I’m so glad that I came across this cookbook that would make an excellent Christmas gift, that some friends and members of my family will be receiving a copy. The photographs included are beautiful, which should entice anyone who is interested in baking (or eating).

I already own a lot of cookbooks, some that were handed down to me - my grandmother’s old copy of The Joy of Cooking, another copy of The Joy of Cooking was passed down to me after my mother passed, and one from my guidance counselor which isn’t a copy of the Joy of Cooking, but I use that one often, too.

There are so many wonderful recipes in these pages, cookies, pastries, cakes, bread, and several other recipes for you to choose from and enjoy!



Pub Date: 15 Oct 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by the Editors of Cider Mill Press

This is a wonderful book for Christmas Baking! It is full of so many different recipes and beautiful photos to accompany the recipes. I liked that it wasn't just cookies or just cakes, it also had breads, pastries, custards and a few other types of recipes. The recipes have easy to follow along instructions. I feel like someone new to baking or someone who is well into a baking journey could love this book! I can't wait to make some of the recipes and make my Holidays a little more delicious! The only thing I wish this book had was a little bit of a description or intro to each recipe. I would have liked to know where some of them came from or a little history behind them.

Wow! Stunning photos had me drooling within the first section. Each section I thought I had so many recipes to try, and then the next section added even more! Not only are the recipes organized well into sections, there’s also a huge section of frosting, icing, and additional helpful recipes. There’s also conversions at the end. Not only helpful and easy to follow but stunning and beautiful as well!

It seems like this book has come at the right time. I have really been trying to get into baking recently and christmas is my favourite holiday. I absolutely love how the whole book is laid out, all the recipes look like they are super easy to follow, even for an amateur like me, and the pictures of the food make you just want to eat the book itself. Also, with there being 100 recipes I was expecting some to be quite similar but there really is a wide variety of baked goods to make from this book. I can't wait to start baking some of these recipes.

Lovely illustrated cookbook to inspire your Christmas Baking

Beautiful illustrations, good clear instructions but I would like some description of the recipe such as cultural origins, has it been adapted, brief description of the baked result (chewy, spicy, etc.). Pictures would be better if labelled as some are before the recipe and some after. The recipes look delicious and, I want to try the Alfajores, Peppermint Bars and Coconut Cake! There are also some spectacular-looking decadent confections such as Eggnog Crème Brulee and a Raspberry & Pomegranate Pavlova.
The Christmas Baking Cookbook has all your Christmas baking needs met. It has recipes for cookies, cakes, breads, pastries, pies, custards and other special desserts. The index is a welcome addition to help find the perfect recipe. Happy Christmas Baking!

Thanks to Cider Mill Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy!

Really good holiday recipes. It has a very simple and clean format in the way it doesn't have intro stories for each of the recipes and minimal pictures, which I don't mind. My favorite sections were the cookies, breads and cakes. I really want to try the the brown butter cake, the holiday brioche, pumpkin sticky buns and of course the gingerbread cookies for the holidays. I liked the addition of the conversion table at the end, that is always very useful. Overall great recipe book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill press for the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Love Christmas, Love Baking and love this cookbook. I am already making plans on what to bake this year and what to give as presents. The cover alone made me want to start baking NOW! Easy step y step recipes everyone will love, great ideas to get you in the holiday mood. The photos alone will make you want to bake and better still eat your creations.

I can't wait to get my baking list sorted and start trying all the wonderful recipes in this book. But first I need to make a shopping list and then it is into the kitchen for some Christmas Baking Fun!

Thank you NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Certainly a book to inspire Christmas Baking although I found it lacked festive lustre compared to other books available. It was a shame that the colour photos were somewhat lacking in presentation and amount. I did feel that the recipes had been lifted from several sources without actually trying them and what annoyed me the most was the mix of measurements, ounces (some of which were sometimes in fractions or in decimal points, e.g. 3.3oz), cups, fractions of pounds (3/4lb, why not 12oz). Not only was this between recipes but also in the same recipe (i.e. Spice Cake). Also the use of tablespoons for some ingredients (3 tablespoons of flour when the rest of the dry ingredients are in ounces) spoons are fine for spices and small amounts. It would have been better to use grams as I suspect some of the recipes had been translated from grams in the first place. Sorry but I just found it all a little confusing.

3.5 stars.
The photos of very beautiful throughout this cookbook but I found it lacking in description. I wanted more information about the dishes; what they were, holiday importance, etc.
I also would have liked to see more photos or instructions to help recreate some of the images. For example the holiday brioche and babka have beautiful twists/designs and while there are some instructions, I think more detail would benefit readers in recreating.
I also loved the image for the apple pie but again, the pie topping shown was not described for recreation (I think it’s just cookie cutters but I feel it spoils have been noted)
Overall, it has a lot of great looking recipes and beautiful holiday images and I’m excited to try out recipes.

Book Review: The Christmas Baking Cookbook: ’Tis the Season for 100+ Festive Treats

Rating: 5 Stars

Oh boy, do I love Christmas baking! So when I got my hands on The Christmas Baking Cookbook: ’Tis the Season for 100+ Festive Treats by the Editors of Cider Mill Press, I was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. This book is like a holiday treasure chest filled with all sorts of deliciousness that will not only fill your home with the sweet aroma of baked goods but also bring a ton of joy to your holiday celebrations.

This collection is packed with over a hundred recipes that range from classic gingerbread cookies to some truly unique treats like eggnog-flavored cupcakes. Seriously, who knew eggnog could be so versatile? The recipes are designed to be accessible to bakers of all skill levels, so whether you’re a pro or just starting out, you’ll find something that’s right up your alley. The step-by-step instructions take any guesswork out of the equation, which is a huge plus when you’re trying to whip up something special in the kitchen.

