It’s December, and therefore the season of shopping, wrapping, decorating, mailing and hurrying is upon me. I barely have time for my “need-to-do” list just as my “want-to-do” and “nice-to-do” lists sprout wings!

I did find a solution for a favorite “want-to-do” — baking pretty Christmas cookies. I fell in love with Martha Stewart’s Lace Cookies at first sight for these reasons:

1. They look simple yet elegant and the warm caramel color and enticing aroma evoke sweet memories.
2. There are only five ingredients. You read correctly, just honey, butter, light brown sugar, flour and a pinch of salt.  All available right now on my pantry shelf, so no shopping! 
3. I mixed and baked a batch in less than 20 minutes.
4. The clean-up is easy because the recipe only asks for one small pan to melt the butter, brown sugar and honey, a bowl to stir in the flour and salt, and two parchment-lined baking sheets.

Of course, I especially appreciate the flavor because with Buzz Savories single-source, artisanal honey, I can taste the flowers of summer as I smell the sweetness of the honey in the warm cookie. It’s the kind of cookie that makes holiday entertaining easy.

So, just a bit of advice extra from me: acquire a local honey to experience the full opulence of these cookies. And buy your honey here.