Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Edible Christmas Gifts

Edible Christmas Gifts-Cookie Recipes For Kids

Edible Christmas gifts have become very popular. Partly because, most everyone likes receiving a nice food gift. They are easily adaptable to whoever you are buying a gift for.

Cookie Recipes For Kids

Goodies like chocolates, fresh baked goods and gourmet treats are high on the list of edible gifts.

Do you have a hard to buy for person on your Christmas list? Edible gifts are your solution. Give them a basket of gourmet goodies like sausage, cheese and crackers, cookies, cakes, or any number of other treats. All gourmet style of course! No more ties or clothing that doesn't get worn.

Are you looking for a corporate Christmas gift to give to a business associate? Food items are always a good choice. Give enough for them to take home to their family or share with the office. Your generosity will be remembered long after Christmas is over.

You could even provide a nice lunch for an office of clients. Maybe you have a one-of-a-kind chili recipe that you want to share. Gifts like this will be the talk of the office and you will be top on their list when they need the services or products you provide.

When the edible gifts come in a gift basket, it makes it even more special. Presentation can make such a difference when giving these types of Christmas gifts. Put them in a holiday style basket and your gift looks like it cost much more than it actually did.

Godiva, Ghirardelli or Perguina chocolates are among the finest chocolates, and when they come in a pretty basket with a Christmas bow on it, it will light up anyone's day.

Other edible gifts include boxes of candy, cans of caramel corn and homemade Christmas cookies. All will be appreciated. Wrap them up in some pretty Christmas paper or put in a gift bag and you have added a special touch. If you want to add a homemade touch, make some cut-outs or some gourmet popcorn. Growing up, we always had a blend made up of popcorn, butter and almonds. It was so tasty!

Some nice baked goods make a wonderful gift. Breads, muffins or pastry will be a real treat. I love receiving breads, such as banana or zucchini bread that someone else makes. They seem to always taste better than my own!

Edible Christmas gifts will be a hit and will be a gift that actually gets used. Choose some goodies and get busy gift giving.

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Cookie Press Cookies - The Perennial Christmas Cookie

Cookie Press Cookies - The Perennial Christmas Cookie

Cookie Press Cookies, or Spritz cookies as they are sometimes called, have been a Christmas cookie treat since the 1600's. They are called "cookie press" because a press is used to form the cookies.

The word "spritz" comes from the German word "spritzen" which means "to squirt or spray". The word describes the action of the cookie press, which "squirts" the dough through a die giving the cookie its shape.

If you've tried making spritz cookies without success in the past or if you're new to them the following information will guide you to making these delicious Christmas treats.

Cookie Press Recipes

Most bakers that have had problems with their cookie press cookies are probably not at fault at all. More than likely it's the recipe they were using.

Spritz cookie dough has to have some unique qualities. First of all the dough has to be soft enough that it will go through the press with no problems.

The fact that it has to be soft could present the second problem. It must hold it's shape in the oven or it will lose its design.

On top of these two problems is that it has to taste good!

That eliminates some of the tricks some bakers' use for shape holding like using shortening for the fat. For great cookie flavor butter should be the fat in Cookie Press Cookies!

This is a good basic recipe that will produce beautiful Christmas spritz cookies.

Basic Spritz Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened (about 70 degrees)
2/3 cup sugar (about 4-3/4 ounces)
1/4 teaspoon table salt
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (10 ounces)

Instructions

Adjust your oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees.

In small bowl, beat yolk, cream, and vanilla with fork until combined; set aside.

In stand mixer cream the butter, sugar, and salt at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula.

With the mixer running at medium speed, add the yolk and cream mixture and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the bowl.

With the mixer running at low speed gradually beat in the flour a little at a time until combined.

Scrape down the bowl and give a final stir with a rubber spatula to ensure that no flour pockets remain.

Load up your cookie press and press out the cookies spacing them about 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake one sheet at a time until the cookies are light golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the baking sheet halfway through the baking time.

Cool the cookies on the baking sheet until just warm, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the cookies from the sheet with a metal spatula and transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature.

Some words of caution!

This cookie recipe works perfectly fine. However there are some variables that can't be solved by a recipe. Those variables are in your own kitchen.

Oven thermostats are notoriously inaccurate! The temperature of your oven must be 375 degrees for the cookies to setup before the melting butter makes them spread.

If your cookies spread too much check your oven with an oven thermometer.

In addition to oven temperature the cookies will spread too much if you have whipped too much air into the dough. When you are creaming the butter and sugar be sure and not over whip.

Also combine the dry ingredients with the wet just until mixed thoroughly.

