Welcome to the season of twinkling lights and heartfelt joy with 'Handcrafted Holidays: Easy and Fun Christmas Crafts and Christmas Cookies Recipes for Kids'. As the snowflakes gently fall and the jingle bells echo in the distance, it's the perfect time to engage in easy Christmas crafts for kids to make at home and create memories that last a lifetime. This blog is your ultimate guide to transforming your holiday season with fun DIY Christmas projects for young children and the entire family. Whether you're looking to spend quality time with simple and creative Christmas crafts, for Christmas tree decorations, or you're in search of quick and easy Christmas treats to cook with kids, we've got you covered. From homemade Christmas decorations that kids can craft to family-friendly Christmas baking ideas, our step-by-step tutorials are designed to make your holiday crafting and cooking both merry and bright. So, gather your little ones, and let's dive into the best Christmas crafting activities and beginner recipes that will make this festive season truly magical for everyone!
Some simple Christmas crafts for young children:
Here are some simple Christmas craft kids can easily make in 2023.
1- Christmas Tree Craft
Materials Needed:
Green construction paper/ Colorful paper for ornaments / Glitter / Glue / Scissors
Instructions:
Shape the Tree: Cut the green paper into a triangle to form the Christmas tree.
Decorate: Let children cut small circles or shapes from the colorful paper to use as ornaments. They can glue these onto the tree.
Add Sparkle: Apply glue on various parts of the tree and sprinkle glitter over it for a festive look.
Display: Once dry, the craft can be displayed on walls, doors, or windows.
This craft is easy, engaging, and allows young children to be creative with their decorations. It's a wonderful way for them to contribute to the holiday decor in a fun and safe way (The image provided visualizes this simple and fun craft idea).
2- Kids' craft project with hand-cut paper snowflakes and stars, decorated with white and silver paint and glitter.
Materials Needed:
White and silver construction paper / Scissors (safety scissors for children)/ Silver glitter / Glue or glitter glue / Paintbrushes (if using glue and loose glitter) Optional: Silver paint or markers
Instructions:
Lay out your crafting area and protect your table with newspapers or a tablecloth if necessary.
Cutting Snowflakes:
Fold a piece of white paper into a triangle by folding it in half diagonally.
Fold the triangle in half again to make a smaller triangle.
Fold the smaller triangle into thirds.
Cut out small shapes along the edges and unfold to reveal a snowflake pattern.
Making Stars:
Draw a star shape on the silver paper using a stencil or freehand.
Cut out the star shapes with scissors.
Decorating:
Use a paintbrush to apply glue on the snowflakes and stars where you want the glitter to stick.
Sprinkle silver glitter over the glue and shake off any excess.
If you have silver paint, you can paint some sections of the snowflakes or stars for added shimmer.
Allow everything to dry.
Display:
Once dry, you can hang the snowflakes and stars as decorations, or use them to decorate gifts or Christmas cards.
This craft allows kids to practice their cutting skills and creativity while making festive decorations. Remember to supervise young children with scissors and to have fun with the designs — every snowflake and star can be unique!
3- Simple Christmas Crafts / Gold bell craft suitable for kids
Materials Needed:
Paper cups (preferably in gold color, but any color will do as they will be painted) / Gold paint or gold glitter glue / Paintbrushes / Small jingle bells / Ribbon (gold or festive colors) / String or yarn for hanging / Scissors / Glue
Instructions:
Paint the Paper Cup: If the paper cup isn't gold, have the kids paint it with gold paint. If you're using glitter glue, paint the cup with a base coat of glue and then sprinkle glitter over it. Let it dry completely.
Attach the Ribbon: Cut a length of ribbon to create a bow. Glue the bow to the top of the paper cup, which will be the bottom of the bell.
Add the Jingle Bell: Thread a string through the small jingle bell and tie it inside the top part of the paper cup (which is the bottom of the cup), so the bell hangs down in the centre when the cup is inverted.
Create the Hanger: Make a loop with the string or yarn and glue it to the top of the bell (the bottom of the cup), ensuring it's secure.
Finishing Touches: Once the glue is dry, the gold bell is ready to be hung on the Christmas tree.
This craft allows children to create a charming and festive decoration with just a few simple supplies, and it can be a great addition to your Christmas tree or as a thoughtful handmade gift for family and friends.
Quick and easy Christmas treats and Christmas cookies recipes to cook with kids.
Indulge in the timeless tradition of holiday baking with our collection of family Christmas baking ideas with classic Christmas cookie recipes. From the rich, spicy notes of traditional gingerbread to the buttery sweetness of spritz cookies, each recipe is a celebration of festive flavours. Gather your aprons, warm up the oven, and prepare for a delectable journey through the joys of Christmas baking. Perfect for bakers of all levels, these recipes are designed to spread cheer and create heart-warming moments for everyone gathered around your kitchen. So, let's roll out the dough and sprinkle some magic into your holiday season with these beloved Christmas cookie classics!
