As promised, the Christmas Cookie Baking Extravaganza in my family did begin today… but we’re not finished. We spent a good half of the day pouring, mixing, flouring, rolling, cutting, baking, cooling, mixing, food coloring, and preparing piping bags. We did manage to get some of the cookies decorated, but rather than show you only some of this year’s designs, I thought I’d save all of them for later this week when they are finished.

So today I’m just teasing you with some glimpses into the Chaos, and preparing you with some helpful tips we’ve learned over the years.

Find a well recommended Sugar Cookie Recipe and Frosting Recipe and test them before the big day. One night when you’re watching TV and you want a little snack, make up a batch and see if it’s a good fit for all your Cookie Baking Goals. I did a Dress Rehearsal for the big day and ended up finding a great recipe for the Cookies and the Frosting.

Find some designs you’d like to try. This book has some FANTASTIC ones and it will help you prepare by providing info on the kinds of decorating ingredients and tools you’ll need to accomplish each particular design.

Set up a separate table where at the end of the day, everyone involved can pack up boxes and bags of cookies as gifts for friends and family. Prepare the table with gift boxes, bags, twisty-ties, ribbon, blank labels, and pens and markers.

Each year buy a couple new cookie cutters and build a collection.

Finding unique and inexpensive cookie cutters throughout the year and stashing them away until Christmas is a great idea. Look at these cute ones I got last May…

They make these cute cookies that fit on the edge of a Coffee Cup. This is a Christmas Cookie Gift that can keep on giving long past Christmas… like every morning when you have a cup of coffee and every time you serve Coffee to guests.

Buy a lot of piping bag tips and lots of different food coloring, so you can use several at once.

Make lots of Piping Bags. This way you can create any design your little heart dreams up. It’s like having a crayon box of colors at your disposal.

Acquire lots and lots of different sprinkles each season, hang on to the leftovers, and watch your collection grow. Unique sprinkles bring about all kinds of design inspiration.

Lay down an inexpensive disposable plastic table cloth… things can get pretty messy and this makes for easy clean-up when you’re done. Just wrap up the mess inside, and toss it.

Put out trays of veggies and dip, crackers, cheeses, and fruit right there on the table where everyone is working. This will allow you to munch whenever you get the urge, but avoid making yourself sick by nibbling on cookies and candy all day.

Enlist the assistance of a good floor cleaner. Someone you can depend on to quickly snatch up whatever falls off the table.

Here’s a final Sneak Peak… More designs to come this week! Stay tuned!

2 Responses to “Christmas Cookie Extravaganza… Almost”