Our Holiday Baking! Some of what my sick self was up to in December

 

Hello everyone! Happy New Year! Well I suppose since it's almost mid January I really shouldn't be saying that anymore, but oh well! Anyway, two weeks ago I asked you guys in this blog post: What I Got For Christmas - 2022 Mini Haul if I should do a blog post about me and my family's gingerbread houses, and Christmas cookies, and Grace requested that I do! I will also be sharing the cookie recipe as a part of her request, as well :) Thank you, Grace!

So the gingerbread houses we decorated on the 18th (of December) and that was also the day before my relapse/start of the new cold. So that's why I didn't post the pictures, right away. Now the cookies we decorated on the 23rd so that we could have a fresh batch ready for Christmas Eve! What day do you guys bake your Christmas cookies?

We'll start with the gingerbread houses! Also! We got a set of four mini houses that way we could all do one!

Here is the front of my gingerbread house! Actually it's the back. I mixed up the front and back 😅 Luckily I don't think it's too noticeable, whoops! Anyway, I really like the green and red lights that I put on the roof, I'm also quite proud of those hanging icicles! Overall I think I did pretty well!

Here's one side of the house

Here's the actual front of the house! I think it turned out pretty good, but I still like the other side better :)

Here's another side of the house

And here's a better look at the snow roof design I did! I think it looks rather cute <3

Here's the front of my Dad's gingerbread house! Cute ❤

Here's the back of his

Here's a better look at his roof! I really love all the greens he used, and how well they go together <3 You can also see his snow scene at the bottom, with all the cute teeny tiny red sprinkles.

This gingerbread perfectly describes Mckayla in a nutshell, and I love it! Can you guess who's house this is? Yep! Mckayla's. I love how she not only decorated her house, but also went CRAZY with decorations on the outside. Also those gummy trees are just too adorable <3

Here's a better look at the side of her house, and the grounds

Here's what the back looks like

And lastly here's the other side!

Another gingerbread house that is just completely describing my sibling! Is Tony (my twin sister's) gingerbread house! I love it <3 It's so creative and weird, and there's just so much color! In case you couldn't tell, her sign says evil house 😅

Here's her swamp. I'm dead serious, that's what she called it! Gosh, I love it!

Now on to the cookies! By the way! I also included the recipe for these really delicious chocolate chip cookies that my Mom makes all the time! They are literal heaven 😍 The best way I can describe them is if a chocolate chip cookie was made into a brownie. I would really recommend you try them!

Christmas Sugar Cookies

- 2 and a one fourth cup of flour

- A one fourth tsp. salt

- 2 tsp. baking soda

- A half a cup of shortening

- 1 cup of sugar

- 2 eggs | beaten

- A half a tsp. vanilla

- 1 T milk

Directions:

Bake at 375 for 12 minutes

Now let's eat!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

8x8 (9x13)

- A half a cup of butter (1 cup of butter)

- A half a cup of brown sugar (1 cup of brown sugar)

- A half a cup of granulated sugar (1 cup of granulated sugar)

- 1 egg (3 eggs)

- 2 tsp. of vanilla (1 T vanilla)

- A half a tsp. of baking soda (1 tsp. of baking soda)

- 1 cup of flour (2 cups of flour)

- A fourth of a tsp. of salt

- 1 cup of chocolate chips (2 cups of chocolate chips)

Directions:

1. Cream butter + sugars for 4 minutes.

2. Add eggs + vanilla, and blend.

3. Stir in dry ingredients.

4. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. Spread into greased pan.

6. Bake at 350 (375) for 28-34 minutes.

7. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.

Now serve and enjoy!

Now unfortunately I don't have a picture of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars but I do have a picture of two of the Christmas sugar cookies I decorated :) <3 I did decorate lots more, but again I still wasn't feeling my best so I just took a picture of my two favorites! What do you think?

To do a short recap on how my December was, it was certainly busy. During the beginning of the month I was working on lots of Christmas photoshoots and I was watching lots of movies, and listening to music. All Christmas themed, of course <3 And we also celebrated my Mom's birthday. We decorated a ton, at least I did anyway. I also filmed Vlogmas videos, just for my family, and also! My other blog (Hailey's Joyful Dolls) had it's 2 year anniversary!!! Which is very exciting, and also crazy that I've been blogging for that long, already! And I also got sick, TWICE! But I did get to binge watch the whole LOTR series <3 With my twin sister! So that was lots of fun :) We did do a Secret Santa gift exchange with some friends and extended family, for the first time! And opened our main presents (with just my parents and siblings) on Christmas Eve! Which was fun and different. We also watched Polar Express on Christmas Eve which is a special tradition in our household. So yeah, that's pretty much all that I did December :) But I am curious as to what you guys did during the holiday seasons! Let me know if you have any blog post requests, and we can chat in the comments <3 I hope you guys enjoyed this post! See ya!

How Was Your December?

What Do You Think Of The Cookie Recipes?

What Do You Think About Our Gingerbread Houses And Cookies?

How Has Your 2023 Been, So Far?