Heather Baird's Blog, page 41

Flowers of Scotland Sugar Cookies

Christmas tree-shaped sugar cookies covered with white royal icing get a botanical makeover with edible flower petals. Scottish flowers in hues of blue, purple and orange, create a bright and unexpected color palette for the holidays.


I must have at least 100 Christmas-themed cookie cutters, but I always seem to return to the same shape, a pine tree ( 1 , 2 ). Like a favorite song, it's the kind of thing that suits me just fine on repeat. In the very back of my pantry I found a little jar of"Flowers of Scotland" which are dried petals and herbs for culinary use. One peek at those vivid blue cornflowers convinced me to make rather unconventional Christmas cookies this year. I look at them as a reminder that we can still enjoy colorful blooms in cold, snowy months.
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Instant Chai Latte Mix

There's nothing cozier than a steaming cup of hot chai on a cold day. This Instant Chai Mix is a super easy, no-cook, no-bake, holiday gift. Simply mix the dry ingredients in a big bowl and funnel into jars.

Winter temperatures arrived early in my neck of the woods, so most evenings we've curled up in front of a fire with our favorite hot beverages. The usual is Earl Grey or hot cider, but this spiced chai has been a welcome departure. It's creamy and delicately spiced - convenient, too!
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Giant Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you're looking for cookies with plenty of WOW  factor, then you might want to bookmark this recipe. These cookies weigh in at a whopping 7 ounces each, which means they'll garner lots of attention at your next cookie swap or holiday party.


This was my first attempt at making cookies this size, and I was surprised to find it was similar to making any other chocolate chip cookie recipe - except there's MUCH MORE dough to manage. During mixing there were moments when I thought my KitchenAid was going simultaneously overflow and walk itself off the prep table, but once I remembered to lock the mixer head in place during operation, things went smoother.
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Three Easy No Bake Cookie Bars

Red Velvet Cookies and Cream Bars, Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars, and Salted Dark Chocolate Almond Bars can all be whipped up in a matter of minutes! These recipes make it possible for even the busiest holiday hosts to offer a variety of delicious cookies to party guests.


December is one big month of marathon baking for me. I love my job as a baker and the time it affords me to dive into rather lengthy kitchen projects. But I also remember a time when I had an office job and too little time to bake all the things . I often relied on quick and easy recipes for holiday parties and family gatherings. These recipes were developed with that in mind.

Busy cooks will appreciate these time-saving recipes, and even those who have lots of time to bake will appreciate how delicious these bars are!
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Christmas Yeti Cake

If you're into rich chocolate cake wrapped in wintry folklore with a dash of cute, then this cake is for you! It's a delicious confection made with alternating layers of chocolate cake and cheesecake. The yeti's coat is made of blue buttercream studded with white sprinkles, and a happy face is created using fondant decors. Altogether complete, she had so much personality we named her 'Jampa' which is a Tibetan name, loosely translated: kindness, caring.

In a moment of pure cake-decorating silliness, a decision was made to give her pink toenails. YES, she's a yeti with a pedi. Clearly, this cake was an absolute joy to create, and I hope you love it, too!
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Smoked Almond Rocky Road Candy

Each holiday season I make a batch of Rocky Road and each time it's a little bit different. The candy can be endlessly varied with almost most any snacky thing you have on hand. This year's rendition could be my favorite yet. It stands out from previous versions with bourbon-soaked cookies and smoked almonds.
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Chocolate Tahini Fudge

Hello friends, and hello December ! This is my favorite month for baking and candy-making, and lately I've been a whirlwind of flour and powdered sugar. I've been whipping up all kinds of new recipes, and I hope you'll find them useful for entertaining and gift-giving this holiday season.

First on my list of goodies - Chocolate Tahini Fudge . If you love chocolate and peanut butter together, then you're probably going to love the combination of chocolate and tahini. Sesame paste gives this candy a refreshing twist and new depth of flavor!
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Cranberry Oat Crumble Bars

There's something so wonderful about the flavor of tart cranberry in winter months. Is it coincidence that the berries are harvested just in time for holiday baking? I think not! Mother Nature gives us just what we need to wake up sleepy winter taste buds.

These bars hold a tart layer of jammy cranberry between two layers of vanilla-scented oat crust. They would be right at home on any holiday cookie tray, but I often found myself craving them for breakfast with coffee (oats = breakfast, right?).
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Gifts For The Baker On Your List!

These items are curated for bakers and confectioners of every stripe. Practical baking basics, creative tools, and special ingredients will make this holiday season sweet for the baker on your gift list!


Practical Baking Basics
CIA 6 Piece Measuring Spoon Set – Perfect stocking-stuffer or tie-on for packages! I have enjoyed this set for years.  My general advice on measuring spoons is to never ever ever , buy plastic spoons with the measurements printed on. They become brittle with repeated washing and will break.
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Spicy Rosemary Roasted Party Nuts

These spicy roasted party nuts are savory-sweet with a coating of brown sugar, sea salt, and chopped fresh rosemary. A dash of ground cayenne pepper makes the flavors zing with just a touch of heat.

I had planned to post this recipe during December but - surprise! It's arrived early. I'm putting together a cheese board for Thanksgiving and decided just last night that these spicy nuts would be a perfect addition. The savory-sweet flavors will pair nicely with most any cheese, and  I can image a big jarful sitting right next to this filo-wrapped cranberry brie .
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