A warm cookie sheet will cause your cookies to spread excessively. Be sure your sheet is completely cooled before you do a second batch. You can pop it in the fridge for a few minutes if necessary.

Expand Your Cookie Press Cookies Repertoire

Once you have the basic procedure for spritz cookies down pat you can expand your repertoire.

The flavors and decorations possibilities for these cookies are almost unlimited. And with good recipes you can make Christmas Cookie Baking go like a flash.

Cookie Press Cookies - The Perennial Christmas Cookie

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas Cookies - Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe

Christmas Cookies - Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sugar cookies are the basics of any holiday. They are versatile and wonderfully delicious. You can do just about anything with sugar cookies including flavoring and a wide variety of decorations that it can take. They can also be sweet or done without the extra sweetness expected of them. The choice of course is up to what you and your family enjoys.

Basic sugar cookie recipes can be found anywhere, in just about every cookbook and can even be found online with relative ease. Because the sugar cookie is such a versatile cookie you can find a number of variations. Children can help out with a number of aspects as well with these.

When using a regular sugar cookie recipe the cookies are usually rolled in sugar before placing them on the cookie tray or sugar is sprinkled over them before baking. This is a wonderful place for children to be able to help out. It is important however to warn children to stay away from the cookies until they cool. Sugar can get very hot, hotter than most substances and children can be easily burned by the sugar coating on these cookies.

Here is a simple basic sugar cookie recipe to start with variations can be found online or make your own to your families taste. Experimentation can be fun with these for adults and children alike.
Basic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 c butter
2 C white sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract (this can be changed to almond, mint or even maple depending on taste and variation)
5 C all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Instructions

Soften the butter so that it is room temperature and easily to manipulate but do not melt it. Use the Thaw feature on the microwave if necessary but usually leaving it on the counter for a few hours or over night will take care of it for you.

Take a large bowl and combine the sugar and butter until it make a smooth and creamy mixture. Next add in the eggs and the extract, in this case Vanilla. You can add more vanilla if you want depending on taste. Stir in the flour, the salt and the baking powder.

Then cover the dough and chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.

While chilling the dough preheat your over to 400 degrees F. pull the dough from the refrigerator and roll out onto a floured surface. You will want the cookies to be between 1/4 to 1/2" thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter and place on an ungreased sheet about 1" apart or you can form dough balls roll them sugar and flatten. Cooking time increases with cookies more than 1/4 to 1/2" so adjust accordingly. Bake the cookies for about 6-8 minutes. Longer if cookies are thicker or bigger let cookies cool completely and enjoy.

You can also use this basic recipe to make a wide variety of different types of cookies. Add food coloring to make colored Christmas cookies or different flavorings to make different flavored cookies. Flavorings can easily be found in the baking aisle of your store.

Christmas Cookies - Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Favorite Christmas Cookies 1 - Peanut Butter Thumbprint Kiss Cookies

Favorite Christmas Cookies 1 - Peanut Butter Thumbprint Kiss Cookies

Some of the best Christmas cookies are those that we have from our memories. Our family always had an assortment of cookies and candies but a few stood out as my favorites. Now that I am an adult with my own family, I notice that both my brother's family and mine still enjoy the cookies that we had as children. One of everybody's favorites is the Peanut Butter Thumbprint Kiss Cookies. This recipe can be made using jelly in the thumbprint but my family always enjoys the kiss.

Peanut Butter Thumbprint Kiss Cookies

Heat oven to 375* and assemble ingredients. You will need: ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup packed brown sugar, ½ cup shortening (or margarine), ½ cup peanut butter, 1 egg, 1& ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, 1/ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt and a bag of Hershey kisses.

\First, mix sugars, shortening (butter or margarine), peanut butter and egg. Once it is creamy, start to slowly add the dry mixture of flour baking soda, baking powder and salt, until it is mixed. Then shape dough into 1 inch balls and put them 3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Make the thumbprint (press the middle of each cookie with your thumb) and put a Hershey's kiss on each cookie, in the thumbprint.

Bake, 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are slightly browned and set, but not too hard. You may need to adjust your baking time as ovens differ. Cool the cookies, on the cookie sheet, for a few minutes then remove them to a cooling rack. I have found that I have less wasted time if I have a duplicate set of cookie sheets so I do not have to wait for the one from the last batch to cool. This will make about 3& ½ dozen cookies that your family will love.

This recipe can be doubled if you are part of a Christmas cookie exchange group. To double it, you would need: 1cup granulated sugar; 1cup packed brown sugar, 1cup butter or margarine, 2 eggs, 2 & ½ cup flour, 1 & ½ t. baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt. Doubling the recipe will give you about 7 dozen cookies.

