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Cranberry Crumble Bars
The holiday season is here, and that means it’s BAKING season! Each year, I make dozens and dozens of cookies to serve at holiday gatherings and give away as gifts to friends and family. And this year, I have a new goodie to add to my cookie tray and yours: Cranberry Crumble Bars! Cranberry Season’s New It-Girl When it comes to fall and winter baking, everyone talks about pumpkin and apples…but in my mind, cranberries are the real MVP. Their tartness brightens up any sweet treat, and their vivid red color makes your bakes so enticing. These bars pair plump, juicy cranberries with a buttery cardamom shortbread and an oat-pecan…
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Salted Date and Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Dang, two new recipes in a month?? Who even am I? ICYMI, I’m finally back after a bit of a sabbatical from the blog. Last month I posted a delish new cake, and this month I’m back with what I think may be my best cookie yet. Say hello to Salted Date and Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies! Dates and Dark Chocolate…a Match Made in the Cupboard So when I want a little sweet treat that’s a smidge healthier and quick to make, I pop a chunk of dark chocolate into a pitted Medjool date, and sprinkle it with a little flaky sea salt. (Sometimes I add walnuts too…yum.) It’s so…
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My 12 Favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes
I’m knee-deep in my holiday baking right now. Every year, I do a ton of baking in December, then box everything up for gifts for my friends and fam. It’s great — everyone gets to enjoy some delish cookies, and who needs more stuff, anyway? As I was baking the other day, I thought it was high time I put together a post with all my faves. There are so many great cookie recipes to choose from on this site, but these are my top 12 favorite holiday cookie recipes. See if you can’t find something to add to your cookie tray this year! 1. Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies From my…
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Matcha Pistachio 7-Layer Bars
Holiday baking season is in full swing, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. It’s absolutely my favorite time of year, baking-wise. For the past few years, I’ve given baked goods as gifts for family and friends (no one really needs more stuff anyway), so I spend the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas baking every chance I can get. And while I have a ton of old family recipes and my own favorites that I bake every year, I like to try out one or two new ones as well. This year, I’d been thinking about making something with matcha and white chocolate (it’s a fantastic flavor combo, plus matcha is…
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Pumpkin Scones With Maple Glaze
Pumpkin season may be just about over, but don’t let it end before you make a batch of these Pumpkin Scones With Maple Glaze! They’re soft, perfectly spiced with your favorite fall spices, and drizzled with a simple maple powdered sugar glaze. YUM. Your New Brunch Favorite Whether you need a new recipe for a holiday brunch or a morning treat to sustain you through all the end of the year festivities, these scones are just the ticket. One of my favorite things about these scones is that they’re not insanely sweet. I mean, there’s sugar in them for sure, plus some molasses and that maple glaze, so they have…
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Rosewater Champagne Truffles
Mother’s Day is around the corner, and I know very few moms who wouldn’t love a little chocolate treat on their big day…especially if they don’t have to make it themselves. 😉 If you want to wow mom with a special little homemade treat this Mother’s Day, these Rosewater Champagne Truffles are just the thing. With dark chocolate, a splash of bubbly, and a little rosewater, you’ll have mom feeling relaxed, loved, and a little bit fancy. Roses + Chocolate = Delicious Roses and chocolate are an iconic gift combination for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day…but have you ever combined them into one gift? No, I’m not talking about rose-shaped…
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Northern Ginger Cookies
This week marks five years since I hit “publish” on my first blog post! When I started this blog, I honestly thought I might do it for a year or two. But five years in, I’m still loving it and have no intention of stopping. To celebrate five years of baking and blogging fun, I decided to create a signature cookie recipe: one that reflects not only the name of my blog, but also the cozy vibes of this beautiful place I call home (and some of my favorite flavors). Everyone give a warm welcome to Northern Ginger Cookies! A New Kind of Ginger Cookie Northern Ginger Cookies are soft…
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Homemade Dark Chocolate Marshmallows
Happy almost-Christmas everyone! It’s been a weird holiday season, with no snow in sight here in Northern Minnesnowta. But there’s nothing like a pile of delicious seasonal treats to get you in the holiday spirit, right? I know marshmallows might not be on your list of typical holiday treats, but, honestly, they should be. Especially these homemade Dark Chocolate Marshmallows. Marshmallows Are the New Cookies If you’ve been following along on this blog for a while, you may have noticed I’ve become a little obsessed with homemade marshmallows. Case in point, the three other marshmallow recipes I’ve already created: Some would call this a “problem;” I prefer to call it…
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Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Originally published March 2019; Updated Dec 2023 Soft, buttery, a little tangy, and slathered with a thick layer of creamy frosting: my list of what makes a perfect sugar cookie. You know those soft sugar cookies you find in most grocery store bakeries with the crazy thick layer of sugary frosting? Like those, only more buttery, less plastic-tasting (you know it’s true), and made with ingredients I can pronounce. These Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies are the closest I’ve come to those infamous grocery store cookies. Soft, Satisfying, and Perfect for Holiday Baking! These cookies are on the softer side, but they still have a slight firmness that makes them…
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Holiday Gift Guide: Cookie Lover’s Gift Guide
Happy holidays everyone! Here’s a new gift guide for you holiday shopping needs — this one’s all for the cookie bakers in your life. From baking sheets to cookie cutters, cookie cookbooks, and more, this cookie lover’s gift guide has gift ideas for all your baking friends. (Note: None of the items I’m sharing are paid advertisements — these are the tools I actually use and love!) Cookie Sheets A good cookie sheet (or sheet pan/baking sheet) is one of the most important tools in your cookie toolbox. The cookie sheet you use can make a big difference in how your cookies bake. For example: a dark-colored baking sheet will…
Recipes and Musings from the Zenith City
