My family gathered together this past Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate an old tradition of baking lots and lots of cookies that we will continue to enjoy throughout the holiday season. Everyong picked a recipe or two, and we all got together and baked all day long, helping each other, and getting to talk and enjoy each others’ company along the way.

It was a very tiring process, but I think we all had fun. It was a different way for our family to spend some time together, and make lots of tasty treats. If you and your family are considering doing a big cookie baking day, I learned a few things along the way, and will share with you so you can avoid making the same mistakes:

Tips for hosting a cookie baking marathon

• Collaborate ahead of time, and know exactly what recipes you will be preparing at least a couple of days ahead.
• Based on that list, buy your supplies in bulk. With having all the recipes, you will know quantities to purchase. We did not prepare as well, and had bags and bags, of flour, sugar, and chocolate chips left over.
• At least by the day before, you should carefully read through each recipe, and decide on an order for preparing each. This is extremely important, because some recipes require things to sit for an hour or two prior to baking. You may also want to order recipes based on cooking temperature, so you don’t constantly have to wait for the oven to cool or heat. If you are going to spend all day baking, you want to make the most efficient use of your time as possible.
• some things like dipping buckeyes, require quick action so that the ball stays cold enough, and the chocolate stays warm enough. If you set out a plan ahead of time, you can arrange for a couple of people to be free for dipping all at once to make it go faster.
• Make sure you can have as many free tables/counter-tops, cookie sheets, and cooling racks as possible.
• Have lots of Tupperware or cookie tins ready for the onslaught of treats that will be awaiting them at the end of the day.
• Try to have one person washing dishes pretty much the whole time. But, alternate who gets to be the unlucky one.

Of course, there is also the option of the cookie swap, where each person bakes their own goodies ahead of time, and simply brings them to trade the day of the get together. Personally, I enjoyed getting to take part in making each set of cookies, and found that to be more rewarding, but it truly does make for an exhausting day. Regardless of whether you choose to bake together, or just swap goodies, the real purpose of the whole thing is to spend time together with your friends and family. Isn’t that what the holiday season is all about?