Every year one of the ways I celebrate the holidays is by spending quality time with my friends baking cookies. This has become a tradition that I look forward to. Trust me when I say that I’m no Betty Crocker, but this is serious baking business. We usually begin around 9am and finish around 6pm- if we pick one cookie recipe per person (tripling the batch). If picking two cookie recipes each, which we have tried, plan on baking a back-breaking 10-12 hours! We often joke that these hours of baking and bonding will try any friendship; you will either come out stronger on the other end (with a ton of cookies), or, someone might be exiled from the group. . . booted off the island. Just kidding.
I love opening my home and my kitchen for this day, especially right after I’ve put up my Christmas tree, but I am a baker bee, not a baker boss! There is definitely a difference and for the day to be successful, you need both baker bosses and baker bees. Luckily I’m quite content being bossed around (in this situation at least)! The baker bosses usually organize and oversee all the recipes. They know what’s happening at all times and can see the big picture. The bees carry out tasks, one at a time, under the direction of the bosses, without the burden of understanding the complexities of timing and recipes. But trust me, while all that work is happening, we are chatting. laughing, drinking coffee, and simply enjoying our time together!
Always time for fun and selfies!
Here are some tips for a successful cookie baking day:
- be super organized about ingredients ahead of time
- divy up cookie ingredients to keep it fair
- take a survey of all needed equipment (you might need to bring mixers or extra cookie sheets)
- lay out all the material/ingredients before your begin baking
- wear an apron (have cute friends with extra aprons)
- stay coordinated with the recipes (have them printed ahead of time)
- have someone dictate the recipe aloud (this is suprisingly helpful)
- keep up with dishes as you bake
- have Christmas music playing at all times
- bring take-home containers for cookies (you will divide them all at the end of the day)
- avoid getting overwhelmed and exhausted (stick to one cookie per person)
- keep lunch simple (we like having sandwiches, so we get bread, lunch meat, and chips ahead of time)
- don’t pick overcomplicated recipes
- rotate jobs and tasks so no one gets too tired
- most importantly: talk, laugh, eat, and enjoy each other!
Some of our favorite cookies include:
- rolo cookies
- oreo truffles
- russian tea cakes
- buckeyes
- peanut butter blossoms
- white chocolate oatmeal cranberry bars
- peppermint oreo bark
Remember, things will go wrong and accidents will happen. You will spill coffee all over the floor. You will bust bags of oreos and candy canes when crushing them in baggies. Your friend will put a metal bowl in the microwave. Someone will shout, “I need new friends!” But, in the end, it’s all worth it. This day is definitely a treat, and one of my favorite ways to enjoy the season. Plus, you get to share all these sweets with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers (unless you eat them all yourself- no judgement here!).
If you’d like to check out our spot on Local Channel 19, click here for the video.
GO THERE (someone’s kitchen)! TRY THAT (cookie baking day)!
6 Comments
Mackenzie
December 9, 2015 at 5:23 pmI love those cookie bars oatmeal white chocolate stuff!!! Yummy!
Korie
December 9, 2015 at 8:08 pmI seriously love baking day! One of my favorite traditions for sure! Love you Mindy!!!!
Judith Billing
December 10, 2015 at 6:27 amI am looking forward to tasting some of these goodies
Sara
December 10, 2015 at 8:37 amI love baking day! Such good memories come from it! And the Delish cookies are an upside too.
Kate
December 10, 2015 at 10:41 pmSuch beautiful Kitchen Aids. Cannot WAIT to try this oreo truffle recipe, since I did some damage to the ones you brought to work! 🙂
Tabitha
December 16, 2015 at 1:47 pmYummy, I’d really like some cookies now!