Whether you're a self-proclaimed home chef or a kitchen novice, what better time than the holidays to try some new and exciting recipes! Fresh, baked goods compliment any holiday gathering and can even make for personalized, memorable gifts.
Both a real estate agent and expert baker, Mary Therese Baird of Brown Harris Stevens Montclair has been delighting family and friends with her recipes for years. Here are three of her top recommendations.
Sparkled Ginger Cookies
No winter holiday dessert table is complete without a ginger cookie! The warm, spicy, sweet flavor suits the season perfectly. These are flavorful and easy to make, and they even can be made vegan if the proper molasses is used!
Ingredients:
2 Cups of Flour
1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
2 1/2 Tablespoons of Ground Ginger
1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Cup of Canola or Vegetable Oil
1/4 Cup of Molasses (dark or light)
1/4 Cup Soy or Almond Milk
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a mixer, combine the oil and sugar before adding vanilla and molasses and blend. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to wet ingredients with the plant milk before blending.
Place 1-tablespoon spoonful's of batter onto your cookie sheet and sprinkle with additional sugar to taste. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the tops start to crack. Feel free to bake a bit longer if you prefer extra-crispy cookies!
Ma's Linzers
Derived from the classic Austrian Linzer torte, these Linzer cookies feature raspberry preserves and plenty of butter. They are not only delicious, they present and photograph beautifully.
Ingredients:
1 Cup (2 Sticks) of Room-Temperature Butter
3/4 Cup of Confectioners Sugar
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
2 Cups of Flour
1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
1/4 Teaspoon of Baking Powder
Raspberry Preserves
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet(s) with parchment paper. Cream the butter and confectioners sugar for 3-4 minutes. Add vanilla, making sure the consistency is pasty. Add the dry ingredients and mix until blended—note, the dough will be dense!
Use an ice cream scoop to scoop the dough onto trays, with one inch between each scoop. Use your finger or comparable tool to make a well in the center of each scoop and spoon 1/2-1 teaspoon of preserves into each. Bake 8-12 minutes and allow to cool before serving.
The Peggy Brunch Bake
Looking to make an easy, delicious breakfast to enjoy while opening presents? The Peggy Brunch Break is as simple as it is indulgent. It needs to be prepared the night prior, meaning you can just pull it out of the fridge and place it in the oven when the time comes.
Ingredients:
10 Slices of Challah Bread, Cut into Cubes
½ Pound of Grated Swiss Cheese
½ Pound of Grated Cheddar Cheese
1 Pound of Cubed Ham, Cooked Sausage or Cooked Bacon
6 Large Eggs
2 ½ Cups of Milk
½ Teaspoon of Dry or Regular Mustard
½ Teaspoon of Salt
½ Cup of Melted Butter or Margarine
Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Place 2/3 of the cubed bread into the pan and cover with both cheeses and your meat(s) of choice. Whisk eggs, milk, mustard, and salt in a bowl and pour over the mixture. Top with the remaining cubed bread pieces and drizzle with melted butter or margarine.
Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 20 minutes until firm.
