Bake from Scratch Holiday 2016

that beckons bakers to the kitchen more than the holidays —and I’m talking days upon delightful days of confection creation and baked gifts being prepared for family and friends. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, my first batch of homemade eggnog makes its annual debut, marking the start of a season filled with traditions dear to me. I spend time with my Mimi and Grandad making cookies to be served on Christmas Day, and I always round out my baking spree with a cake for Christmas dinner. This year’s will actually be two, both versions of our Bûche de Noël If you’re wondering where to start your holiday baking, turn to our “12 Bakes of Christmas” story. These carol-inspired recipes were so fun to brainstorm with our test kitchen chefs. I have to…

Keith Pandolfi Writer Keith Pandolfiis a former senior editor at Saveur magazine and a former features editor at Serious Eats. His work appears regularly in the Wall Street Journal, Cooking Light, and Eater. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter. Favorite Holiday Tradition: “Watching It’s a Wonderful Life with a plate full of Italian Christmas cookies and a mug of Jack Daniels-spiked eggnog.” Stephanie Burt Stephanie Burt grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, on good Southern cooking and lots of books. She received both her BA and MA in English from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and was a former instructor of English and American Studies there as well. She regularly writes for outlets such as Food Republic and has a regular column in Charleston, South Carolina’s the Post and Courier. She…

vanessa rocchio Although she is a Texan at heart, Vanessa Rocchio has lived in Birmingham, Alabama, for 26 years, where she has worked as a recipe developer. She has loved to cook since she was a child big enough to pull a chair up to the kitchen counter, and she hasn’t stopped since. Even though Vanessa develops recipes in the Bake from Scratch test kitchen all day, she still makes a meal with her son every night. Favorite Holiday Tradition: “Baking, of course. My son Matthew and I bake cookies, gingerbread houses, and pound cake. We belly up to the counter, and my son looks forward to rolling out dough and licking spatulas. We crank up the Christmas music, sip hot chocolate, light a fire in the fireplace, and turn on the…

1. Mason Cash Colored Mixing Bowl, Red Beautiful detail and bold color set this mixing bowl apart and add a modern flair. Plus, it’s both microwave and dishwasher safe, giving you more time to get creative with your cookies. $46.09; mtbakermercantile.com 2. Norpro Grip-EZ Scoop Essential for any cookie baker, this dough scoop is perfect for chocolate chip and drop cookie recipes of all kinds. $14.99 various sizes; smithandedwards.com the cookie CONNOISSEUR Help your cookie-loving baker take their skills to the next level in style with these tools and gadgets 3. Guittard Cocoa Rouge Unsweetened Cocoa Powder Quality cookies start with quality ingredients. This deeply flavored cocoa powder from the chocolate masters at Guittard adds a powerful chocolate punch to any recipe. $7.99; guittard.com 4. Ankarsrum Original Mixer With an adjustable arm, attached bowl scraper, and numerous attachments—not to…

1. Slow Dough, Real Bread by Chris Young Chris Young of the Real Bread Campaign shares the satisfying—and delicious—art of slow-rise bread, plus secrets and tips from the campaign’s network of dough-savvy expert bakers, in this new tome. $29.95; bookstores everywhere 2. Frieling Natural Cain Brotform, 10” Round This simple rising basket will help your bread dough rise better, keep a uniform shape, and ensure a crave-worthy crunchy crust. $33.95; direct.frieling.com 3. Sawyer Ceramics French Butter Keeper This lovely vessel keeps your butter at the ideal spreading consistency, so you’re always ready for a freshly baked loaf. $35; sawyerceramics.com 4. Facture Goods Walnut and Brass Serving Board This miniature breadboard is perfect for serving buttery biscuits. It’s an ideal gift for the bread baker who likes to show offa little. $60; facturegoods.com 5. Typhoon Imprima Diamond Bread Bin This…

1. Sonoma Syrup Co. Artisan Extract Gift Set Some extracts can make cakes taste monotone, but the bottles in this set are brimming with bold, artisan-blended flavors that will make your cakes sing. $39.95; sonomasyrup.com 2. American Cake by Anne Byrn Dig into the rich origins of America’s most-beloved cakes, and get their recipes, in this new book from The Cake Mix Doctor herself, Anne Byrn. $29.99; bookstores everywhere 3. Circulon Nonstick 9-inch Round Cake Pans Made with heavy-duty carbon steel for even heating, wide handles for secure grip, and a durable nonstick surface, these pans will help produce flawless layers every time. $12.99; circulon.com 4. Nordic Ware Vintage Star Bundt Pan Nordic Ware brought back this elegant star design as part of the company’s 70th Anniversary celebration. With beautiful detailing, it turns any Bundt batter into…