So, you don’t need me to tell you all, it’s been a hell of a year. Normally by this time in December, my Christmas baking blitz would be well and truly underway – including several that I began last month, or even the one before. So even though I still very much agree with my sentiments of last year – that more than ever this year it seems important to continue these rituals, and that for me Christmas baking, and sharing the results is a crucial part of Christmas – this year by necessity will be a rather more modest affair, and thankfully divided up a bit, because I won’t see family until the New Year.

For those of you with the energy to consider such things, this is the time to remind you about the 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.

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

As in previous years, I’m publishing this while in progress, rather than as a completed record after Christmas, to combine the roles of running sheet and some form of commitment. Despite my comments about my energy this year, my ambitions are still tracking ahead of reality (as you can see below!), though I am intending to do a lot of (relaxing) baking after Christmas too :).

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, and always 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 31/10

Dark fruit cake – baked 20/12

Stained glass window cake – baked 19/12

Bars and Slices

Cherry Ripe bars – baked 19/12 (store in freezer)

Pecan-apricot squares (or possibly mini tarts) – baked 2/1

Nussstangen (Hazelnut almond batons) – dough made 18/12, baked 21/12

*New last year* Tan squares – baked 21/12

*New this year* Ginger Crunch – baked 30/12

*New this year* Walnut streusel slice – baked 23/12

Biscuits

Green tea almond and coffee walnut shortbreads – baked 1/1

Pecan powder puffs – baked 2/1

Almond cardamom circlets – baked 30/12

Biberle – gingerbread almond nuggets – dough made 19/12, baked 27/12

Iced sugar cookies – baked xx

Zebra cookies – baked 26/12

*New this year* Fruit and nut crackers (fig, cherry & walnut / apricot, almond & pepita) – baked 23/12

*New this year* Caffè latte meringues – baked 26/12

*New this year* Lolly cake – made 1/1

Confectionary

*New last year* Maple-walnut fudge – made 30/12 (store in freezer)

Fruit-nut balls – made xx (store in fridge)

Chocolate caramel almonds – made xx

Cashew brittle (with peanuts this year) – made 29/12

*New last year* Pecan pralines – made 23/12

*New this year* Christmas pudding truffles – made 1/1