Taste of the South Holiday Baking 2021

I LIKE TO SAY THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH during the holidays. Too many desserts on the buffet? Impossible. Too much freshly grated nutmeg atop the eggnog? Nope! Too many cookies to fit in the last tin for the swap? Well, that is entirely possible, and you should eat the extra ones. You earned it. For me, baked goods and the holidays go hand in hand. From countless cookies to a loaf or two of my Aunt Gloria’s Christmas bread (I’ve always called it “brown bread,” which is perhaps the least festive name for a holiday treat), this is my favorite time of year for baking and munching on sweets. In this special collection, I hope you’ll be similarly obsessed with the treasure trove of quick and easy cakes,…

CHOCOLATE-PEPPERMINT COOKIES MAKES 30 Crushed peppermint candies—or even candy canes—make the perfect festive topping to these yummy treats. 1 cup unsalted butter, softened2 cups all-purpose flour2 cups confectioners’ sugar½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder¼ teaspoon kosher salt2 cups white chocolate chips, melted⅓ cup crushed peppermint candies 1. In a large bowl, beat butter with a mixer at medium speed until creamy. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating just until combined. Shape dough into a disk; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 2. Preheat oven 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Using a 2½-inch round cutter, cut dough, rerolling scraps as needed. Place 2 inches apart on prepared pans. 3.…

BACON-LATTICE APPLE PIE MAKES 1 (9-INCH) PIE Don’t knock it ’til you try it—the bacon on top of this all-American treat makes it almost too good to be true. 6 slices thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon½ (14.1-ounce) package refrigerated piecrusts6 cups sliced unpeeled Gala apples (about 4 large)⅓ cup granulated sugar3 tablespoons all-purpose flour1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice1¾ teaspoons apple pie spice, divided¼ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar 1. Preheat oven to 375°. 2. Spray a wire rack with cooking spray. Place rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Place bacon on prepared rack. 3. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool. 4. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate, pressing into bottom and up sides. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. 5. In a large bowl,…

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT CAKE MAKES ABOUT 12 SERVINGS You can’t beat having a simple yet delicious sheet cake recipe on hand during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. CAKE ½ cup unsalted butter, softened½ cup granulated sugar½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar½ cup chocolate-hazelnut spread*1 teaspoon vanilla extract3 large eggs2½ cups all-purpose flour, divided½ cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda¼ teaspoon kosher salt1 cup sour cream CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT FROSTING ½ cup unsalted butter, softened1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened¾ cup chocolate-hazelnut spread*5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted Garnish: chopped toasted hazelnuts 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 13x9-inch baking pan with baking spray with flour. 2. For cake: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add chocolate-hazelnut spread and vanilla,…

BANANA-CHOCOLATE QUICK BREAD MAKES 1 (8½X4½-INCH) LOAF One of our favorite quick breads gets a boost of flavor from chunks of rich chocolate. ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted¾ cup sugar¾ cup extra-chunky peanut butter½ cup sour cream2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup coarsely mashed very ripe banana (about 3 small bananas)2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder½ teaspoon baking soda¼ teaspoon kosher salt1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chunks 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray an 8½x4½-inch loaf pan with baking spray with flour. 2. In a large bowl, beat melted butter, sugar, peanut butter, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla with a mixerat medium-high speed until well combined. Stir in banana. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to banana mixture, stirring just until moistened. Stir in…

BREADS Banana-Chocolate Quick Bread 80 Buttermilk Sprinkle Quick Bread 85 Cranberry-Pecan Bread 84 Maple-Bacon Monkey Bread 89 Orange-Coconut Sweet Rolls 93 Orange-Streusel Quick Bread 96 Pecan-Pumpkin Bread 88 Sweet Potato Muffins with Bacon 92 Whole Wheat Orange Biscuits 81 CAKES Chocolate-Hazelnut Cake 56 Chocolate Spice Cake 76 Coconut-Orange Pound Cake 73 Coconut Poke Cake 68 Cranberry-Orange-Pistachio Bundt Cake 65 Figgy Pudding Cakes with Toffee Sauce 72 Gingerbread-Pear Bundt Cake 61 Layered Fruitcake 69 Rum Raisin Coffee Cake 57 Spiced Rum Bundt Cake 60 White Christmas Layer Cake 64 COOKIES & BARS Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies 8 Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies 24 Festive Sprinkle Cookies 32 Fudge Lava Cookies 25 Pecan Pie Bars 28 Peppermint Bars 9 Raspberry-Apricot Linzer Cookies 29 Red Velvet Crinkles 16 Red Velvet Peppermint Swirl Bars 12 Salted Caramel Macaroons 21 Sparkling Cranberry-Chocolate Chip Cookies 20 Spiced Graham Cookies 13 White Chocolate Christmas Blondies 17 PIES & TARTS Bacon-Lattice Apple Pie 36 Chocolate Chess Pie 40 Chocolate-Coffee Cream Tart 45 Cranberry-Apricot Crumble Pie 49 Fried Pecan Pies 52 Mixed Nut-Caramel Tart…