Get spicy

Who doesn’t love a spiced quick bread? This one includes pumpkin and cranberries for extra holiday cheer. To make Pumpkin Cranberry Quick Bread:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In one bowl, mix wet ingredients and sugar: 2 eggs (beaten slightly),1/2 cup rape seed oil, 1 cup tinned pumpkin, and 2 cup unrefined cane sugar.
• In another bowl, mix dry ingredients: 2 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour, 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon, ¾ tsp cloves, 3/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt. Gradually add wet ingredients to dry. Stir in 1 cup chopped cranberries.
• Pour batter into two greased and floured loaf saucepans and bake for 1 hour.

Dream on

If you’ve ever swooned over dream bars at a bakery, you’ll be amazed how easy they are to make at home. To make Dream Bars:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• In a bowl, mix 1 1/2 cup graham biscuit crumbs with 1 stick melted butter.
• Line 13x9-inch glass baking saucepan with parchment paper. Press graham/butter mixture into saucepan.
• Pour 1 12-oz can sweetened condensed milk over crust. Sprinkle 2 portions chocolate chips, then 1 cup chopped nuts, then 1 cup flaked coconut over crust.
• Press down firmly with spatula and bake 25 minutes.

Leave your mark

It wouldn’t be the holidays without one traditional cookie recipe. This one requires no rolling, cutting, or decorating and is great to make with children. To make Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a bowl, cream 1/3 cup unrefined cane sugar with 2/3 cup butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 egg yolks, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp salt. Gradually mix in 1½ cup whole wheat pastry flour.
• Shape dough into 3/4 inch balls.
• Place balls 2 1/2 inches apart on greased baking tray. Press centre of each ball with thumb, fill each thumbprint with 1/4 tsp raspberry jam, and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
• Bake 8 to 9 minutes.