Create-Celebrate-Explore

Hot Chocolate Reindeer Ornament Craft

Looking for a last-minute gift idea that also makes a great stocking stuffer? 

Marisol and Flynn handed these out to their classmates today at school.

What you need:

• Clear ornament
• Pom pom - red
• Googly eyes
• Pipecleaner - brown
• Glue
• Hot chocolate mix
• Mini marshmallows - I found mini chocolate ones at Target

To make:

Remove the top off the clear ornament.

Combine the hot chocolate mix and mini marshmallows in a large jug.  Using a funnel, slowly add the mixture into the clear ornament until filled just below the top.  Place the top back on the ornament.

Using the glue attach the pom pom nose and googly eyes.  Twist a brown pipcleaner into the shape of antlers around the top.

Tip: Don't forget to include a note letting the recipient know that the ornament contains hot chocolate and mini marshmallows.

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Happy Holidays!

Kidzui: Reindeer Cookies

Have you seen the new Oreo's with red crème centers? Oh my goodness, they are so yummy.

I have the instructions to make cute reindeer cookies out of them over at Kidzui. Head on over and say hello.

5 Tips for Hosting a Holiday Cookie Decorating Party for Kids

Looking for a fun holiday party theme for kids? How about a cookie decorating party. This is a great activity that kids will love in classrooms, with neighborhood friends, and at family get-togethers this holiday season.

Party Set-up

Set up your cookie decorating party table before guests arrive. Here are a few tips to not only make your party more environmentally friendly, but also for quick clean-up after the party ends.

• Place sheets of packing paper (or butcher's paper) over the table for quick and easy clean-up
• Use environmentally friendly plates and knives, preferably those that can be washed and used again, but if you decide to go with disposable tableware then make sure they are made from recycled or natural materials such as bamboo.
• Silicone baking cups are perfect for placing toppings and candies in front of each of the place settings.
• Place cookie icing into re-usable dispensers. This makes it easier for children to pipe small amounts of icing onto cookies to make eyes, and decorations instead of just using a knife to spread it all over.

Apron

Supply each of the children with an apron to prevent their clothing from being covered in icing and sticky candy.

If you really want to get creative, use fabric paint and alphabet stencils to place each of the children's names on their apron.

Cookies

Provide the kids with a couple of different options for cookie decorating such as circles, stars, Christmas trees, and gingerbread men.

Circular sugar cookies are perfect for cookie decorating because they can be made into a number of things including Santa, a snowman, baubles, or you could create a fun Christmas scene on one.

Beverages and Snacks

Provide your little guests with milk and healthy snacks to enjoy while they are decorating.

A Snowy Trail Mix is the perfect snack for busy fingers who want to decorate and eat at the same time.

In a large bowl combine:

• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Dried cranberries
• Cashews
• Your child's favorite cereal

Treat Bags

Don't forget to provide all of the children with a treat box (or bag) to take their cookies home.

And most of all, have fun!

 

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Holly Cupcakes

Remember when I made the ice cream cake for Jay's birthday?  Well there was a little leftover cake mix so I filled a few silicone baking cups and made cupcakes to decorate with the little ones.

We also had leftover candy from decorating the gingerbread house, and with a constant supply of icing in our refrigerator I decided we should try decorating our cupcakes with holly leaves.  I found a large box of Christmas cookie cutters in the garage that I'd purchased after last Christmas on clearance and by chance there was a holly leaf cutter in there so I popped out to the craft store and purchased a sheet of Wilton edible decorating paper.  I thought I would be able to us cut the paper with the cookie cutter, but that wasn't possible so I used my X-ACTO knife to trace around the cookie cutter to make the holly leaves instead. 

You can find the cupcake recipe here.

UPDATE: The things you learn.  If you leave the sheet of edible paper out of the package for a while it does soften so you will be able to use the cookie cutter.  To make the leaves stand up place them lower toward the front of the icing and press the base into the icing slightly.

Multiples and More: Santa Belt Treat Cups

Looking for a fun craft project that you can use for holiday parties, or cookie and gingerbread house decorating?  Take a look at these:

Miss M helped me make them.  I have the tutorial over at Multiples and More so head on over there.  And what did my kids use them for?

That's right, the toppings for their gingerbread house.

Sweet Creations Peppermint Bark

Want to make a delicious holiday treat for teachers, neighbors, or friends this holiday season?  Take a look at these:

I simply adore peppermint bark, but this is such a fun way to make it and is so easy to do.

What you need:

• Good Cook Brittle and Bark Mold
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• Peppermint candy canes
• 2 tbs vegetable shortening

Melt the chocolate chips according to the package directions, then add in 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening to each and stir.

Pour the chocolate into the baking mold and smooth it out.  Pour the white chocolate over the top and smooth that out too. 

Crush the candy canes in a bag with a rolling pin and sprinkle them on top.

Place in the freezer until set.

Once set turn it over and peel off the baking mold.  Doesn't this look amazing?

Then using a sharp knife separate each of the peppermint bark blocks.  If you cut the block evenly (kind of like using a saw) you won't risk cracking through one of the blocks.

Then wrap each piece in parchment paper and place inside a holiday treat envelope.  The ones that I used are part of the new Sweet Creations line from Good Cook.

It's as easy as this to make fabulous homemade gifts this holiday season:

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• Website: www.goodcook.com
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Enter the Good Cook Sweet Creations Bake, Create & Give Holiday Sweepstakes on Pinterest and Facebook and you could win fabulous prizes.

You can also win a Good Cook Sweet Creations bakeware pack right here.  Just follow the directions below to enter.

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Disclosure: As a Good Cook Preferred Blogger I was provided with a Sweet Creations gift pack.