Christmas Cooking/crafting!

[panicked]

I am making my gifts for everyone outside my immediate family. I'm canning done spiced pears today and I ordered bottles and vanilla beans do I can make vanilla extract to gift. I'm also doing almond extract, chai tea concentrate, cranberry sauce, and cookies closer to the holidays. It feels nice to have a jump on the holiday rush.

[justinlove]

You are good!! I don't make holiday gifts anymore...ended up being too stressful and crazy so I stick with retail! Thank goodness for Amazon

[christy082]

I'm cutting way back on homemade this year because I'll be 7+ months pregnant in December. But I'm still making holiday biscotti for a bunch of people (they love them) and am making mason jar cookie mixes for my cleaning ladies.  Oh, and peanut brittle for my brother.

[menrandes]

I am making a bunch of crafty stuff for gifts, but nothing cooking related! Though the week before Christmas will be filled with cookie making for parties. 10 cookies that I am making so far! It increases every year...

[panicked]

Oct 20, 2014 13:33:52 GMT -5 menrandes said:

I am making a bunch of crafty stuff for gifts, but nothing cooking related! Though the week before Christmas will be filled with cookie making for parties. 10 cookies that I am making so far! It increases every year...

Ooh! What's on your cookie list?

[menrandes]

Oct 20, 2014 13:49:20 GMT -5 panicked said:

Oct 20, 2014 13:33:52 GMT -5 menrandes said:

I am making a bunch of crafty stuff for gifts, but nothing cooking related! Though the week before Christmas will be filled with cookie making for parties. 10 cookies that I am making so far! It increases every year...

Ooh! What's on your cookie list?

I have Celiac, so my house is completely gluten free, including holiday cookie time!  Flour gets everywhere!  So most of what I am making I have tested out a lot on people that can have gluten to see if they like them. 

My list:
pecan bites - I make gingersnaps and crumble them into a gingersnap crust, melt some chocolate and pour over the crust and then sprinkle pecans on top.  I'm thinking of making caramel this year to go on top of that, but I haven't decided yet.
snickerdroodles - browned butter snickerdoodles made with almond flour
spritz cookies - made with the dreaded cookie press.  They are awesome though.
almond butter and jelly cookies
chewy chocolate flourless cookies - www.recipegirl.com/2007/11/24/chewy-gooey-flourless-chocolate-cookies/   try them, you wont regret it.  Powdered sugar instead of flour.  Yeah, so bad, but so good.
Russian teacakes
chocolate chip cookies
melting snowman sugar cookies
Gingerbread men
oatmeal lace cookies - this is the one I have not made before.  I've made it with regular flour and regular oats before, but never in a gluten free form.

I love cookie making week.  Without it, it doesn't feel like the holidays.

[panicked]

Oct 20, 2014 14:34:10 GMT -5 menrandes said:

Oct 20, 2014 13:49:20 GMT -5 panicked said:

Ooh! What's on your cookie list?

I have Celiac, so my house is completely gluten free, including holiday cookie time!  Flour gets everywhere!  So most of what I am making I have tested out a lot on people that can have gluten to see if they like them. 

My list:
pecan bites - I make gingersnaps and crumble them into a gingersnap crust, melt some chocolate and pour over the crust and then sprinkle pecans on top.  I'm thinking of making caramel this year to go on top of that, but I haven't decided yet.
snickerdroodles - browned butter snickerdoodles made with almond flour
spritz cookies - made with the dreaded cookie press.  They are awesome though.
almond butter and jelly cookies
chewy chocolate flourless cookies - www.recipegirl.com/2007/11/24/chewy-gooey-flourless-chocolate-cookies/   try them, you wont regret it.  Powdered sugar instead of flour.  Yeah, so bad, but so good.
Russian teacakes
chocolate chip cookies
melting snowman sugar cookies
Gingerbread men
oatmeal lace cookies - this is the one I have not made before.  I've made it with regular flour and regular oats before, but never in a gluten free form.

I love cookie making week.  Without it, it doesn't feel like the holidays.

I'm Celiac too!!! I also have a completely GF household! I made cookies last year with Pamela's Artisan blend flour. This year, I think I'll try Cup 4 Cup. All of those recipes sound great!

