:: baking day monday // baked with love by bethany ::

hullo, darlings!!! to-day, I am honored to have one of my dear friends miss bethany lead the baking day, as she shares five scrumptious recipes that will be sure to add a bit of cheer to the days leading up to christmas. enjoy, m'lovelies, and be sure not to eat all the frosting. ;)

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Christmas time is my most favorite time to bake of all the seasons. Their is such a variety of options when it comes to baking, and there is just something about the aroma of fresh baked goodies filling the house that makes Christmas all the more surreal, enjoyable, and relaxing. It can also provide a wonderful opportunity for loved ones, friends, and family to come together to make something special.

One of my family's favorite Christmas time traditions is taking a day in December to don each of our aprons, and work all day in the kitchen, making our famous Christmas cookies. We break out the butter, flour, and of course-sugar and whip up multiple batches of thick delicious cookies. By the afternoon's end we have counters lined with many cookies cooling off on top of paper towels. After they cool, comes the fun part-frosting them and adding cheerful Christmas colored sprinkles! We usually make at least 10 batches of the cookies, or more, per year and love giving out our homemade cookies to friends, people we know who work at different stores we often shop at, our library workers, pastor, etc. My family has been exercising this sweet smelling family traditions ever since I can remember, and it's one I'm sure I will continue in the future generations.

So today, I'd like to share some delicious holiday recipes, some of my own, and some I've found on Pinterest, in hopes that you can add a bit of Christmas cheer to your home this holiday season. For their is nothing better and more home-y than the sweet aroma that fills the kitchen when baking. May you all have a most blessed Christmas, delighting in our Savior's birth!

Because He Lives,

Bethany

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{Christmas Sugar Cookies}

As mentioned earlier, this recipe is one of our family's favorite Christmastime traditions. These cookies are made from a special recipe my Mom received from a friend of hers who used to work as a cookie bouquet maker, and this is the recipe she used. The cookies are known for their thickness and are the best tasting when warm from the oven with a glass of cold milk. ~Bethany

You Will Need ::

• 2/3 cup shortening {make sure it's exactly 2/3 cup or your cookies will not stick together}
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups flour

Directions :: Mix all ingredients except flour in a big bowl with electric mixer until smooth. Stir in flour a cup at a time. Place dough on lightly floured surface and knead until the consistency of play dough. If your dough won't stay together and crumbles, add a bit more shortening. If it's too dry add a bit of water. Roll out dough to l inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Place cookies on un-greased baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes, at 425 degrees fahrenheit. Let cookies cool for 5-10 minutes on cookie sheet before removing and placing on cooling rack. Once cooled completely frost and decorate as desired and enjoy with a glass of milk.

{Reindeer Cupcakes}

These adorable little cupcakes are just darling and would be such fun to make with younger children. Credit for this cute recipe goes to With Sprinkles On Top 

{Recipe found through Pinterest}

You Will Need ::

• Pre-baked cupcakes of any flavor
• Chocolate frosting
• Pretzels for the antlers
• Nilla Wafers cookies for the mouth
• White and brown M N' M's for the eyes and nose
• Black frosting for the eyes

Directions :: Frost cooled cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Add two pretzels on top of the cupcake for the reindeer's antlers. Place a Nilla Wafer on the cupcake for the reindeer's mouth. Then place two white M N' M's below the antlers/pretzels for the eyes and place a small drop of black frosting on top. Using a small bit of frosting, place another M N' M or other candy on top of the Nilla Wafer for the nose. Enjoy!

{Cinnamon Wreaths}

What a sweet treat these yummy looking wreaths are! They would be a lovely addition to a Christmas party or for Christmas Eve! Credit for these Christmas cookie goes to Better Homes & Gardens. 

{Recipe found through Pinterest}

You Will Need ::

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Red and/or green miniature candy-coated semisweet chocolate pieces
• 1 recipe frosting, below

Directions :: In bowl beat butter with electric mixer 30 seconds. Beat in 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon, ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon salt until combined. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in flour. Divide dough in half. Cover; chill about 1 hour or until easy to handle. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine the 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon. On lightly floured surface, roll half the dough at a time to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 3-inch scalloped cookie cutter. Cut out centers with 1-inch scalloped cutter. Place cutouts on ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sugar mixture. Press candy pieces into dough. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate with frosting. Makes 18 to 20 cookies.

