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Christmas 2026
Christmas baking planner
When to bake what so that everything is fresh and soft on Christmas Eve? Tick the cookies you want to bake this year – we sort them by how long they keep and add up one shopping list for everything. Your browser remembers your selection.
When to bake what so that everything is fresh and soft on Christmas Eve. Each type of baking has its date – tick off what you want to bake this year.
Honey cookies and stollen
Bake on the weekend of December 5–6
They need time: in a closed tin, honey cookies soften in about 1–2 weeks, and stollen tastes best after one to two weeks.
Dry cookies
Bake on the weekend of December 12–13
Crescents, Linzer cookies, coconut macaroons or meringues without cream keep until Christmas in a closed tin in a cool, dry place.
Cookies sandwiched with jam
Bake on the weekend of December 12–13
Once sandwiched with jam they soften in 2–3 days and then keep for about 2 weeks.
No-bake treats
Bake on the weekend of December 19–20
Rum balls, truffles or wafer sheets only need to be made a few days ahead and kept cool.
With cream, whipped cream or quark
Bake on December 21–22
Buttercream and custard cream, whipped cream or quark belong in the fridge – make them only 2–3 days before Christmas Eve.
Braided bread, strudels and cakes
Bake on December 22–23
Yeast baking and cakes are best fresh – a day or two before Christmas Eve. If you want them earlier, freeze them once baked.
Christmas 2026
My baking plan
When to bake what so that everything is fresh and soft on Christmas Eve. Tick off the baking you have done and the ingredients you have bought.
Tick the cookies above – the plan and the shopping list will put themselves together.
Shopping list for Christmas baking
Tick off what you already have at home. Send yourself the rest as a shopping list.
How to store Christmas cookies
- Dry cookies and honey cookies keep best in a closed tin in a cool, dry place, each kind separately – otherwise the soft ones would soften the crisp ones too.
- Honey cookies soften if you put a few apple slices on baking paper in the tin with them (as in the recipe for soft honey cookies).
- Cookies with cream, whipped cream or quark belong in the fridge – make them only a few days before the holidays.
- Want to start earlier? Baked cookies without cream can be frozen in a closed container. According to Illinois Extension, baked goods keep their quality in the freezer for 8–12 months. Thaw them in the closed container so that no moisture condenses on them.
The dates are approximate and count with Christmas Eve on December 24, 2026. If you bake earlier for St. Nicholas Day or for visitors, move them accordingly. More recipes: Christmas baking, Christmas Eve dinner and all Christmas recipes.