christmas cookies

One of my favorite activities during the holidays (and any time really) is baking cookies. I love the smell of them baking and of course love to eat them. This is great activity in which the whole family can participate. You can use any recipe to make your favorite cookies or even use the slice and bake dough. It's fun to introduce kids to new recipes. And decorating cookies is almost as much fun for the kids as is the eating! The cookies can also make great gifts for teachers, friends and neighbors.

Christmas Cookies

Making Christmas cookies is always a fun way to spend some time together as a family before the hectic holiday busy-ness gets into full swing. Trying to make it a relaxed atmosphere where the actual cookie baking is the focus of the fun is a great approach. Maybe even turn on some Christmas music or sing some of your favorite carols together. If the kids are small, you could opt to make up the dough and even perhaps cut out the cookies and bake them before having the kids get on to decorating them. I use a great sugar cookie recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. It is a nice dough that rolls, cuts and cooks up great. Also from that book we love the butter frosting. Add a few icing writers and some sprinkles and you are set! Here are a few of the ones we have made up so far.