Last year during the holiday season of 2020, I went through a baking blitz.
Year-End
It was a way to hold on to the holiday season, while accepting that celebrations couldn’t be like years before, because regular people had no access to the protective vaccines or high-end treatments for Covid-19 yet.
Christmas and Year-End
Today, I got my booster shot and I am so glad we have come so far, despite a virus that mutates with such ease that it is quite overwhelming. Getting vaccinated is a way to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our fellow man. I have mentioned this fact numerous times over the past year or so.
In a sense, Christmas is a celebration by Christians of the birth of a child, that Christians believe would subsequently sacrifice his life as the ultimate act of love for mankind.
It is also a season to affirm to ourselves, our efforts in taking measures to protect ourselves and others. For sharing love and not hate for our fellow man. For being at peace and being content.
Christmas Bakes
Whether you believe the Christmas story or not, I invite you to take a look at some of my cheery bakes from Christmases past. After all, this is the season to celebrate in any way that looks right to you.
I thought I would share images of last year’s as well as this year’s and previous Christmas bakes. It is a way to joyously acknowledge how far we have come.
I can’t resist but start off with my absolute favorite. It is from last year. It is a chocolate Yule log, which involved some intricate work to make the cake look like a real log, blanketed by fresh snowfall.

Biscotti-baking
I actually began 2020 holiday baking with these biscotti about 4 weeks before Christmas.

And then there was that year I experimented with peppermint chocolate biscotti.

In 2020, I also tried my hand making gingerbread biscotti.

Cakes and Brownies
One year, I attempted a fruit cake with mixed results and reactions.

This year, in 2021, I most recently baked a double batch of brownies.


Conclusion
I am very hopeful that love and understanding will be the theme of these holidays and into next year.
So I hope you enjoyed my album of sweet treats and that your holidays will be equally filled with love and sweet memories.