Host a Perfectly Imperfect Cookie Decorating Party
The first Christmas after my sister Torey and her little family moved back to Michigan she suggested we decorate sugar cookies with our children. This was something I had always avoided because it seemed like too much work, with making the dough, cutting out the cookies, baking them, making the frosting and, finally, decorating the cookies.
I was the older sister with three children. Torey, five years younger, had only one little girl. I brought my greater experience to bear. Did we really need to go out of our way to make a ton of work for the two of us, not to mention create an opportunity for the kids to gorge on even more refined flour and white sugar than the holidays already provided? No, thank you, we did not. I was happy to stick with the many non-food-centered traditions my little family already kept, including cutting down a tree the day after Thanksgiving and decorating it together, turning on Christmas music first thing every morning and letting it play all day long, reading Christmas books, then turning out all the lights and admiring the tree before bed every night.
Torey, however, was adamant. When she was young a family friend invited her to decorate Christmas cookies. They made an array of colors of frosting: pale and bright greens, blues, pinks, purples, yellows and oranges. Torey loved it and never forgot.
“We can buy refrigerated dough and canned frosting!” She said.
I gasped. Raised on homemade everything, we both knew refrigerated dough and canned frosting were abominations.
“Think how pretty the cookies will be with all those colors and how much fun the kids will have.”
I thought about it and knew she was right. I remembered something my sister-in-law swore by: “Gordon’s Food Service has boxes of cut-out cookies in their refrigerated section. All you have to do is bake them.”
“I’ll take care of everything.” Torey promised. And that was that; a tradition was born and, of course, the kids loved it from the start. Now it’s a part of our year, another way we celebrate and mark the time. Over the years, as the children have grown, we’ve adjusted what we do, but one thing never changes: a fun day together.
If you would like to make a cookie decorating party a part of your family traditions, I have a few suggestions before you begin.
Determine your standards. Torey and I knew we needed to lower ours. The kids didn’t care, and Torey really wanted to make it about the decorating, so we didn’t worry about making our own dough or frosting. Now our kids are older and we make everything from scratch. One year we let the kids cut out the cookies but Torey has decided she wants to make them ahead of time. If your kids are younger we highly recommend you have the cookies ready to decorate.
Consider the timing. We decorate after lunch and then eat a simple dinner together. Since Torey leads the charge on the cookies I take care of our meal and usually make a healthy soup. The idea is to have the kids full of a good lunch to minimize all-out gorging on cookies. A healthy (and early!) dinner helps. Our kids are older, so we aren’t dealing with naps anymore, but if you are, take your little ones’ sleep needs into account.
A bell-shaped cookie turned upside down is the perfect “canvas” to create a portrait—a much-loved tradition.
Keep it simple and cooperative. If you are inviting friends, the temptation can be to go all out, but why add extra work? Consider extending an invitation to a cooperative event. Torey makes the cookies and frosting and buys some of the decorations. I contribute decorations and make dinner. There are no invitations beyond, “When do you want to do the cookies this year?” We’re sisters, but I’d snap up a casual invitation like this from a friend and be happy to contribute.
Ditch the accoutrements. For us, the party is about the cookies and, of course, time together. Neither of us is really crafty, so we don’t worry about favors and centerpieces. Our houses are already decorated for Christmas, and we think that’s enough. If you enjoy putting together all the extras, go for it, but for many of us it’s a barrier to entertaining. If you come to my house you won’t be given a striped paper straw with your drink and that’s a personal manifesto.
Take pictures. It doesn’t matter if you’re a terrible photographer or the lighting is bad — make sure to take a few pictures. Despite the quality, our kids love looking back and remembering the fun times we had and recognizing how much they’ve grown.
My niece, Willa, wasn’t born when we began this tradition, and it’s so fun to see her go from a munchkin in a high chair to an independent little baker holding her own with the big kids.
For us, this tradition boils down to cookies, colors and pictures. You get to decide what yours will be about, and I’m sure we’ll all have in common wonderful memories of so much fun.
Your turn: What holiday traditions do you keep? Please share in the comments.
