I'm a mom of 11 who shops at Aldi. Here are 11 things I always buy there in the winter.

I buy oranges year-round, but the ones available in winter are so juicy and flavorful.

Most of them serve as a quick snack for the kids, but a few will get used in fruit salads, orange-cranberry bread, and orange dream bars.

At $3.90 for three pounds, they're also an inexpensive produce option that can add a tangy flavor to any holiday dish.

Every time I go to Aldi in the winter, I throw a couple of bags of cranberries in my cart. When I get home, I freeze any I don't need right away.

I think homemade cranberry sauce is far superior to anything you can buy in a can. We like to add oranges and cinnamon sticks for a unique flavor.

My family also enjoys cranberry smoothies, cranberry cheesecake, and pumpkin-cranberry coffee cake.

I pay $1 for a 12-ounce bag, so I can stock up without spending too much of my food budget.

Between the fun shapes and the bits of sugar on top, Danish butter cookies are a kid-friendly treat. By doling out one or two cookies at a time, we can make each tin last for a few rounds of enjoyment.

They're also a great quick addition to holiday parties if you've got limited time to prepare.

I typically buy at least a few $3.70 tins each winter.

Nonalcoholic sparkling juice is another must-have for our holiday gatherings.

The Nature's Nectar variety at Aldi tastes like the name brand we used to buy, but it costs less per bottle. With so many of us toasting our glasses, that's important.

Each bottle is $3 for a little over 25 fluid ounces.

On a chilly morning, there's nothing like a mug of hot cocoa to warm your body and spirit. My large family goes through lots of cocoa, so we also buy plenty of whipped topping throughout the winter.

Some of my kids prefer the regular kind, but others like to try Aldi's seasonal varieties — pumpkin spice is a favorite.

The 13-ounce bottles are less than $3 each.

We try to make our own goodies to bring to parties, but that doesn't always happen.

I keep several varieties of Benton's cookies in the pantry to combine into a nice tray if we need a quick dessert to share with others. And since they're only $2 a package, I can buy three varieties without spending a fortune.

My kids enjoy cooking and baking, especially in the winter when the days are shorter and they can't spend as much time outdoors.

One of my daughters likes to whip up a simple fudge recipe that uses chocolate chips, vanilla, and sweetened condensed milk.

Since it comes together so quickly, she makes several batches each year to share with friends and family.

A can of sweetened condensed milk is only $1.40 at Aldi, making it easy to add to my shopping list.

You won't find coconut flakes in my pantry most of the year. But when winter rolls around, I buy a couple of bags to make snowball cookies and Almond Joy-inspired bars.

Each 14-ounce bag is $2.50 at Aldi.

In my family, Thanksgiving is for turkey and Christmas is for ham.

We used to raise our own pigs, but that was no longer an option after we moved. Now, I buy ham for $2 a pound at Aldi each winter.

I look for the biggest one I can find. Then we turn the leftovers into all sorts of delicious meals to enjoy between Christmas and New Year's.

Every time I go to Aldi, I add a couple of bags of mini marshmallows to the cart.

In the winter, we use them for hot cocoa, orange-fluff salad, and holiday-shaped crispy treats. But sometimes my kids just pair them with chocolate for a quick and easy treat.

A 10-ounce bag is only $1.

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin bread — no matter how it's prepared, pumpkin is a favorite of mine this time of year.

I can spread out the deliciousness by buying a few cans throughout the winter. Plus, Aldi has smaller 15-ounce cans for $1.20 that work well for most of my recipes.

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