Christmas Baking: a Family Tradition

Christmas baking is a treasured tradition in our family. I’ve loved every year of baking cookies for Santa with my kids — including some savory treats, just in case Santa’s cutting the carbs this year. (I can relate!)

Christmas baking - A plate of cookies for Santa with Santa's arm in red costume and white gloves, reaching for cookies — Cookies for Santa is a Christmas baking tradition dating back at least a century. If your kids make the cookies themselves, even better!

As the kids get older, they take over the baking more and more. In fact, my 13-year-old daughter Milly is the best baker in the family now! Can you believe that?

Crisp Thin Chocolate Chip Cookies — Having fun in the kitchen with your kids is one of life’s gifts! These memories will be lasting for a lifetime.

I’m starting to look ahead to days when I’ll get to bake cookies and pies with the next generation — with whatever grandkids happen to come my way. Meanwhile, the tradition of Christmas baking is alive and well in the Harris household. This year, we’re focusing on my top 5 no-fail Christmas baking recipes:

But in case you’re looking for something else — like a simple, foolproof sugar cookie recipe — here is a roundup of my best Christmas baking recipes, for Santa and for you. I hope one or two of these recipes will start a new holiday tradition in your family!