, it’s winter and baking. What’s cozier than curling up next to the fire with a fun movie and a homemade treat while you watch the snow fall out the window? Here are some of my favorite wintery desserts that you can try!
- Ginger Snaps
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Ginger snaps are super impressive-seeming to make! They have such a great flavor profile with all the yummy spices, the molasses gives them the perfect crunchy-chewy texture combo, and they have the most beautiful color (especially when shimmering with sugar on top). Pro-tip: if you weigh out the dough balls as you roll them, they’ll come out perfectly uniform. Here’s a link to my favorite ginger snap recipe!
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
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Some of us prefer to eat our hot chocolate rather than drink it, and that’s okay. These cookies are super simple. Just make your favorite chewy chocolate cookie (here’s an example) and top it with a marshmallow frosting, or even a dollop of Fluff if you’re so inclined. Take these up a notch by toasting the marshmallow frosting or by adding some peppermint to the dough or on top!
- Christmas Crack
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Okay, this one isn’t really baking, but we make our own rules here. It’s super simple, but here’s an example recipe if you want one. You really just lay out saltines on a baking sheet, boil some brown sugar and butter together, pour it over the crackers, then add chocolate chips on top! Stick it in the oven to melt the chocolate, spread, and top with any festive winter toppings you’d like (crushed candy canes, fun sprinkles — the possibilities are endless).
- Swiss Roll
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This one really is pretty impressive if executed correctly. Learning to roll the sponge in the towel without cracking it, using just enough frosting to get a nice hold but not so much that it leaks, and getting the cake to set nice and symmetrically definitely takes a bit of skill and practice! However, decorating and making it an activity for a group of friends is super fun. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started!
- Cinnamon Rolls
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There’s nothing like the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven, and the ones in a tube just can’t come close to the homemade stuff. It’s a labor of love, but it’s plenty worth it. Plus, then you have a great excuse to “accidentally” make way too much frosting! Here’s my go-to recipe for cinnamon rolls.
Baking is for everyone, and I truly believe that! Whether you’re going for something simple and quick or a day-long activity, these wintery desserts are perfect for snacking this season.
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