Holiday Baking Recipes for This Holiday Season!
By Helena Kimber
Holiday Baking is a joyous tradition most families cherish and celebrate yearly. The nostalgic feelings that encompass the holidays are valued and prominent in many households across the world, and the customs associated with the holiday season define the true meaning of togetherness. Classic holiday baking recipes are generally feel-good comforting meals that invoke contentment and memories of favored meals and desserts. Although holiday foods are generally known for being dessert dishes, savory meals are just as crucial to the holidays as the confectionaries.
Green Bean Casserole
One example of a savory side dish always accompanied by the infamous holiday main dishes is the “Casserole.” Deriving from a French word that translates to “saucepan”; this dish typically refers to various ingredients cooked in a deep one-pan dish, harmoniously merging together in the oven. Having existed for thousands of years, the definition of the casserole has also been modified through time in terms of ingredients and preparation. Particularly in the United States the most popular ingredients found in a casserole are meat (ex.chicken/beef/fish), vegetables, and a starch binder (ex.roux/soup base/flour).
Sponsored by Tasty!
Green Bean Casserole: A classic holiday side dish made with green beans, crispy onions, and a creamy mushroom sauce!
Ingredients:
(Fit for 12 servings)
2 lb green beans (trimmed)
8 tablespoons of unsalted butter/ 1 stick divided into 8 equal pieces
Thinly sliced; 2 medium white onions
1 ½ lb cremini mushroom, stemmed & sliced
5 sliced garlic cloves
3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1 cup milk (whole milk preferably)
½ heavy cream
2 teaspoons of kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
½ grated parmesan cheese
1 cup store bought fried onions or thinly slice 2 white onions and fry with any basic vegetable oil such as sunflower or canola (alternative is ghee). Fry at 350° F or 176.7° C for 20 mins max
-Tips on how to fry onions perfectly: https://butteroverbae.com/how-to-make-crispy-fried-onions/
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400° F (200° C)
In a large pot of salted boiling water, blanch the green beans for 3 minutes until tender. Drain and transfer to a 9x13 inch (23x33 cm) baking dish
Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pan over high heat
Add onions and cook for 8 minutes until softened and translucent
Incorporate the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes until browned and then add the garlic until fragrant
Transfer vegetable mixture to casserole dish with green beans
Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in the same pan used for vegetable mixture and add flour, stirring till combined. Cook until golden brown roux forms, for 5 minutes
Add milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, chicken/vegetable broth, and parmesan cheese and stir till combined
Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until sauce has thickened (5 minutes)
Pour sauce evenly over vegetable mixture in casserole dish and toss till everything is evenly coated
Bake for 20 minutes then remove foil and cook for another 10 minutes
Decorate casserole with crispy fried onions
Serve and Enjoy!
Sugar cookies
Sugar cookies are a timeless favorite that can never go out of style. This delectable, buttery, sugary treat brings a feeling of nostalgia to people of all ages, especially those who grew up helping make baked goods during the busy holiday season. Making the dough is somewhat of a puzzling, yet fascinating experience as basic ingredients could form a thick sweet dough and into a cookie. Dating back to the seventh century in Persia where the cookies were first manufactured, its introduction to the United States was pioneered by German protestants that settled in Nazareth, Pennsylvania which became the predecessor of the modern sugar cookie.
Sponsored by Tasty!
Ingredients:
(Makes 12 cookies)
24 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons of cream cheese (softened)
1 large egg & 2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ teaspoon of almond extract
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
Preparation:
-In a large bowl cream the butter, sugar, and cream cheese with an electric hand mixer on high speed for 5 minutes or use hand whisk until sugar is mostly dissolved and fluffy texture is achieved (scape down the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly incorporated)
- Mix in egg, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and almond extract
- Add the salt and sift the flour, cream of tartar, and baking powder, folding the flour mixture to help all ingredients combine evenly
-Beat on low speed or use silicone spatula until dough comes together
-Shape dough into flat disc and wrap tightly in plastic wrap
-Chill dough in refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or up to 3-4 days
-After dough has chilled, preheat oven to 350 F (180 C)
-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
-Remove dough from fridge and let sit at room temperature for a few minutes till slightly softened
-Lightly flour working surface and roll out dough to ¼ thick (6mm)
–Dip cookie cutter shapes of your choice in flour and cut into designated shapes
Tip: Any excess dough can be gathered and chilled in the fridge till firm and can be used for more cookies
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes until edges are slightly golden brown and cool on wire rack or cold plate before decorating with royal icing or frosting
How to make standard royal icing: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/royal-icing/
-After decorating refrigerate finished cookies for 20-35 minutes
-Serve and Enjoy!!