For the last 10 years (we think?) my girlfriend and I have been getting together in late November or early December to do some Christmas baking. We started doing this before we had kids! We both love cooking and baking and spending time together - it just made sense. This year we decided to invite a few lucky ladies, my sister and sister-in-laws, along for the ride. It was an amazing day...we filled the house with laughter and baking...no kids allowed. Here are the things you need to do to have a successful holiday baking day.
1. Everyone who is invited has to pick one recipe to make and bring all the ingredients they need to make the cookies.
2. Everyone brings baking sheets, parchment paper, whatever they need.
3. Start early (we start at 1pm) it is going to take you longer than you think.
4. Read all the recipes together on the day...some recipes need to be refrigerated for a period of time, so they need to be made first.
5. Be aware of the baking temperatures...while you are baking in a lot of cookies you don't want to burn a lot of cookies.
6. Some recipes can be mixed and then taken home to bake (we didn't get around to baking my cookie dough so everyone got a portion of dough to take home)
7. Bring storage containers to take your freshly baked cookies home in.
8. Make a dinner dish in a crock pot (my husband put together an amazing meat sauce)...less fuss.
9. Invite all the men and children back to the house for a big family style dinner...no fuss.
In the end you have spent the day with friends and made some delicious cookies. This year I my contribution was this recipe for Sparkly Ginger Cookies.
¾ cup unsalted, softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/ cup light cane syrup (Lyle's Golden Syrup)
¼ cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup turbinado sugar or other raw sugar
1. In a large bowl, beat butter with granulated sugar until fluffy.
2. Add in the egg and syrup.
3. Stir in crystallized sugar.
4. In separate bowl whisk together flour, ginger, baking soda, cloves and salt.
5. Stir dry ingredients gradually into wet ingredients until combined.
6. Refrigerate until firm...about 2 hours.
7. Place turbinado sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll dough by rounded teaspoon balls in the sugar to coat.
8. Place 2" apart on parchment lined baking sheet.
8. Bake in 350F preheated oven for 12-14 minutes...until edges are lightly browned.
9. Transfer to rack and let cool.
10. Enjoy.
