This post was created in collaboration with Bed Bath & Beyond.
You know how every year I decide that I’m going to actually put some effort into my Halloween costume, and then every year end up procrastinating and digging the cat ears out of storage? And then I swear that the next year will be different, and it’s not?
Same thing with holiday parties. When the season starts up, I always declare that this will be the year that I will throw a lovely holiday cocktail party with thematic drinks, Christmassy music, pretty decorations, and possibly even costumes (I usually declare this to Kendrick, who is kind enough to support my enthusiasm while sidestepping the fact that I never follow through on these plans). And then I don’t do it.
Or maybe I do, but the party ends up being more “Merry Christmas, here is a beer and perhaps a candy cane” than a true Christmas Cheer Explosion.
Which brings me to yet another really lovely thing about having a toddler: you actually start following through on plans that have to do with seasonal celebrations, mostly because you want so much to create beautiful memories for him. Last weekend we had planned to have a couple of friends come over with their kids, and I realized that it presented the perfect opportunity for an actual holiday celebration…cookie decorating stations, lit-up wreaths, favors for the kids and all.
I even found a radio station that plays indie-band versions of Christmas Carols.
Part of what’s stopped me from doing this in the past is the intimidation factor of planning out things like activity tables and thematic decor – it just seems like such a chore. Bed Bath & Beyond, as it turns out, is the only place you need to go to pick up everything – literally everything – you (or at least I) need (click here to check out their holiday shop).
Pretty plates for display purposes, cute snowman plates for decorating. Gingerbread houses. Sprinkles and cookie pans and icing.
Wreathed candles and gold placemats and gorgeous branch-like napkin rings and the best cherry-red Le Creuset mugs ever.
Dad’s Root Beer, for Dad.
Sock monkey ornaments, for the kids.
A pistachio-colored Kitchenaid stand mixer that I credit entirely with the success of these cookie batches, because it certainly wasn’t any skill on my part that made them so delicious.
While my cookie-decorating skills leave something to be desired, I have to tell you: these were good. Like, so good that I had to hide them from Kendrick in the hours leading up to the party.
(Recipe adapted from AllRecipes.com; makes 30 cookies)
What You Need:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
What You Do:
1. In a stand mixer (or beating by hand), cream butter and sugar until light and smooth. Beat in eggs (one at a time) and vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually mix flour mixture into butter mixture. Chill at least one hour.
3. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/4″ thick. Cut into shapes (I used a holiday-themed cavity tray) and bake at 400F for 8 minutes.
Happy Holidays!
