Baking cookies is our family holiday tradition–here’s how to make it yours
12 months ago
In our house, we have a few holiday traditions that we hold near and dear, no matter how big my kids get. Every year, we drive around looking at holiday lights, we watch loads of Christmas movies like Elf, Home Alone, and The Grinch. And we always, always bake cookies. Some of us like sugar cookies (especially the decorating part!) and others like traditional chocolate chip or even fudge bars. Everyone participates, everyone gets to pick a recipe or two, and everyone helps clean up after! (That’s really Mom’s rule.) Plus, there’s never a quiet moment as holiday music blares in the background all day long.
How to make Christmas cookies your family’s favorite tradition
If your family has a similar tradition, or if you’re looking to start one up,, Walmart’s the place to be. They’ve got all the cookie ingredients and tools you need, and the best part is, they won’t break the bank – perfect for budget-savvy bakers! From festive cookie tins for transporting treats to your favorite teachers, to matching “cookie crew” tees for kids, to even a special plate for Santa’s cookies on Christmas Eve, Walmart has all the items necessary to start the ultimate cookie baking tradition
Must-have materials for baking the most delicious cookies
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to take inventory of the basics—do you have a stand mixer? How about good, quality cookie sheets and a cooling rack? A wooden cutting board for rolling out dough? How about trying a toaster oven for baking smaller batches? If it sounds like any of these essentials are missing, don’t worry—Walmart’s got you covered with all your cookie baking needs.
KitchenAid
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$259
If you’re in the market for a mixer that will last through all your baking endeavors, you can’t go wrong with the . This 4.5-quart tilt-head stand mixer features 10 speeds so you can gently knead, thoroughly mix and whip ingredients for a wide variety of recipes, and it comes in a fun variety of colors—how pretty is this pink one?! Plus, bonus! This mixer also comes with over 10 attachments so you can truly customize your cookie-baking experience.
The Pioneer Woman
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$22.97
You’ll need a sturdy cutting board for rolling out your dough, ready for your kids to press their Santa and stocking-shaped cookie cutters right into it! Plus, you can wash off this beautiful wood tray from The Pioneer Woman and use it for decorating and displaying your cookies too. The is multipurpose and a smart buy as you embark on your cookie-baking adventures.
Wilton
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$18.97
This one is a must-have! Not only is this huge and able to hold a whole slew of cookies, but it comes with a cooling grid too so you have a place to put those warm, gooey cookies while they set. Plus, the non-stick coating makes for easy cleanup (because you know there’s a lot of cleanup after baking cookies with kids!)
Ninja
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$129
Obviously, you can always heat up the oven for large batches of cookies, but lots of families opt for the easier air-fry / toaster-oven option, especially for smaller quantities and a bigger variety! Plus, having a smaller oven option might be more manageable for younger kids who you know want to be involved in alllllll the steps is just a good investment for your household in general as you’ll love all the cooking, baking, and air-frying options long after the holiday season is over.
Time to decorate!
Now onto the decorating! Do you have some small bowls for toppings like sprinkles and candies? How about the frosting—that one’s a must! Or maybe even a super fun kit that comes with all the decorating materials you need in one box! Make a list (check it twice!) and get all of these necessary items at Walmart, where the selection is fantastic and the low prices will have you feeling very merry!
Dave & Jenny Marrs for Better Homes & Gardens
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$31.98
HGTV fans will love this Better Homes & Gardens set as an option for organizing toppings—not only because it will help your kids see all their cookie decorating choices at once, but also, this from the show Fixer to Fabulous! This set comes with three bowls plus a tray that can be used for all your cookie decorating and then for your holiday party too—these dishes are great for dips!
Fancy Sprinkles
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$14.98
Walmart likes making life easier for us, and this is just one example! Inside you’ll find fancy decorating melts, sprinkles, and an edible glitter dusting pump. This kid-friendly decorating kit has it all—all you need to do is bring the cookies! Happy decorating!
Pillsbury
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$1.88
Obviously frosting is a cookie-decorating essential, and Pillsbury is a name we all trust. This 16 oz tub is full of delicious, easily spreadable frosting that will work with all your cookie decorating designs. Grab some of this and let your kids make holiday magic in the kitchen. (Just watch out – they might sample a bit while they’re decorating!)
Sharing your delicious cookies with everyone you love
This is the best part (well, maybe after eating a few!) Your kids will be so proud to fill a cookie tin with special treats they made and give them to teachers, grandparents, or even your mail delivery person! Platters for displaying, tins for transporting, or even a fun cookie jar for your own kitchen counter!
Fujifilm
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$49
Cookie baking and decorating is one family memory you won’t want to forget, so capture all the cutest moments on film with the Fujifilm ! Not only will you have lots of adorable snaps from your festive day in the kitchen, but your kids can even make a scrapbook or a collage afterwards. This adorable camera is a kid-favorite and comes in Lavender, Light Blue, Light Pink, Seafoam Green and Coral.
You’re going to want to display your beautiful cookies with pride, so you need festive serving platters to do so! The 2-piece from Pioneer Woman is our pick given its vintage flair and ruffled edge rim—I mean, how pretty are these?! Your cookies will truly shine and impress all your guests when you put them out on these gorgeous trays.
Baking holiday cookies is a popular family tradition because it provides fun for all ages and allows for complete creativity. Plus, you can tap into your family’s heritage (we make Swedish butter cookies every year) and incorporate the flavors you all love. And now you have gifts for everyone (gifts your kids helped create!) so you’ve checked two items off your holiday to-do list! So crank some holiday tunes, pull out your favorite recipes, and get ready for some messy fun that is 1000x worth it.
