The world buzzes as the most wonderful time of year — the holiday season — approaches. It’s a buzz that vibrates with added intensity in kitchens all across the country, in the homes of baking enthusiasts eager to craft holiday cookies festooned with yuletide glee. And the buzz we are talking about isn’t from sugar (at least not entirely)—no, those who love to make holiday cookies truly LOVE to make holiday cookies.
If you count yourself among the cookie-baking obsessed, you’re in the right place. But if you’re a holiday-cookie-baking first-timer, or if you’re just looking for some simple ideas to bake with your kids, we have you covered, too. What follows is a little something for all the bakers out there.
So whether you’re baking your first batch or your thousandth, grab your cookie decorating tools, don your apron, roll up your sleeves and let’s go!
Happy holidays!
Remember: You Don’t Have to Get Fancy!
We understand if you have the urge to whip up holiday cookie designs that are sure to wow all your devoted cookie eaters. But don’t forget that there’s a lot of pleasure to be found in the simplest of holiday cookies.
Nobody is turning up their nose at sugar cookie cutouts with hastily and thickly applied layers of frosting (admit it: that sentence alone made your mouth water a little bit).
So keep this in mind, especially if you find yourself fretting over a self-imposed need to impress with your cookie designs. Because holiday cookies are just good, whether or not they look worthy of a spot on The Great British Baking Show.
But if you want to go all out…
Tips for the True Artisans
What makes someone a cookie-decorating artisan? Well, you know it when you see their work. But it’s also a pretty strong clue if they have things like stainless steel tweezers in their decorating toolkit.
These bakers are borderline (or maybe all the way) obsessed with crafting the perfect holiday cookie. And these folks are often on the hunt for a theme that forces them to put their intricate piping skills to the test.
More than anything, though, perhaps the greatest challenge for these artisans is coming up with a new idea each holiday season. We are here to try to get those creative juices flowing.
Do you have loved ones coming in from all over the country, perhaps the world? Consider designing cookies that capture iconic landmarks from their towns: the Empire State Building for your son coming from NYC, a palm tree for your aunt coming home from Honolulu. You get the idea.
Perhaps you want to try iconic imagery from some Christmas movie classics: the leg lamp from A Christmas Story, the Grinch, a Gremlin or two or the adorable cast from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Maybe you want to get personal with it and showcase important events from your year. Were there new pets in the family? Was there a joyous wedding? Was there an adorable new baby? Capture these events in cookie form, but don’t forget the touches of holiday flair!
A Fun Approach for Kids of All Ages and Skill Levels
When kids are going to be the chief decorators, it’s tempting to take the easy way out. Give them a big bowl of icing from which to slather and some sprinkles to rain down on their creations. Voila.
That approach gets the job done. You can rest assured that there will be plenty of smiles and giggles to go around during your decorating session. If there’s a drawback here, though, it’s that the simplicity doesn’t take into account that some of your junior decorators — likely the older among them — might already be developing an appreciation for more advanced design. Yes, some of these little decorators may be on the path toward cookie-decorating artisanship.
So how can you both satisfy little kids who just want to have a sloppy good time while providing what could be a fun challenge for the more advanced? The solution is simple: food coloring markers! Yes, so whether you’re faced with little ones just looking to squiggle or you have a future Leonardo on your hands who wants to give Frosty an inscrutable expression a la the Mona Lisa, food coloring markers are a fun approach for kids of all skill levels.
When Time Is Short, Support Local Bakeries
Things tend to get a little hectic around the holidays. Suddenly, it doesn’t seem like you’re going to be able to tick off everything on your list. Maybe those cookies you envisioned are one of the victims of your time crunch. The desire to bake remains, but time is simply running out. It’s understandable.
Or maybe you find yourself in a situation that requires navigating your way around certain dietary restrictions and you don’t feel like you can pull it off.
Well, whatever obstacle is suddenly interfering with your cookie plans, look around it and you’ll find a silver lining. This is a great opportunity to support a local baker. Because no matter where you are, there is almost certainly a local bakeshop whipping up head-turning AND delicious holiday cookies.
Sometimes, it’s best to let the professionals do the work. And giving the gift of your business is a fine gift, indeed.
One Response
It is a great idea and delicious recipe. Kids will love these cookies. It is a great way to make kids holidays more special. But if we add some learning activities and worksheets then it will be more productive for them. I would like to share an amazing website https://wunderkiddy.com/material/apple-tree where you can find very interesting activities for kids.