Christmas Town Bake-Off
Welcome back to our annual blog series spotlighting (over 60 again this year) new and recently-released Christmas reads!
Christmas is only eleven days away, according to Google. Break out the Christmas playlist and the Christmas cookies!
Continuing through just after Christmas, I’m going to spotlight several Christmasy releases from 2022. Most days will have more than one post, just FYI. So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your bookish Christmas list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)
CHRISTMAS TOWN BAKE-OFF
AUTHORS: Beth Carpenter, Tanya Agler, LeAnne Bristow, Melinda Curtis, Cheryl Harper, Anna J. Stewart & Cari Lynn Webb
SERIES: Heartwarming Christmas Town
GENRE: Contemporary Romance Collection (Clean & Wholesome)
PUBLISHER: ChelseaBeth Publishing
RELEASE DATE: October 11, 2022
PAGES: 339
You can also find Christmas Town Bake-off and all the Christmas Town books on Kindle Unlimited.
by Beth Carpenter, author of Christmas Town Bake-Off
Here’s an excerpt from “Return to Holly House,” one of the seven stories in Christmas Town Bake-Off. In this part, Sierra, ably assisted by Troy’s young cousin, Tessie, has stepped in to entertain the crowd after an unexpected problem in the bake-off tent.
Stan picked up the microphone. “Everyone, as you know, we’re suffering from technical difficulties, but in the meantime, you’re in for a special treat. Granddaughter of our own Merrilee Beck, may I present Sierra Beck and her sidekick, Tessie!”
Troy’s mom started the enthusiastic applause, but it quickly spread throughout the tent. Sierra flashed a smile in her direction as Olivia arrived with a sturdy box and set it behind the workstation.
Tessie stepped up, and Sierra began. “It’s wonderful to be here in Christmas Town again. Today, Tessie and I plan to make my grandmother’s favorite candy recipe. You may know Merrilee was famous for her baking—”
More applause erupted, and Sierra waited for it to die down. “Yes, it was that good, but what you may not know is that my grandmother never did master the concept of a candy thermometer. So, instead of candies that require precise temperature control, she always made buckeyes. And that’s what we’re making today. Right, Tessie?”
“Right.” The girl nodded decisively. “But my family calls them Reindeer Droppings.”
The audience laughed. And the demonstration began.
Merrilee’s Buckeyes
(AKA Reindeer Droppings)
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups powdered sugar
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1.In mixing bowl, beat together peanut butter, butter, and vanilla until well blended. Gradually add powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Form into smooth tablespoon-size balls and set on a parchment-paper lined cookie sheet. Put in freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.
2.Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and shortening. If using microwave, add chips and shortening to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50% power for one minute. Stir. Continue microwaving at 50% for about 2-3 more minutes, stopping to stir every 30 seconds, until chocolate is smooth. Or melt the chocolate and shortening in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring often.
3. Remove peanut-butter balls from freezer. Use a toothpick to spear a ball, dip it into the chocolate until most of the ball is covered but a circle of the filling is still exposed. Return to parchment paper and smooth over the toothpick hole. Repeat until all balls have been dipped. Wait for chocolate to harden to serve. You can speed this up in the freezer if you like.
Beth Carpenter grew up on a farm reading everything she could get her hands on, from cereal boxes to the encyclopedia. Saturday visits to the library were the highlight of her week. Due to motion sickness, she couldn’t read on the school bus so she made up her own stories instead. She still consumes books like popcorn and loves to create happy endings for her imaginary friends. She believes dogs, books, and laughter are key to happiness. And dark chocolate. And love. Visit her at her website.
Beth Carpenter is offering a copy of A Gift for Santa AND An Alaskan Family Christmas to one of my readers! (US only for print, ebooks if winner is outside the US. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read the Christmas Town Bake-Off collection by Beth Carpenter and 6 other authors?
I would like to read the Christmas Town Bake-Off collection by Beth Carpenter & 6 other authors because it sounds like perfect wintery reading.
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Christmas story collections are one of my favorites, and the concept of the bake-off to raise money with each contestant having their own story is wonderful.
I’m eager to try these Reindeer Droppings!
It looks really great! I don’t usually read a lot of Christmas books, but this one looks great!
I love Christmas. The Book reminds me of hallmark Christmas movies Merry Christmas
I love Christmas!
tasty recipe
I love Christmas stories.
Nothing like a good Christmas book.
Wonderful collection
I love Holiday reads and it seems like a great group of authors!
I want to read this book. It sounds great.
I like reading Christmas books and this one sounds like a good one to read.
I’m always looking for new-to-me authors and love books that have a food setting.
I love Christmas stories, and I’ve enjoyed other books from these authors.
They are clean and wholesome books.
The stories sound interesting and the recipes are some that I would make.
I enjoy reading collections of individual stories that are linked together.
I love Christmas-themed, happy stores. Thanks for this chance. Happy holidays
I would love to read Christmas Town Bake-off because I love books about cooking and baking and I got a buckeye recipe out of the contest so that’s a bonus!
Would love to win either one of these books!!
They sound great.
I love Christmas books and most of these authors are favorites of mine!
It looks like a good book
sounds like a perfect christmas read!
An interesting concept — connected story lines written by different authors, but all in one book.
And I like baking. Well, not ME baking but stories of others doing so — and for a good cause.
Looks great!
It just sounds so cute! How could I resist something called Christmas Town? And paired with baking?? Count me in
I did read it! I pre-ordered it as soon as I heard about it. It is so good! I loved how the stories flowed from one romance to another all while covering the bake-off! It’s so good!
I always enjoy reading Christmas stories during the holiday season.
i love them too – any time of the year 🙂
After reading the book excerpt- I want to read this book of great group of Christmas romance collection of stories-thanks
yay!
I love Christmas romance stories and this sounds like a fun collection
all great authors!
Christmas romances are the best and when you add in baking it just makes it even better.
exactly!