Christmas Baking

Well....this baby is taking it's sweet time making it's arrival. Last week Lucas spent some time at daycare so I could "get some rest" before the big event.

I am bad at resting. I get bored easily. As soon as my PVR was empty, and my book was finished (Lisbeth Salander.....I bid you adieu) I was at a loss for what to do. I KNOW that there is always stuff to do in my house (my Mom: Go clean out a drawer or something. Are your windowsills wiped???) but that is neither restful nor enjoyable.

So I resorted to Christmas baking. Not restful but definitely enjoyable. I am taking a cupcake hiatus for Christmas to direct my energy at other baking projects. I have been collecting online recipes and finally had the chance to make some of them.

My baking list:

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Squares
Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars
Sugar Cookie Bars
Peppermint Balls
Coconut Balls
Peanut Butter Kisses Cookies
Butter Tart Squares

A trip to Bulk Barn was definitely in order to get all of the ingredients. YOU GUYS. Bulk Barn is like baker's paradise. Anything you could ever need for baking IN BULK. BULK ICING SUGAR. Awesome. It's probably a good thing that it is so far away from my house. A lot of unnecessary cash would be spent there otherwise.

I tried to pick recipes that weren't too complicated or involved a lot of work. Lots of squares. Pour into a pan, cool and cut. Easy!! No messing around with cupcake tins, or cookie cutters.

So far I have made the PB Rice Krispie Squares, Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars, Sugar Cookie Bars and Butter Tart Squares. The butter tart squares were a special request from my sister, and turned out to be my favourite of the things I have made so far.

I wouldn't recommend the marshmallow brownies....the marshmallow layer was problematic and they don't look nice. But they taste good....which should be all that matters.

Terry's one request for Christmas baking was Sugar Cookies. UGGGGGGHHHHHH. Making dough, rolling it out, cutting out cookies, baking them, making icing, then decorating the cookies?? NO THANK YOU. Does not fall into my theme this year of easy, non-time consuming recipes. So I found a compromise. SUGAR COOKIE BARS. They taste just like sugar cookies, with none of the work!!! I would highly recommend them. Recipes below.

Sugar Cookie Bars

1 cup butter (room temperature)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp almond extract

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda and stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread into a 13 x 18 pan. I didn't have this big of a pan so I used a 13 x 9 inch pan and an 8 x8 inch pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean (they won't look done so do the toothpick test). Cool completely and frost.

Frosting

4 cups icing sugar
4 tablespoons water
4 tablespoons light corn syrup (this makes the frosting all shiny....just add more water if you don't care about shiny-ness)
1 teaspoon almond extract (or to taste, I probably used 2 teaspoons)

Ta-da!!!

Butter Tart Squares

Crust:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup butter

Filling:
1/4 cup melted butter
4 eggs - lightly beaten
2 cups brown sugar (packed)
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups raisins (I used golden ones)
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (I used pecans)

In bowl, mix flour with sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly using pastry blender. Press into a 13 x 9 inch pan and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Filling: In bowl, mix butter with eggs. Blend in sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla and salt. Stir in raisins and nuts and pour over crust. Bake at 350 for 20-25 mins.



Mmmmmmmmm!!!!

Hopefully I will have time to make the rest of my list this week. But then again....hopefully this baby comes and I won't!!