There’s nothing like the scent of freshly baked Christmas cookies to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling, and take you back to fond childhood memories. I remember standing in my mum’s kitchen and looking up with anticipation as she took the baking tray out of the oven full of piping hot cookies. The smell was magic! It was then a case of roll up your sleeves and muck in to help decorate the cookies with various toppings. Finally, when everything was complete, my sister and I got the chance to tuck into a cookie or two with a glass of milk whilst we enjoyed an afternoon Christmas program on the TV. Good times!
Special events do not come around often and provide an opportunity to create lifelong memories for your family or friends. For times such as these, we need to take a step back, leave behind the hustle and bustle of modern life and all the problems that come with it, and simply make time to share a special moment. Pre-Christmas baking is such a tradition and to get the most from it, it pays to plan ahead a little. So what is the best way to plan a Christmas cookie day?
Plan Ahead
For something to become a tradition, it has to be undertaken at the same time each year. The official Christmas National Cookie Day is Decemeber 4th.
However, it’s not always possible to stick to this day. Therefore, arrange well ahead of time with your friends or family, a suitable day when everyone can get together. Given the run up to Christmas is in the cold, cough and flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, it might be a good idea to pencil in 2 separate dates a few weeks apart if you live in this part of the world. Better to have all bases covered should someone catch the dreaded lurgy and have to cancel the day.
It’s usually best to set aside more time than you expect it to take, especially for first timers. Most people set aside an entire afternoon, whilst others will make a complete day of it. This should be a day to be enjoyed, so the last thing you want is to be rushing about, worrying about running out of time.
Types of Cookie and Amounts
Next, you need to decide on the cookies you plan to make and the amount. Some folk will only make one type for themselves or their immediate family, whilst others make a range of them in large numbers because they intend to use them for entertaining friends or family, or give lots away as gifts. They actually make great gifts because people appreciate the fact that you made the effort to bake them rather than just buy them from a shop.
However, remember, sometimes less is more regarding the varieties you intend to bake. Usually 2 to 4 is ample and anymore can become stressful, which is precisely the thing we want to avoid. Remember, this is about having a good time and as long as it remains like that, all’s well.
Recipes
You will then need to think about some recipes. If you don’t have some recipes of your own or a cookbook you like to use, then a quick search of the internet will reveal a huge number of possibilities. It might take you a while to decide on some, which is a good reason to plan ahead and not leave things to the last minute.
When you have chosen the recipes, remember to bookmark them and consider printing them out. Some people prefer to use their phone or tablet to buy ingredients or cook a recipe from, whilst others still prefer them printed out in hard copy on paper. Whatever work best for you.
Ingredient List
Once you have your recipes for the cookies you plan to bake and the amount you intend to make, you will need to adjust the recipe ingredients accordingly. Placing all the ingredients in one list will make the buying process so much easier and minimize the risk of forgetting some items. Don’t forget to add on any toppings (frosting) or decorations you wish to use or any equipment you need e.g. cookie cutters.
You will then need to buy in the ingredients ahead of time. Some people start as early as the beginning of November, whilst others don’t mind leaving it to a few days before they are required. Whatever floats your boat!
Prepping
Once you have the ingredients, you might find some prep work can be done in advance. For example, the recipe might say you can make the dough mix and freeze it. The dough mixes can usually be prepared in around an hour or less, even if you plan to bake several types of cookies. Freezing in advance will make it easy because all you have to do is make sure the dough has defrosted before the baking day. This can be very helpful if you plan to have an event with very young children. But once again, everyone is different, and some prefer the children helping prepare the dough, put it on the baking trays and use cookie cutters or shaped tins.
The Big Day
Then comes the special day – baking day! If you are going to make various types of cookies, then consider making just one type at a time. If you are baking in higher volumes, make the same type of cookie in batches before moving on to the next type.
The situation can be rather different if you are having a cookie swap type party. These can involve guests bringing along cookie dough/decorations and everyone helps. Alternatively, some prefer to bake their cookies upfront and simply share them on the day.
The key to all of this is just enjoy the occasion. If you begin to run out of time, don’t get flustered. Just call it a day. Wrap left over dough in kitchen wrap (clingfilm) and put in the fridge to be baked the next day. Your guests will be more than happy to have helped, had a fun time and enjoy munching on the fruits of their labour.
SUMMARY
The sight and smell of Christmas cookies conjures up wonderful childhood memories for most people. As adults, we can pass this tradition on to future generations. In the process, we will enrich the lives of our children, grandchildren, friends, as well as our own.
These memories will be even more special if you involve them in the baking process. All it takes is a little planning and setting aside the time to do it. Time is the most precious gift we can give, or as the Ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus said, “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” So, spend it wisely!
