Holiday traditions – whether it be decorations, food or activities – really are what make the holidays so special. We look forward to enjoying special times and sharing memories of past gatherings. Last weekend I as I went through our Christmas boxes, it warmed my heart to see treasured decorations and think about holidays in the past.

I painted these Santa figures right before John was born, note that Santa’s list has “Carrs” on it. So these have been part of our Christmas decorations for over 30 years.

Mark’s mom collected these carolers and he always loved them. So he started a collections for our family. This represents us, our parents and our children. Most years we add something new, this year we added the little reindeer.

Now as our children get married and have children, we start their collections. So last year we added a “little Berkley” caroler to John and Lauren’s collection. Our collection also includes the clock maker and the woodworker Santa in his workshop to represent Mark’s hobbies.

Traditional foods – the tastes and smells – truly make your house “home for the holidays.” When I was growing up we would make cookie trays and deliver them to our neighbors, so we continue that tradition. Our favorites include sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, chocolate crackle cookies and peanut blossoms.

One of the Carr Christmas traditions was baking and decorating sugar cookies, so we always try to work that in during the Christmas season. Last year we switched from buttercream frosting in bowls to royal icing in squeeze bottles – which let all the “big” kids be more creative with their decorating. Then they get to take them home – so good to sit down with a cup of hot cocoa and some homemade Christmas cookies.

Enjoy your traditions and have a wonderful Christmas season!

Click on the link below for our cookie tray ideas:

Christmas Week is here! Whip up some holiday goodies that are filled with warm holiday spices! Break out the cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg and bake some delicious treats. I am celebrating the beginning of Christmas Week with Gingerbread Doughnut Muffins and a cup of Christmas tea.

Don’t these look yummy? Scrumptious holiday muffins! A dusting of powdered sugar makes them look extra festive.

I used the recipe below, but substituted King Arthur Gingerbread Spice for the spices, just because I had it on hand. The recipe author also mentions that you can add chopped candied ginger, cranberries or chocolate chips to these muffins.

Wishing you a joyful week leading up to Christmas. Bake some special treats to make it seem like Christmas. It will be different this year, for sure, but if we continue at least some of our traditions, we can make ourselves feel a bit better. Merry Christmas!!!!

I used the recipe below, making half a batch. Click on the link for instructions:

One of our family’s traditions is to make cookie trays to share with family, friends and neighbors. When the kids were all home, we would take turns baking cookies, making the ones above and usually adding some new ones each year. Such fond memories!

This is the Christmas Cookie recipe sheet that we have used in our home for about 30 years! Together they make a nice assortment and it includes all our favorites! The Chocolate Crackle Cookies and Peanut Blossoms are classics enjoyed by so many people!

The Dorothy’s Christmas Cookies recipe was in the old Kitchen Klatter cookbook, from the KMA radio station in Shenandoah, Iowa. The nutmeg gives it a wonderful holiday flavor. It is a softer cookie and tastes amazing, but it does crumble and break easier when frosting and decorating.

For this batch I used the recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Her blog has so many amazing recipes. For her complete recipe, click on the link below:

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/christmas-sugar-cookies/

Sally has you roll the dough between two pieces of parchment paper before you chill it. This allows you to easily cut out the cookies with precision and you don’t have flour all over the kitchen! If you are having a cookie decorating party, you can have it all ready rolled out and chilled, so it ready for the guests to just cut out the cookies. Then bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone mat.

Bake and cool before frosting.

There are so many powdered sugar and royal icing recipes out there! I tried the recipe below this week and really liked it. It is easier to work with than royal icing and tastes so much better. It also hardens so that you can stack the cookies after they have dried. It has a pretty glossy finish.

https://iambaker.net/sugar-cookie-decorating-101/

The sprinkles on these sugar cookies are from the Fancy Sprinkles website. They have all kinds of sprinkles for every occasion – perfect for decorating cookies and cupcakes.

https://www.fancysprinkles.com/

Our Favorite Recipes:

You can use white powdered sugar for Christmas!

These are a few of our favorite Christmas cookies! Have fun making them with family and friends – and then share! Happy Eating!

Merry Christmas!!!!!