Holiday Cookies to Bake
Still hunting for the perfect cookie to make all your friends and family members thoroughly worship the ground you walk on and the kitchen you bake in?
Look no further than today’s issue of East Bay Express, where you’ll find my story on holiday cookies.
I sweet-talked three well-known East Bay bakers into parting with their favorite holiday cookie recipes.
Learn how to make “Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels” from Oakland’s Montclair Baking; “Feisty Ginger Cookies” from Teacake Bake Shop of Emeryville, Lafayette and Corte Madera; and gluten-free ”Viennese Crescents” from Mariposa bakery in Oakland.
For good measure, I also included my own favorite Christmas cookie — “Italian Macaroons.”
I bake those chewy, almond-studded wonders every winter because folks clamor so much for them. You also can find the recipe on my post from last year.
Now, there’s no excuse. Time’s a wasting, so get baking.
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Wednesday, 25. November 2009 6:22
Your almond cookies are the bomb! But it’s so hard to find the almond paste around here.
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 6:44
FABULOUS baking ideas!
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 7:14
i get my almond paste wrapped in cellophane at Cost Plus of all places… need to make my marzipan and raspberry muffins today!!!
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 8:46
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by CarolynJung, Kim Bedwell. Kim Bedwell said: RT @CarolynJung: Three top East Bay bakeries share their holiday cookie recipes. http://www.foodgal.com/2009/11/holiday-cookies-to-bake/ [...]
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 8:53
I am always looking for new holiday cookie recipes, thanks for posting these! I think I NEED to make those ginger cookies!
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 9:08
Oooh, can’t wait to read the article. And am definitely going to try that Italian macaroon recipe from the Food Gal Bakery!
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 10:38
Haha! I never make Thanksgiving dinner… I bring the cookies! Great selection of recipes!
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 12:00
Nate, if you get totally desperate, you can google a recipe for home-made almond paste made from (wait for it) actual almonds! I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounded very do-able, and made me totally respect and appreciate the cost of the almond paste I stashed away when it was on sale last year.
Wednesday, 25. November 2009 17:44
oooh – thanks for this – some new ideas for the annual cookie exchange!!!!
Thursday, 26. November 2009 5:06
Wonderful cookies! I’d like a macaroon right now. Oh, that’s right, I’ll have to bake them first…
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, 26. November 2009 8:18
Great cookie ideas!! Those feisty ginger cookies look wonderful!
Thursday, 26. November 2009 17:22
Happy Thanksgiving Carolyn!
Last time you mentioned the almond macaroons I vowed to try them, and completely forgot. I will definitely try before the year is over.
While on the subject of cookies, I would love to hear your recommendation of the perfect cookie base (for chocolate chips/oatmeal & other mix-ins) that lead to a crisp outside, slightly chewy inside. So hard to find a recipe like that!
Friday, 27. November 2009 3:21
Your almond cookies look delightful! just stunning!!
MMMMMMM,…
Friday, 27. November 2009 18:17
I made the macaroons last night for our Turkey day potluck at my in-laws and they were a big hit! Thanks Foodgal!
Friday, 27. November 2009 20:17
Lisa: Have you tried making the Ad Hoc chocolate chip cookies I wrote about? You might really like those. They bake up with crispy edges, and soft, chewy interiors, especially if you make the dough the day before and refrigerate overnight before baking the next day.
http://www.foodgal.com/2009/06/tantalizing-preview-ad-hoc-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe-by-thomas-keller/
Saturday, 28. November 2009 13:47
Once my chocolate and sugar headache goes away from Thanksgiving, I will be all over these cookies! Great assortment. Do they keep well?
Saturday, 28. November 2009 19:22
Always looking for new additions to the baking repertoire – thanks for sharing!
Monday, 30. November 2009 13:06
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by kkbedwell: RT @CarolynJung: Three top East Bay bakeries share their holiday cookie recipes. http://www.foodgal.com/2009/11/holiday-cookies-to-bake/…
Monday, 30. November 2009 13:30
Since I have been convinced to bake some cookies this year, I’ll have to give some of these a try!
Monday, 30. November 2009 14:27
Perfect timing. I’m just starting my ‘what cookies should I bake this year’ ponderings.
Thursday, 22. December 2011 11:22
Carolyn,
Do you make your almond paste or buy it to make your macaroon cookies? Store bought almond paste is sort of pricey and homemade may be tastier. I recall several years ago in a SJMN article you had a recipe for homemade almond paste. Do you use that for this recipe? Thanks, Barb from S. Cruz
Thursday, 22. December 2011 14:47
Barbara Choi: I’m bad — I buy my almond paste, only because I’m lazy. LOL It is cheaper to make your own, though you can sometimes find almond paste on sale at grocery stores and Cost Plus. And yes, there are plenty of recipes on the Web for making your own almond paste from scratch.