Celebrate holiday cheer with these Christmas recipes

For the second year in a row, senior Nina Ferrucci shares her favorite Christmas cupcake recipe. INGREDIENTS GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES: One and two-thirds cups of all-purpose flour One cup of packed brown sugar One-fourth teaspoon of baking soda One teaspoon of baking powder One and one-half teaspoons of ground ginger One and one-half teaspoons of ground cinnamon One-eighth teaspoon of ground cloves Three-fourths cup of salted butter, room temperature One egg and one egg white One teaspoon of vanilla extract One-half cup of molasses One-fourth cup of sour cream One-half cup of milk CARAMEL MOLASSES CREAM CHEESE ICING: One cup of butter One-half cup of brown sugar Four ounces of cream cheese Four to five cups of powdered sugar Two tablespoons of molasses One to two tablespoons of milk or water, if needed INSTRUCTIONS CUPCAKES: 1) Preheat oven to 350°F. 2) Whisk together all dry ingredients (everything before the butter) in a large mixing bowl. 3) Add the remaining ingredients and mix on medium speed just until smooth.  Do not over mix. 4) Fill cupcake liners about halfway. 5) Bake for 18-20 minutes. 6) Allow to cool for one to two minutes.  Then, move to a cooling rack to finish cooling. ICING: 1) Place one-half cup of butter and brown sugar into a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave for about 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each interval, until the sugar is mostly dissolved, about three minutes.  It will boil and bubble up.  Set caramel aside to cool. 2) Mix the remaining one-half cup of butter and cream cheese until smooth. 3) Add three cups powdered sugar and one tablespoon of milk or water to the butter mixture and beat until smooth. 4) Pour caramel into icing and mix until smooth. 5) Add another one to two cups of powdered su...

Freshman Catherine Dodman loves to bake these coffee cake muffins as a cake on Christmas morning. INGREDIENTS:  One and one-half cups of all-purpose flour One-half cup of Imperial Sugar Light Brown Sugar Two teaspoons of baking powder One teaspoon of cinnamon One-fourth teaspoon of baking soda One-fourth teaspoon of salt Three-fourths cup of milk One-third cup of canola oil...

Junior Maddie Wise's favorite recipe to bake during Christmastime is this banana bread. Ingredients One cup of white sugar One-half cup of butter, melted Two eggs One teaspoon of vanilla extract One and one-half cups of all-purpose flour One teaspoon of baking soda One-half teaspoon of salt One-half cup of sour cream One-half cup of chopped walnuts Two medium bananas, sl...

Freshman Cait Haggerty enjoys making this peppermint bark during the holiday season.  Ingredients 12 ounces of good quality semisweet chocolate, chopped into one-half-inch pieces One and one-half teaspoons of peppermint extract One pound of good quality white chocolate, chopped into one-half-inch pieces Three candy canes or 12 round hard peppermint candies, crushed Directions 1) Lin...

Dr. Kristina Gremski, Upper School Science Department Chair and Biology Teacher, enjoys baking Vanocka, a traditional Czech Christmas cake, during the holiday season. Ingredients Four cups of flour One egg One-half cup of butter One teaspoon of salt One-half cup of sugar One tablespoon of lemon rind One tablespoon of vanilla One cup of warm milk One package of dry yeast, softe...

Mrs. Sarah Martin, Upper School English Teacher, shared this holiday recipe that she loves to bake with her daughters. Ingredients Three-fourths pound (three sticks) of unsalted butter, at room temperature One cup of sugar One teaspoon of pure vanilla extract Three and one-half cups of all-purpose flour One-fourth teaspoon of kosher salt One egg beaten with one tablespoon of water, ...