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Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, we have officially entered cookie baking season. Last year was a rough one for me, and I remember sitting at the kitchen counter crying my eyes out because the thought of baking one holiday cookie just added more to my plate that was already overflowing. Cookie baking is something that I have always loved to do, and for as long as I can remember, I even spend my entire birthday on the 23rd making cookie boxes for friends and family. It's the gift that they all want and ask for every year, and the thought of letting everyone down weighed heavily on my heart. My husband ended up convincing me not to give up the beloved tradition, but suggested that maybe I cut down on the amount I normally bake and scrap the recipes that take a lot of time to make. At first I felt like Scrooge, but in the end I felt a sense of relief at still being able to scrape enough yummy cookies together to fill the boxes, and knowing that I still had some time left over to decompress and enjoy the holidays as well. This year I decided to keep that same energy and just stick with recipes that yield a lot of cookies per batch so I am not spending the majority of the Christmas season in the kitchen, but rather enjoying everything else fun that comes with the holidays. I nixed my sugar cookies because those always take the longest, and decided to replace them with Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies instead. This Golden Blossom Honey recipe seems like a Godsend, netting 3 dozen cookies per batch, so you can knock out a whole lot of space in those boxes without spending a whole lot of time in the kitchen.
What I love most about these cookies is that they have an air of being fancy, but the reality is that you should probably have all of the ingredients already on hand since they are all pantry staples. At least in our house they are. And this recipe proves that even with basic ingredients, you can still mix up one posh cookie, perfect for holiday gift giving without over the top or expensive ingredients. While I am a huge fan of the classic oatmeal raisin cookie, using dried cranberries in place of raisins just makes it that much more elegant and festive for the holiday season. Even if you aren't making cookies for other's this year, it's a delightful recipe to whip up for yourself. For my trial run batch, I paired mine with some berry flavored green tea, which made for the perfect Hallmark Christmas movie watching snack. Which now makes me wonder if these cookies are better to give or receive? The only logical solution would be to give a few away, but make sure you keep some for yourself because you deserve to treat yourself at the holidays, too!
Ingredients
3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup GOLDEN BLOSSOM HONEY
1 egg
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups quick cooking oats (not instant)
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup walnuts chopped, optional
Frosting:
1 cup powdered confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon orange juice
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How many different varieties of cookies do you bake during the holidays?
Hope ya won't be crying this year LOL Or hire an elf to help you in baking.
ReplyDeleteThese do look lovely indeed! We do not really have cookie baking tradition in my country, we usually make walnut baklava for New Years and that is it, but my mother has always been stingy with food, so maybe other houses bake a lot. I know I always missed tortes and layered cakes during the holidays, because she never made those and I loved creamy stuff not the dry ones. In the end I stopped eating sugar, so I will die LOL wanting for such cakes and cream pies.
Seasonal depression hit hard again this year, but I'm powering through. I didn't put up any decorations this year. Figured it was best to keep everything low-key and not stress myself out. I did buy a Christmas tree. You'll be happy to know that it wasn't chopped down this year. It's actually potted and I plan to repot it this spring in my back yard.
DeleteLike you, I love creamy layer desserts as well. I've given up a lot of sugar lately myself, cut back on the gluten, and eat like a bird most days. I feel like I'm living off of avocados, bananas and oatmeal. Oh, and broccoli soup. Trying to get my gut biome back on track. Stress threw me for a loop this autumn and put my tummy on the fritz :(
I understand that, I had a few calm months tummywise and then ate pizza yesterday since I haven't baked it in half a year or so, and, of course, that little ementaler I put on it fucked my stomach and now I will be suffering for a few weeks probably.
DeleteI’m sorry that you were so stressed last year, but I totally get it. I tried to get most of my gift shopping done the last two weeks. I’ve cut way back on cookie making and will probably just do 3-4 this year (and one of those will be magic cookie bars, which is the family favorite). Mine are big soft ginger cookies.
ReplyDeleteOnes that you want to eat too are a win. Unless you eat them all before you get a chance to gift them haha Best to just do what is easiest and not stress indeed.
ReplyDeleteJason would eat them all instead of me. Can't keep a cookie around here if he's in the house LOL
DeleteOh yes, those sound delicious. I love all kinds of cookies. lol
ReplyDeleteI've rarely met a cookie that I don't like LOL
DeleteGracias por la receta. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI always wondered why people hate on the raisins but now that you've mentioned the option of using cranberries instead (she says with her big cup of coffee and orange cranberry muffin beside her), I'm kicking raisins to the curb. I love cranberries and these cookies look delicious. I have nothing to do today but bake and you've inspired me!! The house is about to start smelling really good (the perfect scent to usher in the Christmas season). P.S. I think it's nice that you make cookie boxes for friends, and it's smart to scale back if you want to. I am 100% positive the boxes are still 100% loved. It's always the thought and care that is the gift. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI envy your free day! A cozy home filled with the scents of holiday baking is always so comforting! Thank you for your lovely words, my friend. You are so right. The boxes were still appreciated and nobody grumbled about what was missing, so it all worked out in the end.
DeleteThere was a time that I really enjoyed baking holiday cookies and giving them to friends and neighbors. Then I realized it was exhausting me and I just stopped! I guess do it if you enjoy it. These cookies look easy and really delicious. thanks
ReplyDeleteI think the older we get, the less we want to deal with the fuss of wearing ourselves out for the sake of "tradition." I didn't even put up the holiday decorations this year because I just didn't want the extra work putting them all up (an all day event) then taking it all down and packing it up a month later. I'd rather do something else that brings me peace and happiness.
DeleteThis looks so delicious. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteRampdiary
Thank you! You as well!
DeleteI can so relate to this! There are years when I seem to have time for baking cookies, and then there are years where simply making it to Chirstmas with my wits still intact is about all I can do! It's unreal how much time it takes to bake a bunch of different cookies and boxx them all up as gifts. It's one of my favorite things to do, too - like it is for you. It's so important to balance your desire to do these things with the realities of what you can do. And this year, the distance from Thanksgiving to Christmas is as short as it can possibly be. These cranberry cookies will be delightful to all you share them with, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeff. It feels nice to be seen and have someone understand. It's a joyful tradition that can be draining at the same time. I'm sure most people do appreciate the thought, so I'm not even going to stress about the cookies as much this year.
DeleteThis Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie recipe sounds absolutely delicious and perfect for the holidays! I love how it balances simplicity with elegance—using pantry staples but still giving off a festive vibe with the dried cranberries and orange zest. It’s also great that you’ve adapted to a less stressful baking routine while still making sure to keep your traditions alive.
ReplyDeleteAs for the question, I usually bake about three or four different types of cookies during the holidays. I like to have a variety for different tastes—classic chocolate chip, something festive like gingerbread, and a couple of crowd-pleasers like thumbprint cookies or shortbread. How about you? Do you have any other cookie varieties in mind this year?
Oh, I forgot all about thumbprint cookies! We made those many years ago and they were a real crowd pleaser. I may have to save that idea and maybe make them for Valentine's Day when it's not so stressful around here. We also always make a chocolate chip cookie, but then I put in peanut butter buckeyes into the boxes as well, so it's not all cookies, but a little candy treat too.
DeleteNot spending the majority of the Christmas season in the kitchen sounds like a good idea. Couldn't agree more. Hope you're doing fine.
ReplyDeleteBlue