Holidays. The Hallmark of Being Stable
- The Best Life Awaits
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
Written by Dan.
We value a practical slow living lifestyle. We don't rush it, stress it, or fall victim to the worlds demands. We try to stay with what has worked over the millennium's: family and tradition. One of the three key driving forces in our lives is to be Stable. That has multiple meanings for us. Stable physically so we can get it done. Stable mentally and emotionally so we can be there when needed. Stable in our responsibilities so we are dependable to our friends and families.
The holidays are a perfect time when this becomes important. My mom used to make all kinds of cookies for the holidays. When you're a kid you don't even think about it. Cookies for holidays, of course. The fact that we had like 10 different kinds of cookies was great. How they got there was irrelevant. Until you got older that was. You eventually started to realize that making cookies takes time and effort. Making lots of cookies takes lot's of time and effort.
But the memories of those days last your entire life. The multi-level trays with all the different types of cookies. The fact that they just showed up one day magically...all of them. How was that possible you started to think when got older? When you cook one batch you realize the time and love that went into that one little tradition. You realized that even one good memory from childhood is worth the effort of making.
So when we had children I wanted to make sure some of these memories were passed on. My wife is from India but she is Christian. So we have some commonality there. But in terms of traditions, very different. We grew up with a decked out house. Full of miniature snow laden towns with lights and various scenes. Nutcrackers. Santa's all around. Of course a tree with homemade and child hood decorations. I have Christmas ornaments from when I still in the single digit years of my life! This is Stability.
I want stability for my family. Knowing that certain things happen at certain times, no matter what, is important. So baking cookies for the Holidays is just one of the ways to do that. We'll share some of our favorite cookies so you can try and make it a tradition in your family. But don't wait for the holidays! Get started now. Find the ones you like and save it.
My mom was an expert and knew how to get it done. She started weeks before hand so there wasn't a mad rush. She also know that her sons and their friends would eat every last cookie as soon as they were done. So she secretly baked them while we were at school. Packed them up into Tupperware dishes. Hid them deep in the basement freezer, far from the prior eyes (and noses) of teenage boys.
Now it's time for Vung and I to try and keep some if this tradition alive. We're not going to make nearly as many as grandma. I may not be a teenager anymore but I will find these cookies and eat them. Ready for holidays or not. So we make our favorites and try to get the kids involved as mush as possible. If we plan a party, we make more. So let's make some of our favorites!
7 Layer Bars - You Need to Hide These...From Me
These were my absolute favorite holiday cookies as a kid. But let’s be honest — I’ll eat these until my teeth start to tingle from sugar overload. They are that good. If you have any concerns about your waistline, do not make these outside of the holidays.
You’ve been warned.
The Basement Freezer Hunt
As a teenager, I remember the exact moment I’d realize the holidays were approaching. Not because of decorations. Not because of music. But because somehow — quietly, secretly — my mom had made 7 layer bars. And then the hunt was on. My friend Shawn and I would sneak into the basement, determined to locate these legendary bars. Hidden somewhere in the depths of our basement freezer. For eleven and a half months of the year, I had absolutely no awareness that we even owned a basement freezer.
But the moment those cookies existed?
It was like a Christmas miracle.
Suddenly I knew:
Eleven steps down.
Three steps forward.
A hard 90º left turn.
Push through the thick, half-rotten cardboard thing we called a “door.”
Three more steps.
And there it was. The freezer.
Buried among forgotten furniture, unused gifts, and general basement chaos. It looked like a relic from another era — solid as the back end of a school bus. The handle was thicker than my wrist and required a full warm-up routine to pry open.
But inside…Treasure.
The Legendary Seven Layers
These weren’t ordinary cookies.
Not three layers.
Not four.
Seven.
Seven glorious layers stacked into one gooey, sweet, perfectly excessive bar.
They were usually frozen solid — which did not matter. Chipped tooth or not, we were eating 7 layer bars. By the time we finished gnawing through the first one, the rest had softened enough for normal human consumption.
That first bite every year meant one thing: The holidays were officially here.
Why These Bars Are So Good
Nothing says “holidays at home” quite like 7 Layer Bars — those gooey, multi-textured treats that somehow feel both effortless and indulgent. This recipe comes straight from my mom’s holiday playbook. She’d make big batches ahead of time and stash them in the freezer, fully aware we’d eventually track them down. Now my wife and I recreate them in our own kitchen, carrying on the tradition with simple pantry staples and the same minimal-effort magic.
What makes them legendary?
No complicated mixing.
No fancy techniques.
Just layering and baking.
Sweetened condensed milk that caramelizes everything into one rich, cohesive bar.
They’re beginner-proof.
They’re customizable.
They disappear fast.
A Few Tips We’ve Learned
We stay close to my mom’s original version, but here are a couple things that help:
Press the graham cracker crust firmly for clean layers.
Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly — don’t just dump it in the center.
Let them cool completely before cutting (or freeze briefly for cleaner slices).
Hide a few immediately. Trust me.
Walnuts or pecans? Your call. Either way, they’re dangerously good. These bars aren’t just dessert. They’re tradition.They’re memory.They’re the reason teenage boys suddenly know the exact route to a forgotten basement freezer. Make them for a cookie exchange.Make them for your family.Just maybe don’t tell everyone where you hide them.
