Holiday Baking 2014

Holiday cookies – one of the best things about the holiday season! They are the perfect reason to get family together, and they make a great gift for co-workers and friends. But, with all the hustle and craziness that come with any holiday, baking can begin to feel more like a chore. So, I put some thought into how to make your life easier and how to keep baking something that you look forward to doing. My solution? Planning and lists! Lists keep me sane, so I hope that some of these templates will help you, too!

Holiday Baking Plan

Use the Holiday Baking Plan to list everything you want to make and what you intend to do with it. Cookies for the holiday party at work? Dessert for a friend get-together? Candy to keep at home? Include it all, along with the date by which you need it. Then just simply check it off once you’ve baked it, as well as wrapped it and delivered it (if it’s a gift).

Grocery List

Once you’ve determined which recipes you are making, take the time to go through your pantry and take inventory of what you already have. Then use this Holiday Baking Grocery List to itemize the recipe and ingredients you’ll need to purchase, as well as how much of each you’ll need.

Baking Calendar

Use this December Holiday Baking 2014 calendar to plan out your month. Mark the dates by which you absolutely need the cookies, and mark the dates on which you can bake. Don’t try to do too many things on one day; that’s when stress starts to creep in. Follow recipe tips to see if things can be made ahead and frozen, and use that to your advantage. Enlist kids and friends to help; it’s a great way to get things done and to spend quality time together in the kitchen.

How do you stay organized during the holiday time? I’d love to hear your ideas!