Christmas Kitchen Fun

Please like and share!

Bringing my children into the kitchen with me was born more out of necessity than desire.

I needed to cook/bake/clean.  I was home with a baby.  Thus it began.  I never went into the kitchen alone. At first, I’d bring the baby in her little bouncy seat.  Then it was a saucer. I even went so far as to put a little corner table in our kitchen after my third baby.  Oh, the memories that happened at this little table! They ALWAYS wanted to help me, so I’d find something for them to do or they’d drive me crazy.  At first, it was just licking the spoon, then, handing me stuff as I asked for it. Then, it was dumping things in, next cracking eggs, learning to measure, and eventually, it was them reading me the recipe, then them doing the work all on their own as I handed them supplies, and now we’re at a stage where I’m just given a list of supplies they need when I go shopping.  It’s come full circle.

I take advantage of my daytime daycare kids and spend as much time in the kitchen with them as possible.  I LOVE kitchen time with children. The messes are time consuming but the memories are priceless. I know this can be a busy and stressful time of year for many, but it’s also a great opportunity to spend some bonding time in the kitchen with your child(ren).  Who doesn’t have memories of working beside someone they love or admire in the kitchen? I love listening to my teens remind me of some of their memories with me in the kitchen. My youngest, now 10, is in charge of choosing our recipes this year. He’s sure enjoying this challenge, and the little ones are LOVING his crazy creations

Although we’ve tried tons of recipes throughout the years, I’m going to share some really fun, simple ones today, that even the younger children love helping with!  These are the few, even I, with my lack of baking expertise can handle!

1. CUPCAKES:  It doesn’t matter what recipe you use.  Even a boxed mix is fine.  I’d let the kids help me bake them in the morning and then after lunch….the fun part would come–the decorating!  I’d bring out my food coloring and give each child their own bowl of white frosting(I usually cheated and used store bought) and they could mix in the color they wanted.  I always gave them a craft stick for mixing(because I bought these in bulk).  Then I’d have bowls set on the table with sprinkles, m&ms, and maybe some holiday candies.

2. PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS:  Mix up any kind of peanut butter cookie recipe with your kiddos.  Then while they are baking, start unwrapping the hershey kisses!  This was always my children’s favorite part, even though I have no idea why.  When the cookies come out, they just push the kisses into the center of each cookie.  We oftentimes sprinkled colored sugar around the edges then.  Simple and the one thing even my teens still want us to make to this day!

3. CHOCOLATE DIPPED PRETZELS:  I usually just melt a bag of chocolate chips in a sauce pan with a little bit of shortening.  Some years I’ve used Baker’s dipping chocolate.  Some years I’ve used Wilton candy melts.  This year we used Ghiradelli melting wafers.  They are so easy to make!  We’ve done all sizes and shapes of pretzels over the years.  This year we did pretzel rods.  Make sure that the chocolate is in a flat bowl or Tupperware that will fit the pretzel shape you are using.  Then just dip them in the melted chocolate and spread on wax paper to harden.  After we put on wax paper, we usually sprinkle them with sprinkles, colored sugars, crushed nuts, or anything else!  We choose what we’re going to sprinkle on them before we start so that we have everything ready to go.  

4. TURTLE CANDIES:  These are the other absolute favorite in our house and we will be making them this weekend!  These are what taught me the difference between wax paper and parchment paper.
We start by lining a cookie sheet with parchment paper and then spreading out mini pretzels in a single layer.  Then the unwrapping, unwrapping, unwrapping of ROLOS.  I’ve never understood why children enjoy unwrapping tons of candy, but they do, trust me!  Set a ROLO on top of each pretzel and put in the oven at 300 for about 3-4 minutes, or until ROLO is squishy.   When they come out, you squash each ROLO with a pecan.  Voila!  You’re done and just wait for them to cool.  So simple, yet so yummy!

5. CANDY CANE COOKIES:  These have always been one of my least favorites to make, but my kids LOVE making them, so we do.  After all, making memories in the kitchen with them is what it’s all about.
Makes about 4 dozen:
1 cup sugar
1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon each of vanilla and peppermint extract
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
2 tablespoons sugar

• Stir together 1 cup sugar, the butter, milk, vanilla, peppermint extract and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Divide dough in half. Stir food color into 1 half. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
• Heat oven to 375ºF.
• Stir together peppermint candy and 2 tablespoon sugar; set aside.
• For each candy cane, shape 1 rounded teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope by rolling back and forth on a floured surface. Place 1 red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; curve top of cookie down to form the handle of cane.
• Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack and cool completely about 30 minutes.  

6: CUT OUT SUGAR COOKIES: These are a classic.  You really can’t go wrong, whichever sugar cookie recipe you use(even store bought), because the fun is in rolling them out and using cookie cutters and then, after the baking, the decorating!  I didn’t do these when my kids were really young and I sure wish I did.  They are so much fun.  You just can’t go wrong with these.   

7. REINDEER FOOD:  This isn’t as much a recipe for something you’re actually going to eat, but more a recipe for fun and excitement for your children.  I set out little bowls of various things each year.  Some examples: oats, cranberries, edible glitter, sprinkles, baking chips, dried fruit, etc.  I’d give each child a baggie with a reindeer food poem on it.  
Here’s a link to the free printable poem I use:

After a fun day of baking in the kitchen, we usually make some hot cocoa(can’t forget the candy cane to stir it with) and sit around listening to Christmas music and playing board games.

So, roll up your sleeves, and spend some time baking up some holiday love with the special little ones in your life!

Do you have a simple, child-friendly recipe you’d like to share?  I’d love to hear your ideas!