Hosting Holidays: Our favorite sweet stuff

We are so lucky to celebrate all type of events with our clients - Holidays always bring a bit of magic with then so we created this guide to help others. 

It's especially helpful for young relationships navigating new family dynamics, baby's first holidays, and hosting for the first time. In the guide (which is free), I mentioned our family tradition of sweets and cookies each year, it’s something my Grandma, mom and all my aunts do for each holiday AND for every wedding. It’s very common for my family to bake hundreds of cookies, pack them and bring them cross-country for many of our cousin’s weddings and it means so much to everyone each time.

Now, I am NOT a recipe blogger by any means at all. So here’s what we are goingto do friends. I am going to give you all the details of my favorites and the ones that always seem to be a hit and you scroll, print and use whatever you’d like. I many not spend as much time baking as my aunts but I am sure to make time in the kitchen each holiday season and my kiddos have already come to expect, appreciate and look forward to assisting.
Let’s do it! Here are some delicious recipes, that are on the easier side to bake, and freeze really well so you can make ahead even a month before.

Pumpkin Roll

This is a HUGE hit in our home, with our neighbors and of course our family. I am going to share the basic recipe below, but my favorite thing to do is use caramel syrup, and finely chopped pecans and add just a little bit to the cake before baking. 
Grab a great classic recipe straight from the pros themselves HERE. One big tip though - skip the fridge and place it straight in the freezer. Even when ready to serve it does not take long to thaw and our family loves it when served colder.
Just be prepared that slices will disappear before you can snap photos!

7 Layer Cookies

A classic, and one that I could never get enough of when I was younger. The secret is that is truly is as simple as it sounds BUT you cannot cook too long - they’ll become hard as a rock and you do not want anyone breaking a tooth.
Start by turning on your oven to 350 degrees. Place 1 stick of butter (½ cup) in a 9 x 13 pan and set in the oven to melt. Once melted add 1 ½ cups of graham cracker crumbs to the pan, mix well and use a rubber spatula to press firmly into the bottom of the pan to create a crust. 
Here come the other layers! 
Sprinkle on 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes, 1 cup chopped pecans and drizzle 1 can (14 ounces) of sweetened condensed milk on top. 
Pop that pan into the oven until lightly browned - about 20 minutes - once completely cooled you can cut the pan into bars.

Haystacks

A kid favorite and another great one to get help with since they are so east to make. Just be sure you have plenty of prep room/space before you begin.
 Combine in the top pan of a double boiler: ½ cup of peanut butter and 6 ounces of butterscotch morsels. Place over hot water (the bottom pan) and stir gentle until well coated on medium low heat. Add and stir in 2 cups of chow mein noodles (yes guys really SO good trust the process) and 2 cups of miniature marshmallows. 
Remove from heat and use a spoon to drop by teaspoons on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Allow to cool unti set. Store in air tight container and freeze if you don’t plan to use soon.

Toasted white coconut

Okay, okay this one is not a recipe from my grandma but let me tell you. THIS one friends is dangerous - we love it and it’s become a staple in our home. It’s definitely one my grandkids one day will expect to see regularly. Grab the link HERE.

Buckeyes

Combine 3 pound powdered sugar with 2 pounds of peanut butter until well blended. Roll into 1 inch balls and chill. Carefully melt 1 pound margarine, 4 ounces paraffin and 18 ounces of chocolate chips in the top pan of a double broiler. Use a toothpick to pickup the peanut butter ball and dip ¾ of the way into the chocolate. Set on a wax paper lined baking sheet and cool completely. 
You know the drill… freeze in an airtight container what you want to save for later.

Snickerdoodle

You can’t go wrong with this classic - unless you over bake and they turn into hard lumpy rocks. This recipe is a great one for beginners to bake soft and chewy cookies. Grab it HERE.

Before you start your holiday baking...

My biggest recommendation before you jump into your holiday baking is to make a list of the recipes you plan to create. Start with 1 - 3 and take it slow. I love baking, and even still manage to mess up a recipe I use regularly. Give yourself some grace, especially if you're new to it and just enjoy the process! 

Also don't forget - it's not holiday baking unless you have a holiday movie or music on, and end up with a mess to clean up after. 

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Download the 14 Page Holiday Guide HERE

Jump over to read on about holiday menu ideas or what to pack for baby's holiday outing.