Sweet Treats for the Holidays

The West is home to the highest mountains in the United States, and we don’t need to tell our readers who live (and bake) thousands of feet above sea level that cakes can fall flat and cookies can burn and pastries dry out if you don’t adjust your recipes and techniques. That’s where the brilliant The Mountain Baker cookbook comes in handy. Written by Mimi Council and Kimmy Fasani, the co-owners of Dessert’D Organic Bake Shop in Mammoth Lakes, California, it’s the perfect companion for folks who live in the mountains or are just heading up over 8,000 feet for the holidays and want to do some baking in their vacation rental or home. When at high elevation, check your baked goods at the low end of the time to make sure they don’t cook too fast. Not in the mountains? Not a problem. These recipes work perfectly at sea level, too.

1 of 3Mimi Council

Spiced Spritz Cookies

“These little holiday cookies are all you need for those times when you want to curl up in front a fire and watch Christmas movies. Add a Hot Toddy and it just gets better.” —Mimi

2 of 3Mimi Council

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mendiants

“Mendiants are a traditional French candy. They are little disks of chocolate topped with dried fruits and nuts. I like to think of these as packable fuel. When you mix dark chocolate and peanut butter together, you get a little protein plus some sweet and salty goodness that can keep you going until you get home.” —Mimi

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3 of 3Mimi Council

Chocolate Sweet Rolls

“Rich, decadent, and not too sweet: I use Dutch cocoa powder instead of a sweeter chocolate to make these rolls. This allows the glaze to be just sweet enough.” —Mimi