Holiday Recipes

Written by: Faye Holliman ('29) and Amolika Bhatia ('29)

With the trees shedding their leaves and snowfall dusting the grass, the time has come to find your cozy blankets, grab a friend, and make some…well, what should you make this season? With so many festive choices, it's almost impossible to not try everything! To help you decide on a delicious treat to make with friends and family, LHS has come together to compile three of the best recipes for this holiday season.

One recipe for a sweet treat was shared by Ms. Cramer, who offered a step by step guide to create delicious ginger snaps! Ms. Cramer recalls a memory of her grandmother making this recipe when visiting her near Utica, NY. She went on to say, “The recipe was handed down to her from my great-grandmother who worked as a baker, and who is rumored by family lore to have been an associate of the notorious Loomis Gang of Upstate New York”.

Picture of Ms. Cramer’s great-grandmother

For this recipe, you will need:

1 Cup sugar

¾ cup shortening (Crisco)

¼ cup molasses

1 egg

2 cups flour

1 ½ Tablespoon baking soda

1 Tablespoon salt

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 Tablespoon ginger

Cream the sugar & shortening until light. Add egg & molasses, beat thoroughly. Add flour, soda, salt & spices. Blend carefully. Roll a small portion of dough in palm of hand about the size of a walnut. 

Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes

The end result is bundles of sugary sweetness! This recipe is a great snack for everybody in your house and others you want to share the festive mood with. These ginger snaps are a must-try this holiday season!

If you’re looking for a familiar but unique dessert this winter, Adam Tyberg (11th) shared a Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar recipe, which is a unique take on the simple dessert. Adam recalls when he first tried this recipe, and shares, “My mom once made these over winter break and I had over half the whole dish within the first couple hours they came out of the oven they were so good.” 

Picture of fresh chocolate chip cookie bars

For this recipe, you will need:

9 x 13 inch baking pan

Foil or parchment paper

Small bowl

½ cup melted butter, salted or unsalted

1½ cups graham cracker crumbs, chocolate or regular

1 can sweetened condensed milk, 14 ounce can

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips 

1½ cups flaked coconut

1 cup nuts - chopped, sliced or slivered, pecans and slivered almonds, and can be substituted for walnuts.

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a 9x13" pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

2. In a small bowl, mix melted butter and add graham cracker crumbs, mix well. Press firmly into pan.

3. Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk over graham base and spread to the edges evenly. 

4. Sprinkle chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts evenly over entire pan.

5. Bake for 25-30 min.

6. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, refrigerate for 1 hour before slicing.

After you finish preparing these chocolate chip cookie bars, you may find yourself faced with temptation to eat it all! Make sure you share your final result with your loved ones to spread the festive spirit!

If you’re looking for one final dessert you can bring to your dinner table, Ms. Harvey shared a recipe loved by all: a Brown Butter Cookie bar! Ms. Harvey promises this to be a fan favorite snack, and says, “These are always a hit! I make them for every holiday and event throughout the year. For Christmas, I make them as gifts for my neighbors!” 

For this recipe, you will need:

1 cup unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, loosely packed

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 large Hershey's cookies and cream bar

10-12 crushed Oreos 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Have a 9x9 inch baking dish out.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.

3. Place the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and let the mixture bubble, stirring occasionally, until brown bits begin to appear on the bottom. Once the brown bits appear, turn the heat off and continue to stir for about 30 seconds. Let the butter cool slightly. Take a pastry brush and brush a bit of the butter all over the bottom and sides of the 9x9 inch dish.

4. Place the brown sugar in a large bowl. Pour in the brown butter and mix until combined and smooth - the sugar will somewhat dissolve. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring immediately after so they don’t cook if the butter is still warm. Stir in the vanilla extract.

5. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the dry ingredients until they are almost combined. Stir in the crushed Oreos until they are evenly dispersed.

5. Press the mixture into the buttered dish. Break up the cookies and cream Hershey's bar and evenly distribute on the top. 

6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and set in the center. Let cool completely before slicing into squares.

These brown butter cookie bars are a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and will have everybody asking for seconds! Remember to add these to your cookbook this season, and enjoy this delectable treat!

All of these recipes are guaranteed to bring the festive spirit to your home this season! Whether you are baking for friends, family, or even just yourself, each option will bring an exciting experience to your table. With all of these choices, why not try one or even ALL of these recipes?