1- Gingerbread Cookie Decorating
For a fun and easy family-friendly Christmas baking idea that kids will love, consider the classic activity of decorating gingerbread cookies
Materials Needed:
Pre-made gingerbread cookie dough (or your favorite recipe)
Cookie cutters in festive shapes
Rolling pin
Baking sheets
Wire cooling racks
Royal icing in various colors
Sprinkles, candies, and edible glitter for decoration
Instructions:
Roll and Cut: Roll out the gingerbread dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on a baking sheet.
Bake: Bake according to your recipe's instructions, usually around 8-10 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until the edges are just starting to brown.
Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate: Once cooled, set up a decorating station with various colors of royal icing and bowls of sprinkles and candies. Let each family member decorate their cookies with their unique designs.
Dry: Allow the icing to dry completely before storing the cookies.
Enjoy: Share and enjoy your delicious and beautifully decorated gingerbread cookies!
This activity not only creates delicious treats but also memories that will last a lifetime. It's a wonderful way to spend quality time together during the holidays and perfect for kids of all ages to get creative with their treats.
2- Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels with Festive Sprinkles
Here's a fun and easy family Christmas recipe idea for kids to enjoy: chocolate-dipped pretzels decorated with festive sprinkles. It's a no-bake treat that's perfect for little hands to help with
Ingredients:
Pretzel rods or traditional pretzel shapes
Melting chocolate or chocolate chips
Festive sprinkles (red, green, white)
Wax paper or a silicone baking mat
Instructions:
Melt Chocolate: Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
Dip Pretzels: Dip each pretzel rod into the melted chocolate, covering about half of the pretzel.
Add Sprinkles: While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the festive sprinkles over the chocolate section.
Set to Dry: Lay the chocolate-dipped pretzels on wax paper or a silicone mat and allow them to set until the chocolate hardens.
Serve: Once the chocolate is set, arrange the pretzels on a platter and serve as a sweet and salty festive treat.
3- Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Here's a fun and easy Christmas cupcake recipe idea that's perfect for baking with kids:
Ingredients:
Your favorite box of vanilla or chocolate cupcake mix (and required ingredients listed on the box, such as eggs, oil, and water)
Green food coloring
White buttercream frosting
Sprinkles, edible glitter, or colored sugar
Mini candy canes
Small edible stars or other festive cake toppers
Instructions:
Prepare the Cupcake Mix: Follow the instructions on your cupcake mix box to prepare the batter. Add a few drops of green food coloring to the mix if you want to make green Christmas tree cupcakes.
Bake the Cupcakes: Pour the batter into cupcake liners in a muffin tin and bake according to the package instructions. Let the cupcakes cool completely after baking.
Frost the Cupcakes: Once cooled, use a piping bag with a star nozzle to pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes in a spiral, starting from the outer edge and working up to a peak to create a Christmas tree shape.
Decorate: Let the kids decorate their 'Christmas tree' cupcakes with sprinkles, edible glitter, and place a mini candy cane as the 'tree trunk' by sticking it into the side of the cupcake. Top each tree with an edible star.
Enjoy: Share and enjoy your festive and delicious Christmas tree cupcakes!
4- Easy Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients:
Chocolate Cookie Dough:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
Peppermint Topping:
1 cup white chocolate chips or melting chocolate
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
Crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
For Drizzling:
1/2 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, for drizzling)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven and prepare the chocolate cookie dough by mixing the dry ingredients and then incorporating the wet ingredients to form a smooth dough.
Shape the dough into small balls and bake until they are just set.
Melt the white chocolate, stir in the peppermint extract, then dip or drizzle it over the cooled cookies.
Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top while the chocolate is still wet.
Optional: Melt dark chocolate and drizzle over the cookies for extra chocolatey goodness.
Allow the cookies to set until the chocolate hardens.
Dust with Sugar: Once cooled, dust with powdered sugar for a snowy effect, if desired.
Serve and Enjoy: Serve the peppermint chocolate cookies with a glass of milk or hot chocolate for a festive treat!
These cookies are not only delicious but also visually appealing, making them perfect for holiday gatherings or as a festive treat. This recipe is great for baking with children because it's simple and involves easy mixing, and kids will love rolling the dough into balls and crushing the peppermint candies. Plus, the result is a deliciously festive cookie that's perfect for the holiday season.
As the holiday season wraps up, we hope our collection of easy and fun Christmas crafts and recipes has filled your home with joy, creativity, and the sweet aroma of holiday baking. These activities are more than just pastimes; they are the threads that weave the fabric of cherished holiday memories with your little ones. From sparkling ornaments to scrumptious cookies, each creation has added its own sparkle to your festive celebrations. Keep these handcrafted traditions alive and may they continue to bring laughter and warmth to your family's holiday season for years to come. Happy Holidays and joyful crafting and baking to all!