Cooking with an adult can be a very special time for a child. Add meaning to the opportunity with a list of Christmas-focused recipes - both to eat and decorate with.
Christmas Pretzel Bites with the M&M Christmas Story
Using pretzels, Hershey Kisses, and M&Ms is a less expensive option to the pretzel/Rolo/pecan bites. Also, adding the M&M allows you to include the M&M Christmas story poem with a gift bag.
"Happy Birthday Jesus" Cake
When my children were young, baking a birthday cake for Jesus had a impact on them because they could relate to the significance of a cake. Each child helped bake his or her own cake and enjoyed the process of making one for Jesus. Discover four cake ideas with discussion ideas and Scripture.
Visit neighbors or a nursing home to deliver goodies and smiles. Start the beginning of December planning times to visit. Plan to love on people with your time and attention and share the joy of Christmas.
Cinnamon-Sugar Tortilla Stars
Spread margarine on flour tortillas. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut stars out of a flour tortilla. Bake 10 minutes in 350 degree oven until crisp.
There are a few recipes that make my holiday time complete. Christmas Balls are one of my Christmas musts. I always make a batch of these to include in our gift baskets for neighbors, teachers, and friends as well as some extras for us to eat.
I love sugar cookies but in my opinion there are a lot of subpar sugar cookie recipes. This is the best sugar cookie recipe ever. And instead of being stingy and not sharing it with you, I am going to pass on this amazing cookie recipe so that you can eat them too!
Popcorn or Rice Krispy Christmas Trees
Pop popcorn and make syrup for popcorn balls. Or, make Rice Krispy treats. Shape into a Christmas tree. May also shape around a peppermint stick or large pretzel for a tree trunk. Add decorations in the tree with red hots candies.
This stuff is so yummy that we have had neighbors call and ask for more! And it is so simple to make that the kids can be actively involved in the process.
Gingerbread Houses
Make Gingerbread Houses to review shapes, sorting, and spatial relationships. Purchase a Gingerbread House Kit or create your own.
Cone Christmas Trees
Make Cone Christmas Trees using a sugar ice cream cone, whipped frosting, and candies. Simple enough for most ages!
Make these delicious smelling ornaments for your own tree or giveaway as a fun Christmas surprise.
Homemade Christmas Ornaments (Recipe #1)
Salt Dough
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup salt, 1/2 cups water
Directions: Mix together the flour and salt. Add in the water. May add food coloring. Knead until smooth. Break off a small section and roll 1/8" thick. Have the child press his foot or hand into the dough to make a print. Let it dry for a few days by flipping periodically or bake at 200 degrees until hard. Make the ornament dough and allow the ornaments to reflect each personality or create a hand or footprint.. Start a tradition by dating the ornaments to look back at years of memories.
Homemade Christmas Ornaments (Recipe #2)
Clay Dough (This is my favorite option.)
Ingredients: 1 cup Baking Soda, 1/2 cup Cornstarch, 3/4 cup warm water
Directions: Mix dry ingredients in saucepan. Add plain or tinted (food coloring works well) warm water and stir until dissolved. Cook over medium high heat until it resembles play dough. Remove from heat and cool to touch. Kneed on lightly cornstarched surface until smooth and soft. Roll to the desired thickness. Cut with cookie cutters. Add a hand or footprint if desired. Use a straw to make a hole for hanging. Embellish, paint, emboss as desired. Air dry for 24 hours turning one or twice to reduce curling.
Salt-Dough Candy Canes
Using one of the recipes above for salt dough, make J's or candy canes with a cookie cutter or roll small amounts of dough into candy-cane shapes. Use a straw to make a hole for tying a ribbon. Paint red lines on the candy cane. Air dry for 24 hours turning one or twice to reduce curling. Tie a bell and the Candy Cane poem to the candy cane with ribbon. Give as gifts.
