For 2022, I decided to make 2 repeat recipes, 2 new cookies/bars, and a snack mix. I made my usual sugar cookies with royal icing from the Flour Bakery cookbook. And what was special about decorating them this year is that I started a new tradition of inviting my family over to decorate them. I make a few batches of icing of 4-6 colors in various decorating bags and bottles, so many sprinkles, and other toppings such as chocolate chips of all varieties, little candies, and coconut. I give everyone a small sheet pan to decorate their goodies (and contain the mess). My mom also makes the hot chocolate from The Polar Express with a toppings bar which includes marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate chips, and whipped cream.

The other recipe I repeated is called Christmas crack on Pinterest for which you can find multiple recipes but are mostly similar except for the cracker base. The recipe I used called for saltines, but I’ve seen others made with butter crackers, matzah, and graham crackers. The crackers are topped with a caramel that you make (I know - scary but doable!) and the chocolate chips which melt and are smoothed out. I sprinkled red and green M&M’s on them, but I think that they may be better with just some sprinkles or a sprinkle of sea salt instead.

I made Berry Cardamom Cookies from the book Baking Gold. In this book, the author gives you some bases from which to make a variety of other cookies. I decided on this recipe as I already had the flour mixture made and wanted to use it up. The spices, especially the cardamom, made these cookies stand out from the typical oatmeal raisin cookie. Anytime I see cardamom in sweets that will usually win out over other options.

I made peppermint cream bars from The Ultimate Cookie Book from Better Homes and Gardens. Like I’ve mentioned in my other Christmas cookie posts (here & here), I like to make something pepperminty at Christmas time. And these were not too strong which was perfect for me. They even froze well except for the peppermint candies on top which got a little weepy when thawed.

The snack mix I made was Everything Snack Mix from Ree Drummond of The Pioneer Woman on Food Network (see my post here where I give her all the compliments). This recipe did not disappoint. It was buttery, slightly spicy, and just tasty. It was a nice contrast to have something salty among all the sweets that the holidays usually bring.

Christmas Cookies of the Past - 2022