There are some staples that should always be in a baker’s pantry: flour, sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla extract and cocoa powder. Some lists leave out the last two, or only include them as extras, but I use vanilla and cocoa powder almost every single day and my kitchen is never without them. I don’t want your kitchen to be without them, either, which is why I’m giving away two Baking Basics Gift Packs full of baking essentials from Rodelle. You’ll have to stock up on flour and butter, but this gift pack is full of vanilla beans, vanilla extract, Dutch process baking cocoa  and other essentials  that will get you set up for all of your holiday baking
To enter the contest, just leave a comment below and mention your favorite holiday treat – whether it is a pumpkin pie recipe that you’ve been baking for twenty years or a new sugar cookie recipe you just added to your repertoire. The contest ends Sunday at midnight (11/10/2013) and two winners will be randomly selected from the entries. Don’t forget to fill in your e-mail on the comment form (it will not be made public), as that is how I will contact the winner, and good luck!
Here are a few chocolate and vanilla recipes to kick start your holiday baking:
Update: Comments are now closed. Congrats to Alyssa and Amy on winning this giveaway! Thanks to everyone for participating!
Annemarie
November 6, 2013Rum balls!
mysweetiepiepie
November 6, 2013Spritz cookies… it wouldn’t be the holidays without camel spritz cookies sprinkled with green sugar and a red dot for the eye.
Tacky, I know, but mom’s invention :+)
Lisa
November 6, 2013We love sugar cookies & hot cocoa cookies!
Pamela
November 6, 2013An old-fashioned. deeply-spiced Persimmon Pudding Cake.
Jenny
November 6, 2013I love the chocolate pecan pie our family friend makes
rose
November 6, 2013My favorite holiday treat was always my Grandma’s fruit filled pastries and pecan bites… I would love to learn to make them. I’m also a sucker for anything mint-chocolate!
Al
November 6, 2013Tarte Tatin with a really nice caramel and a crisped golden brown crust!!
Marcia S.
November 6, 2013Every Thanksgiving I make pumpkin pies from an old Southern Living recipe, they are fantastic. I also make my Mom’s cherry pie recipe. It’s a toss up, but I would pick the cherry pie with the flakiest, tender crust-yum!
Alice
November 6, 2013My mom makes an amazing steamed pudding with dates, apples, and maple syrup in it with an eggnog sauce for Christmas, it’s AMAZING!
Karen
November 6, 2013My sister always bakes the best treats. I really love her nutty shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate.
Barbara W
November 6, 2013I LOVE the frosted mint cookies that I make for Christmas.
The Peace Patch
November 6, 2013My fave are Sicilian chocolate nut ball cookies. Thanks!
Jamie
November 6, 2013Caramel apple cheesecake bars
Amy Kazanas
November 6, 2013When fresh cranberries show up I start making Cranberry Buckle.
Kate
November 6, 2013My favorite holiday treat is homemade apple pie. Original I know but there it is. I love it!
Lisa
November 6, 2013Peanut Butter Pie
christina
November 6, 2013Snickerdoodles
Lindsay
November 6, 2013Pecan pie is my favorite dessert, but I only eat it at Christmas. I wait ALL year for it, and that first bite is always Heavenly!!
Erin
November 6, 2013Chocolate gingersnap pie
Edward
November 6, 2013I have a sweet potato buttermilk pound cake that I love to prepare
Lauren
November 6, 2013Sour cream apple pie is so comforting.
Andrea L
November 6, 2013Potato Chip cookies-Butter cookie recipe with crumbled potato chips
Angela
November 6, 2013LOVE all things dark chocolate. Going to have to go with flourless chocolate cake to get that rich, dense chocolate flavor!
bente scott
November 6, 2013I have a apple cake with brown sugar glaze that is my new favorite cake to make in the fall, perfect for apple season.
doddy hardy
November 6, 2013I hope win the prize to prepare my pie
Helen
November 6, 2013Pecan pie!
Colleen B
November 6, 2013I love pumpkin pie and gingerbread!
Jen
November 6, 2013My favorite holiday treat would have to be our pecan fingers!
Deborah
November 6, 2013Cinnamon apples in cranberry sauce and snickerdoodles (separately of course lol ).
Zazzy
November 6, 2013Big, fat, gooey cinnamon rolls. I can only justify them once per year.
Gudrun
November 6, 2013Two words sum up the one thing I look forward to consuming during the holidays….
RUM BALLS
They totally rule!!
Michelle
November 6, 2013Carrot cake has to be my favourite.
athena Rodriguez
November 6, 2013Warm french apple pie ala mode mmmm!
Daphne
November 6, 2013Blueberry pound cake. We freeze fresh blueberries all summer and then make blueberry pound cake for everyone at the holidays.
felicia
November 6, 2013i make gingerbread based on tartine’s recipe (a sf bakery). i’ve tried several other recipes, but tartine’s is the absolute best!!!
Jodi
November 6, 2013I love making Buckeyes for everyone.
Sarah
November 7, 2013My favorite holiday treat are the buckeye candies my aunt makes!
Erin M.
November 7, 2013I love making all of my Christmas cookies! It’s one of my favorite times of the year!
Theresa Z
November 7, 2013Favorite holiday treat is Hungarian kalacs (nut roll). Everyone loves it.
Danielle T
November 7, 2013i love making chocolate raspberry cheesecake
Alyssa P
November 7, 2013My new favorite (as of last year) is a Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake! Peppermint Schnapps infused buttercream 🙂
Tessy
November 7, 2013I make a divine raspberry cheesecake 🙂
Cathie
November 7, 2013I’ve been using the same awesome gingerbread the cookie recipe since high school, and last year we used it to make gingerbread houses. Fun and delicious!
Kelly
November 7, 2013I love making and eating dark chocolate peppermint bark.
Mandy
November 7, 2013My favorite would be french macarons. They’re cute, and delicious.
Elizabeth Kay pinder
November 7, 2013I always make my GrandMother’s Pecan Pie recipe — it’s the best…
kelly
November 7, 2013I adore pumpkin cheesecake at the holidays and making Christmas cookies for an annual cookie exchange I host.
Katie
November 7, 2013Sweet potato casserole – the ultimate comfort food. 🙂
Ariana
November 7, 2013My parent’s traditional Czech Christmas cookies – yum!
Kristyn
November 7, 2013Chocolate crackletops (or pixies)