[menrandes]

Oct 20, 2014 14:52:38 GMT -5 panicked said:

Oct 20, 2014 14:34:10 GMT -5 menrandes said:

I have Celiac, so my house is completely gluten free, including holiday cookie time!  Flour gets everywhere!  So most of what I am making I have tested out a lot on people that can have gluten to see if they like them. 

My list:
pecan bites - I make gingersnaps and crumble them into a gingersnap crust, melt some chocolate and pour over the crust and then sprinkle pecans on top.  I'm thinking of making caramel this year to go on top of that, but I haven't decided yet.
snickerdroodles - browned butter snickerdoodles made with almond flour
spritz cookies - made with the dreaded cookie press.  They are awesome though.
almond butter and jelly cookies
chewy chocolate flourless cookies - www.recipegirl.com/2007/11/24/chewy-gooey-flourless-chocolate-cookies/   try them, you wont regret it.  Powdered sugar instead of flour.  Yeah, so bad, but so good.
Russian teacakes
chocolate chip cookies
melting snowman sugar cookies
Gingerbread men
oatmeal lace cookies - this is the one I have not made before.  I've made it with regular flour and regular oats before, but never in a gluten free form.

I love cookie making week.  Without it, it doesn't feel like the holidays.

I'm Celiac too!!! I also have a completely GF household! I made cookies last year with Pamela's Artisan blend flour. This year, I think I'll try Cup 4 Cup. All of those recipes sound great!

I used Jules last year and everything turned out great.  But I have heard great things about Better Batter and might test some out next year! 

[bluelikejazz]

I've been working through a ton of ideas, trying to narrow down what I might actually be able to get done (baby due end of Nov)

I've made so far:
Vanilla extract for MIL
Crocheted CO flag hats for my nieces and nephews (4 total)
Knit Cowl for my mom (this is technically a birthday present, but whatever)

Planning:
Wine rack for my mom (DH will make this)
Possibly cowls for 2 SILs
Kahlua and Baileys for SIL B-day
Seasoned salts and infused oils
Caramels
"Grandma/Grandpa Est 2014" painted mugs for IL's

[shortcake2675]

I make pajama pants for my nieces and nephews. And ornaments. Otherwise, probably not going to have much time to make homemade gifts this year.

[mary]

I need to make a wristlet for my mom to replace the one she's been carrying around for 3 years because it's ripped to shreds.

I may make my gfs wine cork coasters.

Other than that, I think I'm just baking. Likely candidates are:

tutti-dolci.com/2014/10/chai-spice-palmiers/

www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/03/soft-chocolate-molasses-cookies-recipe.html

www.motherthyme.com/2013/11/iced-oatmeal-cookies.html

www.handletheheat.com/brown-butter-rice-crispy-treats

smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/12/sugar-and-spice-candied-nuts/

lemonsandlimabeans.blogspot.co.at/2012/07/laura-bushs-texas-governors-mansion.html

www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/nanaimo-truffle-bars/13030/

www.bakerita.com/chocolate-peppermint-truffles/

www.takingonmagazines.com/spicy-gingerbread-twigs/

www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/30062/chewy-butterscotch-graham-cookies/

[franklintngirl]

All those cookies sound awesome.

I'm making a lot of handmade gifts for my daughter (mostly dress up clothes and accessories). I'm hoping to make co-workers wooden block photo holders. Now that you ladies have posted cookie receipes I am thinking I might do that and be a little less expensive.

[oregonpachey]

I am making a ton of handmade gifts this year.

My entire immediate family is getting some knitted item. Sweater for my mom, hat for my sister, lace hat for my aunt, fancy slipper socks for my mother-in-law, a ton of socks for all and the list goes on.

We do a family gift exchange on the 1st of January and I have to make a dozen identical gifts. You don't HAVE TO make a gift but I find it's less expensive. I am trying to decide between the following: Microwaveable heat packs (I would make two per family), coffee cozies (I would make two per family), or wool dryer balls.

Plus, my sister and I always get together and make Christmas cookies. We have so much fun doing it!

[craftyone]

I used to make more gifts, but I only make my mom a birthday/christmas gift. Other than projects I make for myself!