Written by Maureen Murphy & Sarah Palmer
Holiday Baking
Holiday baking is a wonderful way to share the joy of the season with those we treasure. Start a new tradition with your family this year and bake some special holiday memories! Keep reading for helpful baking tips & time-saving ideas to help get you started!
Baking Tips
Making time to bake is often fun and rewarding, and can be done with proper organization and a few helpful hints.
Holiday baking is a wonderful way to share the joy of the season with those we treasure. Start a new tradition with your family this year and bake some special holiday memories! Keep reading for helpful baking tips & time-saving ideas to help get you started!
Baking Tips
Making time to bake is often fun and rewarding, and can be done with proper organization and a few helpful hints.
- Bake in quantity and freeze whenever possible – baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks
- Prepare cookie dough when you are able to steal a little extra time – prepared dough will keep at least 3 days in the refrigerator or in the freezer for up to 3 months
- Assemble all ingredients and equipment before beginning a recipe
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper to help cut down on clean up
- While cookies are baking, prepare other cookie sheets to go in the oven
- Save time when shopping and measuring:
- 1 lb. box confectioners’ sugar = 4 cups
- 1 lb. box brown sugar = 2 cups, packed
- 5 lb. bag granulated sugar = 10 cups
- 5 lb. bag all-purpose flour = 20 cups
- 1 cup cake flour = 7/8 cup sifted all-purpose
- 1 lb. box seedless raisins = 2 3/4 cups
- 6 extra-large eggs = 8 large eggs
- Allow butter and eggs to come to room temperature before using
- Measure ingredients carefully
- Do not over-mix cookie dough
- Chill dough well when instructed so the dough will be easier to work with
- Allow at least 2 inches of space between cookies on cookie sheets, and at least 2 inches around the sides of the oven for proper heat circulation
- Use bright, shiny aluminum cookie sheets rather than dark colored cookie sheets to prevent over browning
- Bake cookies on a rack in the middle of the oven; for best results use only one rack
- Do not over-bake – a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean when a cookie is baked
- Allow cookie sheets to cool before baking more to prevent the edges of the cookie from spreading out and becoming too thin
- Cool cookies on a wire rack