This year it is a very late start to Christmas baking, due, yet again, to work, plus three interstate trips in the last couple of weeks. Prior to last year I managed to work not quite full time, which gave me a little bit of time to do other things. At the moment, I feel like I don’t have time to <think> about cooking, let alone write about it!

Nonetheless, I feel like the Christmas baking, and the Christmas baking post, is something I can’t miss altogether, so I’m still going to give it a go, starting with a couple of items for the work Christmas bake sale this coming week before (hopefully) a selection for friends and family.

As in previous years, this is published while in progress, rather than as a completed record after Christmas, to combine the roles of running sheet and some form of commitment. Despite a hugely busy year, my ambitions are I’m sure still tracking ahead of reality, though I’ve deliberately chosen options that are pretty straightforward to make, and I’m only making the sugar cookies if my daughter agrees to ice them 🙂

So, to my baking plans, shared ahead of time as I did in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

For those of you interested in also trying some Christmas baking, there are many Christmas baking recipes on the blog, which are all linked in the list below, along with a few of my favourites from elsewhere on the web, and a couple from books.

I think of deciding on my baking list as a little like decorating the Christmas tree – use lots of favourites, ditch a couple that are past their due date, or need a break, and usually (though not this year) add a couple of new ones.

As always, I’ll be interested to hear any feedback along the way…like which recipes (not already ticked off) you’d like to see first, any thoughts on baking order, and absolutely I’d love to hear about your own Christmas baking favourites!

And if you think you might be going to be the recipient of some Christmas goodies this  year, and you want them to be a surprise, then look away now 🙂

Cakes, bread and pies

Robyn’s Christmas cake – baked 14/10

Dark fruit cake – baked xx/12

Stained glass window cake – baked 23/12

Bars and Slices

Cherry Ripe bars – base made 15/12, baked 18/12 (store in freezer)

Ginger Crunch – baked 10/12

Classic shortbread – baked 20/12

Grand Marnier brownies – baked 9/12

*New this year* Makronenshnitten (Walnut macaroon with jam) – baked 21/12

Biscuits

Green tea almond and coffee walnut shortbreads (plus a berry pistachio version)- baked 15/12

Pecan powder puffs – baked xx/12

Almond cardamom circlets – baked 22/12

Iced sugar cookies – baked xx/12

Zebra cookies – baked 18/12

Neapolitan cookies (adapted from Zebra cookies) – baked 9/12

Rosewater and cafè latte meringues – baked 15/12

Confectionary

Choc-espresso fudge – made 16/12 (but this batch didn’t quite work, so will be choc fudge sauce :))

Passion-fruit fudge – made 22/12 (store in freezer)

Eggnog fudge – made 17/12 (store in freezer)

Fruit-nut balls – made 17/12 (store in fridge)

Coffee-walnut toffee – made 20/12

Christmas pudding truffles – made xx/12