Combining Traditions: Holiday Baking & Gifts

The scent of cinnamon, spices and mouth-watering baked goods, candies, and desserts fill the air in many households during the holiday season, as families come together to create their traditional seasonal goodies. However, during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can be hard to find the time for this time-honored tradition. Why not save yourself some money while promoting family togetherness by combining your baking and gift-giving this year?CookiesCookies are one of the simplest holiday treats to make, and the easiest for little hands to help with. Kids love helping roll out dough and cut out shapes with cookie cutters, not to mention decorating with icing and sprinkles. If you are sending sweets out of town, be sure to pick the right cookie for the job. Thin, delicate cookies will be reduced to a mess of crumbs, so pick a firm cookie that will survive shipping, such as sugar, shortbread, or bar cookies. For something a little more elegant, try this almond-ginger biscotti that is perfect to enjoy with a hot drink.CandyCandy making can be a very complicated process involving candy thermometers, molds, and a lot of stirring. Fortunately, there are simpler options if you’re a beginner or just don’t have the time to make something more involved. Pecan turtles are a simple yet delicious option, and you can’t get much easier than this five-star recipe for pretzel turtles that uses only three ingredients.SnacksIf you want to go beyond the traditional sugary treats, there are a variety of other options. Homemade granola not only tastes heavenly, it’s much healthier than the store-bought version. A fresh loaf of bread and a jar of homemade jam is another alternative that will be a hit, as well as sweet breads like poppy seed or pumpkin. For friends or relatives that may be diabetic or gluten-intolerant, mix things up with some gourmet nuts, like these spicy cocktail pecans. Almonds and walnuts are also a great choice to try your hand at spicing it up. Be sure to use wax paper or buy lined paper bags for oily or buttery treats that may stain your bag or wrapping.Put the “WOW” in Your HomeNext holiday season, entertain in the home of your dreams! Callen is the Milwaukee remodeling company you can count on for expert kitchen and bathroom remodeling in Milwaukee and surrounding areas. For more seasonal ideas and tips, visit the Callen blog.