Envision baking sweet treats at Christmas, such as cookies, cakes and gingerbread man, and the festive spirit sets right in. Christmas heralds the joys of baking and sharing goodies. With the holiday season just round the corner, many of you might be pondering what to bake, and how much of everything to bake. But do you know how these two concepts intertwined with each other in the first place?
For baking sweet treats at Christmas to be fun, you need to prepare a list of ingredients in advance, and brush up on some basic tips. What many of you may not realize is that many of these supplies also featured in the Christmas shopping lists during the Middle Ages. Surprising though it might be, our ancestors also celebrated Christmas by baking sweet treats and sharing them with all and sundry.
Tradition of Baking Sweet Treats at Christmas
Although the ovens and other equipment was primitive during the medieval times, baking still happened with plenty of fervor. Not only did this activity form a part of every religious ceremony, but also served as a symbolic glue that held communities together. Especially during the cold winter months, people found comfort in baking and sharing sweet treats.
At the time, it was common to flavor baked products with spices, such as cinnamon and cloves. These exuded an appetizing aroma, and also provided a sense of warmth in the biting cold. Another common practice entailed mixing honey and dried fruits in the baking dough to preserve it through the winter.
Post 11th century, baking sweet treats at Christmas began to evolve in earnest, as people began to use shapes to celebrate. Stars, reindeer and the all-time favorite gingerbread man came into being during this phase, as people unleashed their creativity to mark the occasion. Gradually ovens improved, and new tools and equipment like cookie-cutters became readily available. Post industrial revolution, basic ingredients like flour and sugar became affordable, thus enabling people from all strata to bake treats in various shapes, sizes and flavors.
Even today, the tradition of baking during Christmas continues uninterrupted. The emotions associated with it also remain the same, namely to spread joy and cheer through sharing.
What Do Baked Treats Contain?
Aren’t you curious to know what all goes into a baked treat? It is but natural to swallow a mind-boggling number of sweet treats during Christmas, with each being more enticing that the previous one. Given their varied appearance, you might form the impression that each must be inherently different. Truth be told, you could not be any farther from the facts.
No matter how they look or taste, majority of baked products comprise of the same basic ingredients. What might vary is the type and quantity of each, as also the add-ons, like spices, candy, coloring and so on. So, every time you take a bite of a baked treat, remember that it contains –
Flour – Self-Raising/All-Purpose/Bread/ Cake
Laden with protein, flour is to baking what a skeleton is to a human body. Just like the way in which the skeletal framework holds up the body, flour provides structure to the baked product. It also provides texture, which might vary depending on the type of flour you use.
Not all flours are born equal, and it takes a true connoisseur to be able to make out the difference. Most of the Christmas treats that you indulge into contain all-purpose flour, owing to its tendency to hold everything together. In case you intend to be more health-conscious during the festive season, opt for treats that contain bread/whole-wheat flour.
Courtesy of the pandemic, there are people who might have developed an intolerance towards certain food groups. The good news is that they need not skip on the delicious delights, and simply choose ones which are prepared from gluten-free flour or rice flour. That being said, if you detect a unique nutty flavor or a hint of coconut, safely attribute it to the specific flour type and relish every bite.
Sweetener – Suga/ Syrups
Every bite of a sweet treat releases a sugary flavor into the mouth, which leads you to assume that it may be due to the good old granulated white sugar. While this held true a couple of decades ago, now there are several options that render baking sweet treats at Christmas interesting and customized. A common replacement for the usual white granulated sugar is its brown version, which contains molasses and pairs well with cinnamon.
Baking experts venture beyond the conventional sugar types to use liquid sweeteners. If the treat carries subtle flavors of honey, maple or malt, it is most likely prepared with the specific syrup, while the icing that you lick off the Christmas pastry contains icing sugar.
Leavening Agent
An ingredient which does not add to the taste but definitely makes its presence felt is the leavening, or raising, agent. Baking sweet treats at Christmas remains incomplete without this single ingredient, and usually it takes the form of baking powder or baking soda. You may not be able to discern its presence, but for the spongy feel of the treat.
