It’s almost winter time here in Wisconsin. The winds are getting more bitter. Soon there will be snow on the steps. Needless to say, winter is not my favorite season. But, nothing warms up the house like baking some cookies for holidays! So this week’s blog post is a selection of baking books to add to your baking repertoire. I’ve included the publisher’s summaries to give you an idea of what to expect from each book.

Christmas Baking by Joyce & Laura Klynstra

“This collection brings together more than 100 Christmas-inspired recipes, from holiday classics like Dark Chocolate Crinkles and Decorated Sugar Cookies to international treats like Krakelingen, Linzer Cookies, and Alfajores. From festive and fancy to quick and easy recipes. Many favorites will spark fond baking memories, and new flavors will create fresh family traditions.”

Kwanzaa by Eric V. Copage

“…This beautiful, one-of-a-kind book provides all the components you need for a glorious Kwanzaa celebration: stories to illustrate the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) of Kwanzaa and food for the feast. Here you will find more than 125 treasured recipes shared with Eric from the people of African descent all over the world. There are no set menus. Creating your own Kwanzaa feasts is part of the fun. …”

Procrastibaking by Erin Gardner

“Master the art of “doing nothing” in the most delicious way possible with this enticing collection of 100 recipes that are ideal for avoiding laundry, emails, cleaning the house, and well, everything else that wants your attention.”

Jewish Holiday Baking by Uri Scheft

“In Jewish Holiday Baking, adapted from his Breaking Breads, Uri Scheft shares key classic holiday baking recipes like challah and babka-and provides his creative twists on them as well, showing how bakers can do the same easily at home. But the book is not limited to breads alone. Holiday sweets, whether chocolate-filled babka, poppyseed hamantaschen, or fruit-filled sufganiyot, are recipes of dessert-lovers’ dreams. And with the addition of traditional Middle Eastern breads like kubaneh and jachnun, this collection of holiday recipes from master baker Scheft becomes an indispensable resource. The instructions are detailed and the photos explanatory so that anyone can make Scheft’s Chocolate and Orange Confit Challah, Za’atar Twists, and Jerusalem Bagels for their next Seder or Apple Hamantaschen for Purim.”

Very Vegan Christmas Cookies by Ellen Brown

“Going beyond vegan basics, this full-color cookbook takes a festive turn with more than 125 Christmas cookie recipes designed without eggs or dairy products.

Take vegan charge of the holidays and impress your friends and family with your baking skills—all without milk or eggs! With more than 125 innovative recipes created by a well-known cookbook author, a feast of flavors awaits.”