One of the things I really loved about this cookbook is its stunning illustrations. Each recipe is paired with mouth-watering photos that make it almost impossible not to want to dive right in and start baking! And it’s not just cookies—oh no! You’ll find cakes, pies, brownies, breads, muffins, and even some gluten-free and vegan options sprinkled throughout. It’s like a global baking tour right from your kitchen.

I also appreciated how the recipes are laid out; everything is clear and easy to follow. There’s no fluff here—just delicious flavors waiting to be explored. Plus, if you’re looking to impress your friends or in-laws this holiday season, this book has you covered. Trust me, nothing says "I care" like a batch of homemade festive treats!

All in all, The Christmas Baking Cookbook is a fabulous addition to any holiday baker’s library. It’s a delightful mix of tradition and innovation, perfect for anyone looking to spread some cheer this festive season. So grab your apron because it’s time to get baking! 🥳🍪

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I really enjoyed this cookbook there was a really nice variety of different recipes I found that there was so many different recipes that varied from classic old fashioned recipes that you would think of your grandmother making or even you know generational recipes but there was also some new really creative and different recipes which made this cookbook really unique I also thought that the pictures in the book were absolutely stunning The cover itself you can tell how much the photographer loves taking pictures because the picture is just so beautiful and has so much life to it but overall I really enjoyed some of the recipes that I tried from this cookbook and again I really like the variety from classics to new reimagined favorites

Very fancy and elitist. This would be great for fans of the great British baking show, not those looking for a fun traditional Christmas. Everything looked delicious, just much too pretentious for my liking.

From the first page this book was a winner! The photography was stunning and really captured the "magic of the season" and that nostalgia we are all chasing from our childhood.

I loved how the recipes went beyond your basic cookies and gave bakers a wide range of recipes to explore and try out either for personal enjoyment at home, cookie exchanges or entertaining over the holidays.

My kids looked over the book with me (ages 15 years to 10 months) and loved seeing the photos of the finished product and have already picked out their top picks they want to make together in the coming weeks to prepare for the holiday season!

I am a huge cookbook fan. This one will be used by many to make some wonderful Christmas goodies. Once I started looking at the book, I was mentally picking out which ones I will make for the holidays. Just looking at the pictures made my mouth water!
I will have this cookbook on my shelf to use for many years. I have preordered this one so I will have it soon. Then I will really be in the holiday spirit. It made me want to start looking for some of cookie cutters in the book. The mittens cutters are so adorable!
I am going to really enjoy having this book on my shelf. It has a great mixture of old and new recipes to fill any cook hoe with wonderful smells!
Thank you NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for the ARC of The Christmas Baking Cookbook. This is my personal review

I love baking for Christmas and this cookbook looked like a good way to get some new ideas on top of our family favorites. The cookbook definitely delivers in variety of Christmas baked goods. Some of the recipes seem to be a bit labor intensive, but would be perfect for someone with the time to do something so in-depth. With two little kids, there aren’t many recipes in this cookbook, besides the basics that o could make with them, but I look forward to making some of these fancier cookies in the future. There are a lot of cookie recipes in here that I’ve never heard of and am interested in trying so I’ll have to test those out sooner or later. The layout of this cookbook was simple and easy to follow and the pictures of the desserts were a great addition so the reader can see what they are preparing to make. Overall this has a great variety of holiday desserts that I’d like to try over the years.

I have read a LOT of baking recipe books, so I was really surprised and impressed that this book had so many recipes that are new to me! Page after page of delicious bakes that I’ve never heard of, and can’t wait to make and eat. The accompanying photographs are beautiful, the instructions are simple to follow, and there’s everything from classic gingerbread, to brown butter cake.
Would definitely recommend.

With thanks to the publisher, and Netgalley, for an e-ARC to read and review.

A huge collection of concise baking recipes, all beautifully illustrated with mouthwatering pictures.
Okay, so neither Madeleines nor Rugelach are Christmas cookies, but there s definitely more than enough to cater for even the most lavish Christmas feast. You’ll have to cope with American terms like kosher salt, cup measurements, confectioner’s sugar and Fahrenheit, but helpfully the author has included a conversion chapter in the appendix along with basic instructions on things like sourdough, buttercream and types of frosting.

Bakers looking for special holiday recipes, look no further! The Christmas Baking Cookbook is bursting with a wide variety of elegant holiday desserts from many cultural backgrounds. The cookbook contains sections for cookies, cakes, bread and breakfast treats, pastries, pies and tarts, and custard and other decadent confections. There’s also an appendix that includes recipes for various glazes, frostings, sauces, and pie crusts.

The design of this cookbook is clean and modern, with clear instructions and mouthwateringly gorgeous photos accompanying many of the recipes. Although recipes vary in complexity from accessible to aspirational, this is a book that assumes you already know the finer points of baking, as there are no tips or tricks presented, even for delicate goodies like souffles or macarons. The recipes themselves look delicious and will definitely elevate your holiday dessert table!

Such a lovely cookbook of wonderful Christmas baking recipes. Such beautiful images and delightful selection of recipes. I will definitely be trying a bunch of these soon

Thanks NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for giving me an ARC of this cookbook!

The Christmas Baking Cookbook is a beautiful new book featuring 100 recipes with easy to follow step by step instructions. The recipes include cookies, cakes, breads, pastries, pies, tarts and other confections. Along with the recipes are stunning images of each delicious item. My favourite so far have been the chocolate crinkle cookies, the orange spritz and the peppermint meringues.
This baking book is a must have in the lead up to Christmas and would also make a great stocking filler.