Get layering with this foolproof recipe:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
6-11 oz semisweet chocolate chips (adjust to taste)
1/2-1 cup butterscotch chips (or to preference)
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans for a softer bite)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Melt the butter and spread it evenly across the bottom and sides of a 13x9-inch baking dish.
Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over the butter, pressing them down firmly to form a solid base.
Layer on the shredded coconut, spreading it evenly for full coverage—feel free to add a bit more if needed.
Scatter the chocolate chips across the coconut, followed by the butterscotch chips—go heavier on chocolate if that's your vibe.
Pour the sweetened condensed milk over everything, tilting the pan to ensure even distribution and act as the "glue."
Top with chopped nuts, gently pressing them into the milk to secure.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the edges are golden and bubbly—keep an eye to avoid over-browning.
Cool completely in the pan (at least 30-60 minutes), then refrigerate for easier slicing.
Use a sharp knife to cut into bars (about 1-inch wide), loosening the edges first for clean removal.
Pro Tip: For flawless cuts, chill the bars thoroughly or even freeze them briefly like Mom did—it prevents crumbling and makes portioning a breeze.
Experiment with nut varieties or chip amounts to make it your own!
Relive the full baking journey in our video below, complete with real-time assembly, family stories, and multi-angle views to guide you every step.
Jam Diagonals - A Buttery Heirloom and Vung's Favorite
I'd like to think things have change now that I'm an 'adult'. But the fact is now my wife has to hide them from me. Which can be tough since I tend to do most of the baking. These Jam Diagonals are Vung's favorite and she always loved them when we visited grandma for the holidays. Although she doesn't bake much, this is one of those occasions she's willing to break out the apron and fire up the oven.
Few treats capture the essence of family baking quite like Jam Diagonal Cookies—those buttery, jam-filled bars that evoke cozy kitchens and holiday gatherings. This recipe hails straight from my mom's cherished cookbook. We've baked multiple batches for our video series, each with slight variations, but the core remains: simple ingredients, no-fuss prep, and a result that's irresistibly comforting. Whether you're using homemade currant jam for a tart twist or classic strawberry from the jar, these cookies deliver a melt-in-your-mouth texture that's perfect for cookie swaps, afternoon snacks, or sharing stories around the table.
What sets these apart?
The dough's high butter content makes it crumbly and rich, almost like a shortbread, while the diagonal cuts add a fun, elegant touch. My wife and I love teaming up in the kitchen for these, laughing over measurements and debating jam choices—it's real-life baking at its best, full of nostalgia and zero pretense.
Ready to roll up your sleeves?
Here's the easy recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
Your favorite jam (e.g., strawberry, grape, or homemade currant) for filling
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
Gradually add the flour and salt, stirring until a soft, crumbly dough forms—don't worry if it's dry; that's the butter working its magic.
Divide the dough into 3 equal portions (about 122g each for precision, if you're feeling meticulous). Roll each into a 9-inch log or rope, using a light dusting of flour if needed to prevent sticking.
Place the logs about 3 inches apart on the baking sheet. Use your finger to press a 1/2-inch deep trough down the center of each log.
Fill the depressions with jam—go generous for extra flavor, but watch for runny varieties that might spread.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the edges turn lightly golden brown.
Let cool on the sheet for at least 30 minutes, then slice diagonally into bars for that signature look.
Pro Tip: Opt for homemade jam if possible—it holds up better in the oven and offers a less sugary, more authentic taste. If the dough crumbles, just press it back together; imperfections add to the homemade charm!
Catch the full baking adventure in our video below, where we share the process, jam experiments, and a few family anecdotes. It's like stepping into our kitchen for a heartfelt session.
Peanut Blossom Cookies: The Kids Favorites
There's something magical about pulling a recipe from an old family cookbook—the kind with handwritten notes in the margins and flour-dusted pages that tell stories of holidays past.
For me, Peanut Blossom Cookies are more than just a treat; they're a direct line to my mom's kitchen. These classic cookies, with their soft, chewy centers and signature Hershey's Kiss crowns, have graced countless cookie trays, bringing smiles and a touch of nostalgia to gatherings big and small.
Growing up, I watched my mom whip up batches of these without a second thought—no fancy gadgets, just simple ingredients and a lot of love. Now, as I recreate them in my own home, I've made one small tweak: swapping out shortening for melted butter to ditch the trans fats while keeping that rich flavor intact. It's a nod to healthier baking without losing the essence of the original. Whether you're baking for the holidays, a cozy weekend, or just because, these cookies are foolproof and utterly addictive.
Here's the straightforward recipe straight from the family archives:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
Additional white sugar (or powdered sugar) for rolling
Hershey's Kisses for topping
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in the white sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, and milk.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined—don't overmix!
Scoop out rounded tablespoons of dough and roll them into 1-inch balls. Coat each ball in white sugar (or powdered sugar for extra texture).
Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet (parchment paper makes cleanup a breeze). Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the tops start to crack slightly.
Remove from the oven and immediately press a Hershey's Kiss into the center of each cookie. Let them cool completely on the sheet for 10-15 minutes to set.
Pro Tip: Have those chocolate kisses unwrapped and ready to go—the cookies need to be hot for the perfect melt. But remember, these aren't about perfection; a little mess in the kitchen just adds to the fun!
Watch the full step-by-step tutorial in our video below, where my wife and I share laughs, tips, and the real-life chaos of baking together. It's like joining us in grandma's kitchen!
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