Handy Dandy Baking Tips

Since Christmas baking is probably well underway, here are a few helpful tips to help things go smoothly.

• Good news, readers: most cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months, so get baking while you have time!
• To freeze cookies, place in container in single layers with wax or parchment paper in between the layers.
• Meringue cookies do not freeze well.
• If you're decorating the cookies, ice them once they have thawed.
• When chopping sticky ingredients (dates, candied fruit, etc.) give the ingredients a quick spray of Pam to chop more easily. You can spray the knife blade too.
• For all of you royal icing fans, powdered egg whites are interchangeable with meringue powder.