Holiday Kid's Activity - Gingerbread Houses & Cookie Decorating

Dec 21

Written By mblife

Looking for a fun, festive activity to do with the kids during their winter break? Try something as simple as decorating a gingerbread house or making & decorating holiday cookies.Gingerbread HouseBuy a pre-made house or if you are extra enthusiastic, make your own. The one's in the pictures are from William's Sonoma. Its an awesome all inclusive kit that retails for $49.95.

If you buy a kit, it usually comes with all the necessary decorations but if you'd like to add some extra, here are a few ideas - red, green and white icing, holiday candy decorating kit, mini holiday cookies in different shapes, crushed peppermints.

Once you have your houses and decorations ready, all you need is a nice, open workspace, some holiday music and your imagination!

Holiday Cookies

Here's a great recipe for sugar cookies

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 8 Minutes

Ready In: 3 Hours

Servings: 60

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2.	Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter. Pick a few festive shapes like snowflakes, trees, stockings, reindeers, snowman and bake a few of each kind. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3.	Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.Have frosting, sprinkles and crushed peppermints on hand for decorating and let the kids have a blast.