Because many people have favorites of their own, it is fun to see if someone in your family or a close friend wants to share their favorite cookies with you by becoming part of a Christmas Cookie Exchange. It is easy to do when you double your recipes. You will be able to share ½ of your baked goods and receive ½ of theirs so you will have different kinds of Christmas cookies. They get to enjoy a bigger variety that way. Many different varieties of chocolate chip cookies can be seen the article, "Favorite Christmas Cookies 2. You can also see other recipes in the article entitled "Cookie Exchange Will Save at Time at Christmas".

Favorite Christmas Cookies 1 - Peanut Butter Thumbprint Kiss Cookies

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Swedish Christmas Cookies - A method To Make Pepparkakor

Christmas is a extra time in Scandinavia and Sweden in particular. Tradition and inheritance are extremely foremost to Swedish culture and there are many traditions which are widely upheld. In most former Swedish homes, the smell of home baked foods and desserts fill the air at Christmas time. The Swedes easily love to cook and for many, the holiday season and the Christmas Eve celebration is the highlight of their year.

One recipe, which is very favorite in Sweden, is for a cookie called the Pepparkakor.

Cookie Recipes

Pepparkakor, easily translated, means "pepper cookies" but I've yet to see a recipe that included any pepper. They are similar to the American gingersnap cookie but they are ordinarily thinner, crisper and smoother in texture.

Many refer to this cookie as a "ginger thin" and they are ordinarily called "gingernuts" in the United Kingdom. Also their great taste, pepparkakor cookies are used as Christmas decorations as well. They are often shaped like little men or women, pigs, hearts or goats. If left round, they are decorated with frosting to give them more character.

Using a drinking straw, you can originate a small hole in the pepparkakor cookie prior to baking. After the cookie has cooled, tie the cookie to the Christmas tree with a beautiful white or red colored ribbon.

Swedish Christmas Cookies or Pepparkakor

Makes 2-3 dozen cookies (depending on shape/size)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup molasses

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

8 ounces butter

2/3 cup water

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 egg

1 tablespoon light (or dark) corn syrup

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

Preparation:

The dough should be well-chilled before baking. You can whether start a day early and chill overnight, or start making ready 1-2 hours before the cookies will be needed.

In a heavy pot, combine the molasses, sugars, spices and water. Turn the heat up and bring the compound to a boil while stirring frequently.

Add the butter to the compound (in pads or chunks) and remove the pot from the heat. Continue stirring the compound until the butter has melted and the compound is uniform in consistency. Pour the hot compound into a large mixing bowl. In someone else bowl, combine the flour, corn syrup, egg and baking soda and whisk until well-blended. combine with the hot compound and stir until the dough has formed. Place the dough on a lightly floured board and knead for 1-2 minutes. Wrap the dough in waxed paper and chill until the dough is firm (1-2 hours or overnight).

On a lightly floured board, roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch in thickness (the thinner, the crisper) and whether cut into shapes or make round cookies about 2 inches in diameter. Put the cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake for 8-10 minutes until they are golden brown. remove the cookie sheet from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool.

About the only thing left to do is to enjoy these breathtaking Swedish Christmas cookies with the ones you love... Enjoy!

Swedish Christmas Cookies - A method To Make Pepparkakor

Monday, December 12, 2011

recipe For Cut Out Cookies - perfect For Valentine's Day, Christmas and Other Holidays & Date Bars

Cookies are excellent for anytime of the year. They are especially favorite with kids and at holiday times. This method is a great one to add to your files. They make excellent hearts for Valentine's Day, Wedding Showers, Bridal Luncheons, Anniversary Parties, Mother's Day, etc. They are also excellent at Christmas for trees, Santas, stockings, etc. Easter Bunnies and Crosses, Shamrocks, Flags, Ghosts, Pumpkins, Cornocopias, etc. Whatever the occasion, this cookie method will work for you. For a totally distinct type of cookie, try the Date Sticks.

Cut-Out Cookies Recipe
2/3 cup Butter Flavor Crisco
3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp + 1 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Cookie Recipes

Cream Crisco, sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in egg. Join flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix into creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll half the dough at a time to about 1/8-inch thickness on floured surface. Cut in desired shapes. Place cookies 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Sprinkle with colored sugar and decors or leave plain to frost when cool. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 to 9 minutes. Cool slightly. Remove to cooling rack.

Makes practically 3 dozen average-sized cookies.

