Bake up some holiday cheer

If you’re looking for ways to save, thoughtful, homemade gifts are a great place to start. And what present could be sweeter than delicious treats you baked yourself? Not only will you show your loved ones that you care, but you’ll be spreading warmth and joy without breaking the bank.

So what yummy confections should you gift this season? Give these delicious recipes a try:

MATCHA STRAWBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 stick of room-temperature unsalted butter (8 tbsps)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup white granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 eggs (cold)
• 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp matcha powder
• 1 white chocolate baking bar
• ½ cup freeze-dried strawberries

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix butter, brown sugar and white granulated sugar until creamy and fluffy.
3. Add in eggs.
4. Add in dry ingredients (flour, matcha powder, salt, baking powder and baking soda).
5. Break white chocolate baking bar and freeze-dried strawberries into chunks and add to the mix.
6. Create six 4-ounce balls, and garnish the top with white chocolate and strawberries.
7. Bake for 17 minutes and enjoy!

* Makes eight 4-ounce cookies

“Bake, eat, and be merry with this fun Christmas recipe! Thick, soft and colorful cookies are a delicious way to ring in the holidays!”

SUGAR COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1.5 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.
• Meanwhile, mix flour, salt and baking powder in a separate bowl. Lower mixer speed; add in egg and vanilla.
• Slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until the dough comes together.
• On a floured surface, roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use desired cookie cutters to cut your shapes and place one inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place pan in freezer for 10-15 minutes while your oven preheats.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden. Once cooled, use your favorite royal icing or buttercream recipe to have fun decorating.

“Our sugar-cookie recipe is my favorite because it’s incredibly versatile. These cookies hold their shape beautifully while staying soft and chewy. Plus, the dough is easy to work with and doesn’t require hours of chilling, making his recipe a reliable go-to for any occasion!”

CHRISTMAS CRACK

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 sleeves graham crackers
• 2 sticks salted butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• Topping options: holiday-themed sprinkles, chopped pecans, chopped walnuts or mini marshmallows

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Line an 11-by-17-inch (standard size) cookie sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray generously with cooking spray.
2. Fill cookie sheet with graham crackers. Break crackers to fill the entire cookie sheet to the edge.
3. In a small saucepan, melt butter on medium-low heat.
4. When the butter is melted, whisk in brown sugar. Bring mixture to a low simmer for five minutes, stirring often.
5. Pour mixture over graham crackers and spread out evenly with a spatula. Do this step as quickly as possible before the mixture cools too much to spread.
6. Place in a 400-degree oven for five minutes.
7. After removing it from the oven, immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Let chocolate chips sit for one minute to melt before lightly spreading evenly over the entire surface.
8. Top with topping of choice before the chocolate cools.
9. Set on the counter or in fridge to cool. When chocolate is set and no longer soft, break into desired size. Store in an airtight container for up to seven days (if it even lasts that long).

“Christmas Crack is my holiday hero. It’s no fuss, no stress and totally addictive. That mix of salty, sweet and crunchy hits all the right notes; it’s basically holiday magic in snack form and perfect for last-minute gifts or munching straight off the tray. Just try not to eat it all before it makes it into those gift bags!”