5 Christmas Cooking Ideas

Here are 5 Christmas cooking ideas to make your holidays more fun and less work. Christmas cooking should be enjoyable. Here are some ways to make cooking during the holidays work for you.

1. Have a cookie exchange. Baking Christmas cookies is a tradition for many people, but having variety is important. One way to get different kinds of cookies is to host a cookie exchange. Each person brings several batches cookie dough of one kind of cookie. The cookies are baked during the party. Each participant leaves with several dozen of different kinds of Christmas cookies.
2. Make it ahead. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day should be times for family and relaxing. So make things you can freeze or refrigerate before the holidays. Make bread or cookie dough and freeze it in serving-sized portions so you can pull it out and bake without the mess. Make a big pot of soup or chili and freeze it for quick meals. When you get a head start, the holidays will be more relaxing.
3. Make gifts by cooking. Personalized gifts are easy and inexpensive to make. Bottle jars of your barbecue rub that everyone is always raving about. Make everyone’s favorite banana bread and attach the recipe you’ve been keeping a secret. Giving gifts that you’ve spent the time to cook and wrap are a great way to show you care at Christmas.
4. Cook with kids. Even if you don’t have kids, invite your nieces and nephews over for Christmas cooking. Make cookies, chocolates or whatever the kids love to eat. They can have goodies to give to friends or family. Kids love Christmas and they can help you get into the Christmas spirit.
5. Make cooking simple. Don’t feel like everything has to be made from scratch. If you always have red velvet cake on Christmas, get one at a local bakery and focus on the rest of the meal. Buying a smoked turkey or honey ham that is already prepared can speed things up. Christmas cooking isn’t about being perfect; it is also about taking time to spend with friends and family.