Frosting Recipe ::

• 3 ounces white baking chocolate
• 1/2 teaspoon shortening
• Green food coloring

Directions :: In small saucepan melt white baking chocolate and shortening over low heat. Stir in a few drops green food coloring.

{Dulce De Leche Chocolate Bars}

What a Christmas-y looking treat this is! This easy recipe would be sure and add some Christmas fun to your home! Credit for this recipe goes to Ladies Home Journal. 

{Recipe found through Pinterest}

You Will Need ::

•  1 cup unsalted butter, softened
•  1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
•  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•  2 cups all-purpose flour
•  3/4 teaspoon salt
•  7 tablespoons unsalted butter
•  1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
•  2 14 ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
•  Pinch of salt
•  10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
•  4 ounces white chocolate, melted
•  Red and green food coloring
•  Red and green mini M&M candies
•  Red and green fruit leather

Directions ::

Make Crust ::  Heat oven to 350 degrees F; place rack in center. Line a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to extend on two sides. In a mixer bowl, beat together butter and confectioners' sugar on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes. Beat in extract, then flour and salt until combined well. Press along bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake until just golden brown around edges, 12 to 18 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Make Filling :: Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, milk and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened and a deep caramel color, about 15 minutes. Pour over crust and spread evenly; refrigerate until completely cool, about 1 hour. Melt semisweet chocolate; let cool slightly. Using a spatula, evenly spread over filling (for swirled top, see below). Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Using a knife, score chocolate layer into 1-12-inch squares.

For Swirled Top :: Divide white chocolate into three parts. Tint one part red and one part green. Leave remaining part white. Dollop red, green and white chocolates over semisweet layer. Using a toothpick, gently swirl together colors.

For Decoration :: Using white chocolate, adhere candies to squares, making holly or wreaths. Using a small, clean paintbrush, make a snowman out of white chocolate; decorate with candy. Let stand until set, about 20 minutes.

8. Run a sharp knife under hot water; dry. Following score marks, cut into squares. Wipe knife after each cut (run under hot water and dry as needed). (Can be made ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week.)

{Peppermint Popcorn Bark}

It's always fun looking for new ways to add a nice twist to your average popcorn, and with this recipe this is certainly possible! Credit for this cheery recipe goes to Plain Chicken. {Recipe found through Pinterest}

You Will Need ::

• 2 bags microwave popcorn, popped (18-20 cups)
• 1 6oz box candy canes, crushed
• 1 package Almond Bark
• 1 tsp peppermint extract or a few drops of peppermint oil

Directions :: Place popcorn in a very large bowl - the biggest one you have. Pour crushed candy canes on top of the popcorn. (I crush my candy canes in the food processor - it is quick and it pulverizes the candy canes!) Melt almond bark according to instructions on the package. Add the peppermint extract or oil to the almond bark and pour over popcorn. Stir until all the popcorn is coated. Pour popcorn on wax paper and allow to harden. Once the popcorn has hardened, break into pieces and enjoy!

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Miss Bethany Ann is a 16 year old girl, living with her family of 8 and two dogs in East Texas. She is the oldest of six children whom she is homeschooled with. She is follower of Christ Jesus her Savior and Lord and desires to please Him in all that she does. Some of her many interests include reading, baking, blogging, photography, letter writing, listening to music, and hanging out with  friends and family. You can visit her on the web on her blogs Reflections of Grace and Giveaways of Blessing, as well as through her Pinterest and GoodReads pages.

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dear miss elizabeth shared this scrumptious looking recipe for peppermint pie from an old issue of the beautiful Girlhood Companion. 

want to join the holiday baking? 

post one of your favorite christmastime recipe [or two], copy the link of your post, and leave it in a little note below [recipes does not have to be your own, but make sure to give proper credit of both the recipe and the image{s} to the owner]. be sure to include the link of this post for your readers to join too. happy baking! 

xx's,

the girl baking in her wintry wonderland.