Christmas in July Recipes and Inspiration!

Dreaming of Christmas in July? Me too. Holiday 2020 won’t be business as usual, for sure, but we can’t afford to waste one precious year. So I hope you’ll indulge me in a little Christmas-in-July checklist fantasy ~ let’s dream together and plan to make 2020 a holiday season to remember.

Admit it, you’ve thought about the holidays once or twice this month. I know I have, it’s only natural. We’re at the half way point and while they seem far away, they’re so near in spirit. Here’s my bucket list, I aim to tick every box this year ~ how does my list compare to yours?

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Let’s make a new tradition ~

I love to go all out once every holiday season and try something new, maybe even venture out of my comfort zone. These Swedish Pepparkakor cookies from last year were a favorite around here and now I need to figure out how to top them this season.

What you’ll need:

• a cute new cookie cutter…Etsy is full of them, I bought this one last year but haven’t used it yet! Amazon has lots, too, one of my favorite companies is The Fussy Pup

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A Cozy Drink ~

Cozy nights at home will likely be the norm this December, so I’m definitely going to be amping up the hygge factor at our house. Candles, comfy throws, crackling fires…you get the idea.

What you’ll need:

• Homemade marshmallows make any kind of hot chocolate feel just a little bit more special and indulgent. These ones happen to be spiked with bourbon, but I also love my maple marshmallows made with pure maple syrup. Speaking of spiked, I’m sure I’ll be making more than a few Sloppy Santa nightcaps this year.

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A Homemade Gift ~

You could just drop ship your gift list online this year, but making it personal will be more important than ever. I love making homemade jams and jellies for holiday gifts, and my mulled cranberry jelly is one of my all time faves. (Did you know that when you subscribe to my emails you get a free ebook full of homemade holiday gift ideas?)

What you’ll need:

• Get your cute packaging sorted early. I always gift my jams and jellies in German Weck jars, because they’re pretty and can be reused in so many ways. My Nutcracker Bark recipe comes with pretty printable gift tags complete with the recipe ready to share.

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A Festive Cake ~

A box of doughnuts on the counter won’t cut it this year. I want my kitchen to feel like a wonderland, even if I’m the only one who sees it. This cranberry and orange loaf cake sprinkled with sparkling sugared cranberries is just about as pretty and festive as holiday baking gets. Make an extra for your neighbor!

What you’ll need:

• A pretty glass cake dome is essential holiday decor in my book. It keeps all those holiday treats fresh and on display.

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Something for the kids (sprinkles!)

We get a limited number of childhood holiday seasons, and no child should have to lose out on a single one. The sprinkle drawer (yes, I have a sprinkle drawer) in my pantry makes me smile every time I open it, and it provides a little holiday magic every year. A simple sugar cookie coated in every color sprinkle imaginable is a fun and easy baking project, or try my Sugar Plum Fairy bark for some more sparkly, sprinkly fun. If you’re short on time, make a huge batch of bedazzled spritz cookies!

What you’ll need:

• You’ll actually be able to amass a great sprinkle collection online, you’ll find so many eye popping varieties and way more than any supermarket stocks. Most sprinkles last years, so they won’t go to waste.

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Something Mulled ~

Mulling performs two important holiday functions…if provides a hot delicious drink and makes the house smell amazing. We might not need a crock pot full of spiced wine for our holiday open houses this year, but I know I’ll make small batches in a saucepan on repeat this winter. My pomegranate mulled cider if perfect for all ages and non drinkers.

What you’ll need:

• Mulling spices are fabulous to have around, and I also like to have small muslin bags to make the process quick and easy. Just fill the bags, and mull away!

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A Holiday Morning Treat ~

Many of us won’t have houseguests or visitors for Christmas or Hanukkah this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the mornings extra-special. My easy no-yeast cinnamon rolls require little effort for a luxurious payoff. I won’t blame you if you want to get in a few practice rounds before the season begins 😉

What you’ll need:

• A good quality ceramic baking dish will last you a lifetime and be pretty enough to serve out of. I like my Staub oval baker, it works for summer crisps and crumbles too.

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Something Gingerbread ~

The flavor and aroma of gingerbread is one of the must-have joys of the holidays, and it doesn’t just mean cookies. My glazed gingerbread bundt cake is a glorious holiday bake. (I’ve been known to infuse warm, gingerbread spices into everything from ice cream and brownies to french toast.)

What you’ll need:

• For my gingerbread cake you’ll want a fancy bundt pan, every kitchen should have at least one. I love the way this one catches the glaze, so pretty!