Date Sticks
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup finely chopped nuts
1 cup dates, cut into small pieces
granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all the ingredients together in a medium bowl; mix well. Spread in a greased jelly roll pan or a cookie sheet with sides. Bake in a 350 degree for about 30 minutes. When cool, cut into bars and roll them in sugar.

recipe For Cut Out Cookies - perfect For Valentine's Day, Christmas and Other Holidays & Date Bars

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Kids Christmas Recipes

With the Festive season just colse to the projection you may be looking for some Kids Christmas Recipes, that you can cook for or with your kids.

There for real is no great time than the festive season to get in the kitchen cooking with your kids. Christmas is steeped in traditions and flavors, like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and of procedure lashings of hot chocolate.

Cookie Recipes For Kids

Kids love to bake and enjoy nothing more than making gifts that house and friends can eat. Lebkuchen are primary German Christmas Cookies and my children love to decorate these with white icing and silver balls. Sugar Mice and Coconut Ice are ideal gift ideas.

We have another house popular Christmas recipe Chocolate Cherry Fudge.

Starry Mince Pies

Mince Pies are primary at Christmas, this recipe will make approx 12 pies.

250g Plain Flour
150g Cold Butter, extra for greasing
Cold water to mix, allow between 1 to 1 1/2 tsp per 25g of flour
1/4 Level tsp Salt
350g Mincemeat
Beaten Egg for brushing
Sifted Icing Sugar

Pre-Heat your oven to 190c/375f/Gas Mark 5.

For the pastry:-

1. Sift the flour and the salt into a bowl.
2. Add the butter, cut into the flour with a knife then rub with your fingertips. When rubbed sufficiently, the combination should look like fine breadcrumbs.
3. Sprinkle the water over the crumbs, mix to stiff crumbly-looking paste with round-ended knife.
4. Draw together with fingertips, turn out on to lightly floured board. Knead quickly until flat and crack-free.

Building the Pies:-

1. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface,using an 8cm round cutter stamp out 12 circles.
2. Grease your muffin tin and line with your pastry circles.
3. Using a teaspoon put equal amounts of mincemeat into each pastry case.
4. With your remaining pastry using a small star cutter cut out your stars.
5. Place your stars in the town of the pie and brush with a little beaten egg.
6. Bake in the town of the oven for 20-25 minutes (or until golden brown)
7. Take off from the tins and dredge thickly with sifted icing sugar.

The mince pies can be served warm, with whipped cream or custard, you could also decorate with other festive shapes depending on your cookie cutters.

Whether you are looking for Kids Christmas sweetmeat Recipes or Easy Kids Christmas Cookies Recipes I have put together some house popular Xmas Treats and Kids Christmas Recipes.

Kids Christmas Recipes

Monday, December 5, 2011

Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes - Chocolate Drizzled Cherry Bars

These impressive looking cookies will make a splash at any gathering.

2 cups all purpose flour

Cookie Recipes

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups butter, softened

1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 teaspoon shortening

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar and butter until crumbly. Set aside 1 1/2 cups for topping. Press the remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges begin to brown.

In another bowl, combine the pie filling and extract; carefully spread over the crust. Sprinkle with the reserved crumb mixture.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the edges of the topping are lightly browned.

In a microwave or heavy saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over warm bars. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Makes 36 bar cookies.

=> Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes: Heavenly Caramel Cookies

A delicious cookie featuring spices, nuts, coconut and marshmallows.

12 graham crackers

2 cups miniature marshmallows

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup flaked coconut

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with foil.

Place graham crackers inside the pan; cover with marshmallows.

In a saucepan, cook and stir butter, brown sugar and cinnamon over medium heat until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla. Spoon over the marshmallows.

Sprinkle with almonds and coconut. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes or until browned. Cool completely. Cut into 2-inch squares, then cut each square in half to form triangles.

Makes 72 cookies.

=> Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes: Minty Meringue Drop Cookies

These light as air cookies are perfect for the holidays.

2 egg whites

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

3/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 to 6 drops green food coloring, optional

1 pkg. mint chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat 250 degrees.

Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper; set aside.

In a large bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add cream of tartar, beating until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla and food coloring. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until dry to the touch. Cool.

Makes 30 cookies.

Note: If you cannot find mint chocolate chips, place 2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips and 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract inside a plastic bag. Seal the bag and toss chips until coated. Let chips sit for 24 to 48 hours before using.

Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes - Chocolate Drizzled Cherry Bars

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Quick Christmas Cookie Recipes - Easy Fruitcake Bar Cookies

Instead of a big, heavy fruitcake, serve these delicious cookies.

