By Lillian Jewett ’29
It’s that time of year again when Grandma’s kitchen smells like sugary, sweet treats. From gingerbread to classic sugar cookies, the possibilities are endless when it comes to holiday desserts. Here are just a few delectable treats you can whip up for friends and family in the coming weeks.
Classic Sugar Cookies
The original and quintessential dessert of December. A slightly crunchy exterior combined with a soft interior makes the sugar cookie a perfect sweet treat to pair with a glass of milk after dinner. The recipe is extremely simple and allows you to produce large quantities, making it ideal for sharing and gifting. The time required varies depending on the complexity of the recipe, but it can be done in as little as half an hour. Just don’t forget the best part of all—the decorating that follows!
Gingerbread
In both cookie and house form, gingerbread is a universally loved treat and a symbol of the season. Its warm, spiced flavor, sweetened with molasses and brown sugar, creates an irresistibly cozy delicacy. A wide range of recipe difficulties can be found online, with some cookies thicker, softer, or more flavorful than others. You can cut out traditional gingerbread people or simply roll circular cookies if you prefer. Purchasing gingerbread houses for assembly and decoration also makes for the perfect holiday get-together activity.
Walnut Balls
Less well-known than some other sweets, these nutty, buttery, powdered-sugar cookies melt in your mouth and leave you wanting more. While walnuts are the key ingredient, they can easily be substituted with pecans, hazelnuts, or butternuts for a different flavor. These quick, easy, bite-sized treats take an average of 30–45 minutes to complete and follow straightforward instructions.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
With an extra-fudgy interior and a crinkled exterior, these cookies are essentially brownies in cookie form. Their rich flavor pairs perfectly with hot chocolate or a glass of milk. Although slightly more time-consuming due to chilling time, the ingredients are likely already in your pantry. These chocolatey delights are sure to be crowd-pleasers at any festive occasion.
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Perfect for peanut butter lovers, these soft, chewy cookies are topped with a chocolaty Hershey’s Kiss. This quick and easy recipe makes them ideal for baking large batches to feed sizable gatherings. The process is simple: mix the dough, roll small balls in sugar, bake them, and watch as the unwrapped kisses gently sink into the puffy, golden cookies.
Image Credits: chelsweets.com
