SAVE TIME FOR celebrating
THE HOLIDAY BAKING SEASON CAN BE HECTIC, BUT A FEW MAKE-AHEAD TIPS AND TRICKS CAN SAVE YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON. MIX OR MAKE SOME OF YOUR DOUGHS OR TOPPINGS AHEAD OF TIME, AND REFRIGERATE OR FREEZE THEM TO BE BAKED OR ASSEMBLED LATER. TIME SPENT IN THE KITCHEN IS NEVER TIME WASTED, BUT THESE PREP-AHEAD TIPS WILL GIVE YOU TIME FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, TIME SPENT WITH LOVED ONES.
BISCUITS AND SCONES
A golden, steamy scone or biscuit makes for the most festive of mornings. Keep bags of these buttery beauties in your freezer and always enjoy them on-demand. As a bonus, the chill resolidifies the butter pieces in these baked goods, meaning beautiful lift and texture once baked.
Freeze: Arrange unbaked cut scones or biscuits close together—but not touching—on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Loosely cover and freeze until firm. Wrap individually in plastic wrap, and store in an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable plastic bag until the cravings strike. Freeze unbaked scones and biscuits for 1 to 2 months.
Use: Bake frozen scones or biscuits as directed, adding additional baking time as needed. (When done, an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center will register 200°F [93°C] to 205°F [96°C].)
TOPPINGS
Sometimes, saving time can be as simple as having streusel stored in your freezer ready to top your favorite muffins, crisps, coffee cakes, and quick breads. The topping on our Gingerbread Streusel Mini Loaves is the perfect candidate.
Refrigerate: Once made, streusel can be refrigerated in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 4 days.
Freeze: Stored in an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable plastic bag, streusel can be frozen for up to 1 month, and there’s no need to thaw before using. Simply sprinkle and bake!
CAKES
From individual layers to ornate Bundts, several types of cakes freeze well. You can bake and store them beforehand and then thaw when needed. Cakes take time and attention, which can be hard to come by during the holidays, so freezing your cake layers could be the time-saver that makes a layer cake achievable.
Once your cakes are
