The rich and cozy treats I’m baking this holiday season

The Rich and Cozy Treats I'm Baking This Holiday Season

A lot of us have been baking more than ever this year. Sourdough. Banana bread. So many pies. But even though our ovens have been working overtime in 2020, there's still something so magical about December and all the baked goods that come with it. As the days get shorter and temperatures start to drop here on the East Coast, I suddenly find myself craving the rich cozy flavors of winter: chocolate, peppermint, ginger, and of course, molasses.

The syrup plays a starring role in these sugar-covered cookies (if you don't have a bottle, here are some easy substitutions), one of many on our list that would be perfect to drop off or mail to friends and family. While we all have our go-to holiday treats (for me, it's these red velvet crinkle cookies), there's no better time than now to try something different. That can mean baking a new recipe with the kids—M&M cookie bars and peppermint brownies will be guaranteed hits—or finally trying the classics that you never had time for: a meringue mushroom-studded yule log, a towering panettone, a glazed struffoli wreath.

If you're looking to up your cookie game this year, get some tips from the pros in this wonderful guide by writer Amber Gibson. For those who need to be mindful of ingredients, Ariane Resnick also has two helpful explainers—one about gluten-free flours and another on alternative sweeteners.

Finally, this holiday season has looked very different from years past, but there are ways to connect safely and celebrate virtually. Kristin Braswell offers some tips here—and not surprisingly, there's plenty of wine involved.

- Patty Lee
Senior Editor, The Spruce Eats

Recipes We Love

These Molasses Cookies Will Remind You of Grandma's

14 Traditional Christmas Desserts for the Sweetest Time of Year

Nothing Says the Holidays Quite Like Peppermint Brownies

Take Holiday Cookies to the Next Level With These Tips From the Pros

One Thing

Bake These Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies for Any Special Occasion

Watch & Learn

More From The Spruce

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Comforting Pasta Dishes

Seasonal Produce

Soups, Stews, and Chili

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