The holiday season is almost here though! To share the magic of sticky, gooey sweetness from Bon Appétit’s test kitchen to your holiday parties this year, the BA editors have put together six festive, colorful cookie recipes. Under the guidance of Jamila Robinson, the editor-in-chief, these recipes reflect the diverse backgrounds and culinary expertise of the magazine’s staff. Among those making a big difference is Jesse Szewczyk of Chicago, who brings his creative and whimsical spirit to the fun, colorful food offerings.
These cookie bar recipes make about 18 cookie bars per batch, so they’re great for gatherings or just to share with family and friends. The editors are careful to stress the need for preparation, and most aspects are developed to reduce time in the baking process. You can make the cookies up to a day or even three days ahead of time. In addition, you can make the dough a week in advance and keep it in the freezer.
Preparing for Baking
Before starting the baking process, getting the right environment is key. The home test kitchen editors suggest preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. It’s an extra step, sure, but it’s the step that guarantees the cookies to bake more uniformly and get that coveted golden-brown shade.
Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. This arrangement encourages air flow, creating the perfect environment for consistent baking. Using parchment paper or silicone baking mats to line your baking sheets keeps stuff from sticking. This easy step takes the hassle out of cleanup!
When dropping cookies onto the prepared sheets, it’s really important to make sure they’re 2 inches or more apart. The generous spacing allows them to spread while they bake and prevents the cookies from merging into one another to create perfectly formed cookies.
The Baking Process
The length of time needed will depend on the exact recipe of the cookie in question. You might find a recipe that gives a baking time of 12-14 minutes, and another recipe that instructs to bake for 18-20 minutes. Don’t take your eye off the cookies as they come out of the oven. Preventing them from getting too browned, but still getting that soft gooey inside—that’s the key for any great cookie.
The editors advise letting the butter mixture sit until barely warm, approximately 10 minutes before combining it with other ingredients. This is the most important step to guaranteeing a luscious smooth filling without lumps. READ MORE → Photo by NTSB It usually only takes three minutes to cook. By following these tips to the letter, bakers can create the perfect texture and flavor combination for all of their holiday goodies.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
As if that wasn’t enough, besides tasting amazing, these cookies are forgiving and flexible. You can prepare cookie dough a day in advance—or up to three days in advance. This provides hosts the opportunity to map out their holiday shindigs without all the scramble at the end. If you’re looking to get a jump on your holiday baking, you can make the dough a week ahead of time. Then simply freeze it to use later!
Early preparation saves valuable time and allows all to savor warm cookies all season long. Prepare to eat your desserts and cakes with a spoon! Whether served at family gatherings or gifted to neighbors, these festive treats are bound to delight everyone who tastes them.
