Welcome to Day 3 of 5 for Ideas to Get You and Your Family into the Christmas Spirit!
I get it. You juggle a lot during the holiday season—managing your home, work, and all the festivities!
There are so many things you can be doing with your family during the holiday season.
Dedicate a specific evening or weekend afternoon to family baking, and prep as much as you can in advance.
Add some festive touches, like Christmas music or matching aprons, to make the experience extra special.
Baking is a perfect way to slow down, connect with your family, and make sweet memories.
Here are 5 Christmas baking ideas and tools to spark the magic in your kitchen this season:
1. Decorate Pre-Made Gingerbread Houses
Skip the baking and go straight to the fun! Pre-made gingerbread house kits save time and are a hit with kids of all ages.
If you have more than one child, you can even purchase a gingerbread Christmas village and have miniature houses that you can decorate with your children.
My mom actually does this with her grandchildren each year as a tradition, but you can easily incorporate this into your yearly routine.
To make it interesting, you can even make it a decorating contest!
Make sure you lay down parchment paper, though, to keep cleanup quick and stress-free!
2. Bake and Decorate Christmas-Themed Cupcakes
Something I have wanted to incorporate more into my home is creating more themed cupcakes for different occasions or holidays.
If your family loves cupcakes, try baking Christmas-themed ones that are simple and fun to decorate. Cupcakes are easy to portion, and kids can personalize their own, making it a great bonding activity.
Put a Christmas themed liner around them, or festive toppers that will make the tradition more fun and creative!
3. Create a Cookie Decorating Party
Another fun option is hosting a cookie decorating party!
You can either have pre-baked sugar cookies in holiday shapes ready to go.
Or you could bake the cookies yourself with cute Christmas cookie cutters.
Then, set up a decorating station with frosting, piping bags, sprinkles, and edible glitter.
Your kids will love designing their cookies, and you can even wrap up some of the creations as gifts for neighbors or your kids’ teachers.
Personalize cookies with names or favorite designs to make the tradition extra special.
4. Make Homemade Hot Cocoa Bombs
For a trendy and exciting activity, try making homemade hot cocoa bombs.
These treats are fun to create and make thoughtful gifts.
If you do not know where to start, first purchase a silicone mold, melting chocolate, mini marshmallows, and cocoa mix.
Try looking up a ‘how-to’ guide on making hot cocoa bombs, and give it a shot!
Let everyone add their own twist, like crushed peppermint or caramel bits, to make them unique.
5. Invest in Fun Baking Tools and Gadgets
Lastly, start investing in fun baking tools and gadgets can make the experience even more enjoyable.
Cookie cutters in holiday shapes, embossed rolling pins, and a hand-crank sifter for powdered sugar “snow” are excellent options.
A great investment that you could use throughout the entire year, is to get your family and kids customized aprons.
Bonus Tips:
- Involve Your Kids: Assign age-appropriate tasks to your little ones, like mixing batter or sprinkling decorations.
- Time Management: Dedicate one evening or weekend afternoon to baking as a family. Prep what you can in advance to avoid feeling rushed.
- Make It Special: Play Christmas music or wear festive aprons to add to the holiday spirit.
These ideas will fill your home with the delicious smells and heartwarming memories of Christmas! Which one will you try first?