All baked items contain either baking soda or baking powder, the latter being a more popular than the former. While baking powder blends well and can be seldom detected, you can be sure of baking soda having been used if the treat in question contains fruit components, like bananas, grated carrots or apricots.
Salt – A Pinch and No More
Try as you might, it is literally impossible to detect the presence of salt in a sweet treat, and yet it is present. Adding salt while baking sweet treats serves to balance the sweetness, and also enhance the flavor. To some extent, salt also raises the health quotient of the sweet delight, courtesy of providing iodine and other minerals. So, surprising though it might seem, salt remains an integral part of every baking kit, and forms a part of every bite that you take.
Eggs – Whole or Segregated
Think about a sweet treat, and the image that comes to mind is that of a light, moist portion with a golden-brown crust. These are precisely the reasons why eggs remain a must-have while baking sweet treats at Christmas. They act as a medium which blends all the other ingredients into a fluffy mixture.
Once you become sufficiently aware of the presence of eggs in the sweet treat, it is easier to note their impact. You would realize that sweet treats that contain the entire egg are heavier as compared to those that utilize only the yolk or the white.
Butter/Oil
Avoiding butter/oil is a popular fad nowadays, but you can make an exception during the holiday season. Oil/butter remain indispensable to baking sweet treats at Christmas as they add a rich creamy texture and an alluring feel. Without either of the two, the sweet treat would be dry and hard, and not even half as tempting.
Given the consciousness nowadays, most sweet treats contain oil rather than butter, and hence offer lesser calories. Most types of oil do not leave any lingering after-taste, except some types of olive oil, which you may be able to detect.
Additional Ingredients
Pay close attention to the sweet treat that you are about to have, and the additional ingredients will catch your eye. There is a diverse range of ingredients that can be added to sweet treats, from cocoa powder and Choco chips to spices, fruits and extracts.
While cocoa powder adds a dark luscious feel, Choco chips dot the surface and instantly transform the appearance. Dry fruits like almonds, figs, raisins and walnuts add a crunchy feel to the soft and crumbly sweet treat, while spices like cinnamon and nutmeg lend an exotic flavor.
Extracts used while baking sweet treats at Christmas mellow down any overpowering smell, like oil or eggs, and ensure that the outcome smells appetizing. However, these are often strong, and hence just a few drops of one would suffice for any given batch of treats.
Baking Sweet Treats for Christmas – Getting Started
Despite having endured through centuries, baking sweet treats at Christmas can prove to be intimidating. How well you fare depends mostly on three factors, namely, tools, ingredients and recipes. People who strike upon the right combination usually find baking extremely easy and often look forward to experimenting. On the other hand, not focusing on these factors can lead to several failed attempts, causing you to lose confidence as a baker.
Regardless of whether you are starting out, or happen to be experienced at baking sweet treats, it is imperative to have –
- A basic set of tools which would facilitate and support any baking activity;
- Simple recipes to start with, and gradually move on to more complex creations, progressing step by step;
- Appropriate ingredients, some of which fall under the essential category, while others might be optional;
Another aspect that comes into play is quality. Never make the mistake of ignoring the quality of tools and ingredients, as it can have a direct impact on the baked goods. Choose your tools, recipes and ingredients with care, and enjoy the high-quality and delicious outcome.
Final Thoughts
Christmas is the time to share joy, warmth, goodness and cheer, and baking sweet treats renders all of these possible. It entails preparing goodies that unite families and communities and mellow the harsh winter weather. Being aware of what goes into a baked sweet treat is not meant to cause alarm, but to spread awareness about the process.
So, this Christmas when you dig into a sweet treat, set aside your worries and caution, because you know perfectly well what goes into it. Regard the sweet treat as an outcome of expert baking that blends multiple ingredients to create a luscious, delicious and mouth-watering delight.
