So, it’s that time again, time for the Christmas baking plans to be unveiled. It’s been yet another very busy year, largely work rather than pandemic related, so I really should stop expecting the mythical relaxed lead in at this point and go with it! Last year, my early baking, as you can see on the 2021 page, was heavily focused on bars, slices, and easy confectionery, purely because they’re quicker to make. As we were seeing family in the New Year, I saved a few more time consuming ones for after Christmas. This year, we will spend Christmas with family, and for the first time in a while, will host, so there may even be some baking <with> family before Christmas.

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 still tracking ahead of reality (as you can see below!), though I am, for the first time in many years, taking leave for the whole week before Christmas, so a last minute bonanza can be expected :).

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

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 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 29/10

Dark fruit cake – baked 20/11

Stained glass window cake – baked 18/12

Bars and Slices

Cherry Ripe bars – baked 11/12 (store in freezer)

Pecan-apricot squares (or possibly mini tarts) – baked xx/12

Nussstangen (Hazelnut almond batons) – dough made 11/12, baked 20/12

*New last year* Ginger Crunch – baked 19/12

Tan squares – baked 17/12

Classic shortbread – baked 19/12 (this year with blood orange/lavender and cacao nib)

Biscuits

Green tea almond and coffee walnut shortbreads – baked xx/12

Pecan powder puffs – baked 22/12

Almond cardamom circlets – baked 14/12

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

Iced sugar cookies – baked xx/12

Spiced Christmas stars (and sometimes dinosaurs!) – baked xx/12

Molasses ice box cookies – baked xx/12

*New this year* Neapolitan cookies (adapted from Zebra cookies) – baked 22/12

*New last year* Cafè latte meringues – baked xx/12

*New this year* Speculaas – baked xx/12

*New this year* Benne wafers – baked 15/12

Confectionary

Chocolate rum truffles – centres made 17/12

Maple-walnut fudge – made 30/12/21 (forgotten in freezer but still fine!)

Eggnog fudge – made 15/12 (store in freezer)

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

Chocolate caramel almonds – made xx/12

Coffee-walnut toffee – made 18/12

*New last year* Christmas pudding truffles – made xx/12