The holiday season is the perfect time to test out your baking skills on some homemade treats. One of the best parts about basic baking is the specific instruction that allows anyone to produce a delicious product, no matter the level of cooking skill.

Every family has their own handed out recipes, but below I’ve included some of the one’s from my own grandmother’s cookbook. If you want to try your hand at baking for friends or family this holiday season, these are some simple, tasty recipes to get you started.

Peanut Butter Blossoms (makes 48 small cookies)

Ingredients: 48 Hershey Kisses

½ cup shortening

¾ cup of peanut butter

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup of packed brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons of milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1 ½ of all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

½ teaspoon of salt

Extra granulated sugar as needed for rolling.

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove wrappers from chocolates. Beat shortening, peanut butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add granulated and brown sugar, beat until fluffy. Add milk, vanilla and egg. Stir in baking soda, flour and salt.

Once mixture is blended, shape into one inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Bake 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Immediately press Hershey kisses onto cookies. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Berry Cobbler

Ingredients: 1 ½ cups of self-rising flour

1 ½ cups of sugar

1 stick of butter (melted)

2 to 3 cups of choice berries or peaches.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Let butter melt in 9×13 inch pan. Mix flour, sugar and milk together to form batter. Place batter on top of butter and cover top with berries or peaches. Bake 40 to 50 minutes, or until cobbler is brown on top.

Apple Dumplings (8)

Ingredients: 1 can crescent rolls (8)

3 apples peeled

1 can of lemon-lime soda

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough. Place 1/3 of apples on each roll. Roll up into dumpling. Place in casserole dish. Pour soda around edges. Bake for 45 minutes.