Healthy Holiday Baking with Organic Spices

The Sensational 6 Holiday Baking Spices

Allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg – these are the top six spices favored in holiday baking. Their aromatic and warming qualities are especially enticing and comforting during cooler months of the year. And because they have been used in winter holiday recipes for generations, their familiar fragrance and tastes can evoke heartwarming memories.

You’ll use these spices in cookies, cakes, breads and candies... oh my, sweet treats galore! But holiday baking means so much more than simply making goodies. It’s a tradition of creating something extra special from scratch, starting with the very best ingredients, and with loving attention, transforming them into delectable treats to share with family and friends. And when it comes to the very best ingredients, don’t overlook the importance of using organic spices, especially in your holiday baking.

Why Use Organic Spices?

When most recipes for holiday baked goods require such a small amount of any particular spice, usually just a teaspoon or two, you may ask, “Does using organic matter?” Good question! Let’s have a look at several reasons why you might want to use organic spices.

In the process of drying and preparing conventional spices, they undergo fumigation; chemicals are used, presenting health risks. These chemicals are not listed on the spice labels, as they’re not officially recognized as “ingredients.”
Conventional spices are often irradiated to kill pathogens and extend their shelf life. Irradiation involves exposing food to a beam of radiation, which breaks the bonds in the DNA of germs, killing them. Though no detectable levels of radiation remain in the spice after irradiation, one wonders what unintentional changes may occur in the spice’s flavor, aroma, and other qualities, such as nutrient and antioxidant content.
If you try to avoid GMOs, pesticides, and other non-natural additives (like ETO, Ethylene Oxide, an antimicrobial pesticide used to sterilize food products, medical devices, cosmetics, and textiles), choosing organic spices is really the only way to be sure you are not being exposed to synthetic chemicals, pesticides, GMOs or preservatives.
Because organic spices are not treated with preservatives and chemicals, their natural flavor is stronger and their aroma is more intense. The seemingly small amount called for in a recipe will deliver a bigger kick of flavor compared to conventional spices.
Organic spices contain more disease-fighting antioxidants and nutrients than those grown conventionally. This is because the ground they’re grown in was not treated with chemicals that can deplete it of the many natural nutrients found in healthy soil.

As with all of the products we offer, we always prioritize the quality and sustainability of our spices by providing full disclosure of all ingredients. We believe that nature knows what’s what. That’s why we keep it real. Pure spice. Pure pow. And always 100% certified organic. This holiday season, bake with complete confidence that you are using the very best spices!

Spiced Snowball Cookies

A winter wonderland in a cookie!

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup unbleached all-purpose white flour

¼ cup very finely chopped toasted walnuts, pecans or Brazil nuts

1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest, tightly packed

1 teaspoon organic cinnamon powder

¾ teaspoon organic ground ginger

½ teaspoon organic ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon organic ground cloves

¼ teaspoon organic finely ground black pepper

½ softened unsalted butter

½ teaspoon organic vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

¾ cup confectioner’s sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF. Line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour and chopped nuts. Add granulated sugar, orange zest, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, cloves and pepper. Mix until well combined, scraping bowl occasionally with a spatula.

3. Add softened butter and vanilla and mix until your dough comes together. It will be soft.

4. Shape dough into 24 balls, about 1” in diameter, and place on baking sheet about 1” apart.

5. Bake about 15-18 minutes, until cookie tops are lightly golden and bottoms are golden brown.

6. Let cookies rest for 5 minutes.

7. Roll warm cookies confectioner’s sugar until completely covered. Place on wire rack and cool completely.

8. Roll in confectioner’s sugar again, just before serving

Holiday Chai Spice Blend

It’s so easy to make, yet so versatile! You’ll use our chai spice blend in so many ways.

Makes about ½ cup

Ingredients

4 tablespoons organic ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons organic ground ginger

1 tablespoon organic ground cardamom

1½ teaspoons finely ground organic black pepper

Simply whisk together all ingredients and store in a small airtight container.

Here’s how to you can use your homemade Chai Spice Blend:

Add chai to cookies like snickerdoodles and shortbread, cakes, frostings, pies, caramel, brownies, chocolate, holiday truffles, cinnamon rolls and other pastries, pancakes, rice pudding and custard, banana and pumpkin breads.
Mix chai spice blend into soft butter and spread on toast, French toast, pancakes, English muffins...
Make your own chai tea by simmering black, green, or rooibos tea leaves or a tea bag of your choice, with chai spice blend, milk, and water.
Make chai syrup by cooking down water, sugar, tea, and chai spice. Use your syrup in holiday cocktails, smoothies, in chocolate milk or non-dairy milks.