3/4 cup butter, softened

Cookie Recipes

1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

3 cups walnuts, coarsely chopped

1 1/2 cups candied pineapple, coarsely chopped

1 3/4 cups red and green cherries, halved

2 cups pitted dates, halved

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Prepare a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Lightly sprinkle pan with flour.

In a bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour and walnuts; mix well.

Spread mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle walnuts, pineapple, cherries and dates on top; press lightly into dough.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

Makes 96 bar cookies.

=> Quick Christmas Cookie Recipes: Quick Holiday Cookies

Whip up these fun cookies anytime you need to make cookies in a hurry.

1 (9 oz.) pkg. yellow cake mix

2/3 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 egg

1/2 cup red and green holiday M&Ms, or butterscotch chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a bowl, combine the cake mix, oats, butter and egg; beat well. Stir in the M&Ms or chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2-inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until browned. Remove from pan immediately and let cool completely.

Makes 24 cookies.

=> Quick Christmas Cookie Recipes: Easy Peppermint Cookies

These tasty cookies are sprinkled with peppermint candy.

2/3 cup butter flavored shortening

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup peppermint candies, crushed

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.

In a bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar; beat in the egg.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Fold in peppermint candy.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookie edges begin to brown. Remove from pan and let cool completely.

Makes 36 cookies.

Quick Christmas Cookie Recipes - Easy Fruitcake Bar Cookies

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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Christmas Decoration Ideas for Kids (and Parents)

As a parent you already know just how much kids love the holidays. One of the things they love is helping you decorate for Christmas. Most children love to make their own handmade Christmas decorations, and there are a number of fun and exciting Christmas decorations that they can easily make.

There are a number of ways to make Christmas ornaments. Christmas ornaments can be made from regular paper or any other type of material. In fact, you can purchase a number of Christmas ornament cutouts or guides from your local craft store. These ornament pieces are likely plain, but already shaped like something, such as a star or a cross which the child can then paint. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is great for small children or those who may be making their own Christmas decorations for the first time.

Cookie For Kids

Your children can also easily make their own Christmas paintings or drawings, often with the supplies that can already be found inside your home. You can then put it on your refrigerator or you could even frame the picture and hang it up somewhere else or give it to a grandparent as a Christmas gift. You can also have the child draw on a large sheet of paper or stamp it and use it as wrapping paper. This makes a double gift. This type of Christmas decoration craft project is ideal for children of any age and is a great way to save money since you likely already have all of the needed supplies. Many newspaper offices will sell end rolls of blank newsprint which is ideal for making wrapping paper.

Another fun Christmas project that your children could do is to make a centerpiece for your dining room table, or individual place cards. You children will be thrilled if you use that centerpiece for your Christmas dinner. The children can create a somewhat elegant centerpiece, with artificial flowers, a large bowl or vase, some Christmas balls, as well as other decorative items. Your children can easily arrange these items to create their own unique centerpieces for your dining room table. If your children are a little older, they may be able to create a centerpiece in the shape of an Angel, a Santa or a Christmas tree by using construction paper and a few other small supplies.

Making a gingerbread house together is also fun. It is important that the house be constructed the day before so that the icing will have a chance to harden, but the children can have a wonderful time decorating the gingerbread house. It can even be used as a centerpiece for a Christmas display and then the children can eat it later.

Another similar idea is to take Social Tea Biscuits and make them into a small house, putting a ribbon between the seam of the roof top. It takes 7 cookies to make a house, a little Royal Icing, a ribbon loop long enough to hang over a tree branch, and some imagination to decorate it. These can be take home or eat gifts for children who visit your home around Christmas. Hang several on the Christmas tree.

There are a number of places online where you will be able to Christmas craft projects for kids. You can find a collection of ideas by performing a standard internet search. Also, your local library will no doubt have some Christmas Craft books. Your local book stores will also have a collection of Christmas craft books for children. These books tend to outline the supplies needed, as well as give detailed directions on how to make the Christmas decorations. These decorations may include Christmas drawings or paintings, tree ornaments, table centerpieces, and much more.

Regardless of which type of Christmas decorations you allow your child or children to make, they will likely enjoy the experience, especially if you participate as well. For a child, there is nothing like seeing their Christmas drawings hanging on the walls or their Christmas ornaments hanging on the tree.

Christmas Decoration Ideas for Kids (and Parents)

Fran is a mom and grandmom who currently works as a Career/Employment Counsellor while establishing her online business. You can find more about her on her website http://www.franwatson.ca, and you can pick up a special gift at http://www.franwatson.ca/Memories.html