Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring is teaming up with Crystal’s Cookies. Crystal will be bringing us a few of her favorites through the holiday season!
Making Memories: How-To Tips for a Children’s Cookie Decorating Party
For the past three years, the week before Christmas, I gather 5 kids (4 nieces and nephews and our son) at my house to throw a Christmas cookie making/decorating party for them. What originally started out as a way to give their parents time to finish up their shopping and wrapping has turned into a time that we (and the kids) look forward to every year. Here is how to host your own party!
I start the day before the party prepping all of the dough we will use, depending on the amount of time that you have for your party and the ages of the kids you host, you could have the children help with this step. However, our kids are between the ages of 4-8, so I find it easier to prep the dough the day before. I roll all of the dough into balls, and then have the kids do something with each type of cookie. I set each place setting at my table with wax paper and small bowls for each child. Here’s an example of what cookies we make, and what I have the kids do to each type of dough.
- M&M Cookies: I have kids push a couple extra M&M’s into the top of the rolled up dough ball.
- Snickerdoodles: I put cinnamon sugar mixture in one the little bowls at each place setting and have the kids roll each snickerdoodle dough ball in the cinnamon sugar
- Peanut Butter: I give each child a fork and a little sugar in a small bowl and have them make the criss-cross pattern on the top of the peanut butter cookies.
- Cut-Out Cookies with Icing: I actually bake the cut-outs the day before, and then have the kids ice and sprinkle the cookies during the party. I give the kids plastic knives to spread the icing. However, when they were younger I actually just let them use their finger to spread the icing on the cookies. Have lots of different sprinkles on hand for them to choose from, this is by far their favorite part of the night!
Additional Tips & Tricks:
If you are hosting younger children, make sure that each child has their own bowls and utensils for each cookie. They WILL eat M&M’s, and lick icing off their fingers as they continue to ice the cookies. Just know that it will happen, and I have found it’s best to just let them do it instead of trying to convince a three year old not to lick sweet icing off of their fingers. Keep baby wipes and hand sanitizer handy to help with the messy hands and faces. Otherwise, just laugh with them and take pictures. Lots of pictures.
While I bake the cookies for the kids to take home, I let them take one (or two!) of the cut-outs to the family room with them while they watch Polar Express and drink hot chocolate. Try our Candy Bar Hot Chocolate recipe–it’s amazing!.
I buy trays for all of my cookies locally at GFS Marketplace, they have smaller trays there with lids that are great for a few dozen cookies. I give each child their own tray to take home and share with their family. They always love showing off their cookie creations!
By all means, think of ways to let the children help make cookies that are near and dear to your own family. Share your favorite Christmas cookie baking experience with them. Or maybe even encourage the children to deliver some of their cookies to a loved one that isn’t able to leave the house much. Whatever you do, you will be making memories for years to come!
Crystal’s Cookies Philosophy:
We love God. We love family. We love cookies. We believe in quality. We believe in making people happy.
Special Offer for SistersShoppingOnAShoestring community: Receive a free extra dozen Chocolate Chip or Snickerdoodle cookies, or a dozen Fudgy Brownies (your choice!) when you order one of my 50, 75, or 100 count cookie trays! Trays are perfect for the holiday season, order yours today and mark one more thing off your “to-do” list! Find out more about Crystal’s Cookies online or on Facebook. You can also email her at crystalscookies@yahoo.com.
