What are YOUR Holiday Traditions? Doing any baking this holiday season?

I admit, there’s something pretty wonderful about all the cookies and tasty treats of the holiday season! Well, we’ve got some great girlfriend advice on how to make your holiday baking even more fun.

The following fab girlfriend advice is from our FREE eBook – The Girlfriendology Guide to Holiday Girlfriend Advice. (Did you get yours yet? Plus, share it with friends – it’s FREE!)

Holiday Baking Tradition, by Andi of udandi

Every year in early December, my mom, sister and I spend a day in my mom’s kitchen baking holiday sweets. I pack up an old laundry basket with my mixer, baking sheets, baking supplies and holiday plates or packing supplies. Then, we turn on the holiday music and let the fun begin!

Baking together is a holiday tradition we have held since our childhood when we would help our mom make cookies for family, coworkers and teachers. We have an old, spiral notebook with notes about the cookies we have made in years past, along with notes about the ease of baking those cookies, recipes that share similar ingredients and popularity of each treat. This notebook is a wonderful treasure – not just for the practical information but for the memories! As a librarian with access to so many cookbooks, I’m always searching for the next great holiday treat that matches our baking interests.

Since my dad’s only claim to baking is taste testing, he is given fair warning to stay out of the kitchen for the better part of the day. Although my mom’s kitchen is fair big, any with a couple of outlets for mixers, an oven, a sink and a table would work to make a great holiday baking day with sisters or a couple of girlfriends. Even my own small kitchen meets the bill.

At the end of the day after we have cleaned up the kitchen and put away every pot, baking sheet and measuring cup, we stand back and admire our work and then package up the treats! We make a plate for our family Christmas gathering, a small package to send home with Gramma (she LOVES cookies), plates for work and mom and sister takes the extras in containers for those last-minute situations that always crop up.

I do not need the temptation of having cookies at my house, so I take my portion and give to friends. I bring cellophane bags, pretty red and white ribbon and tags and then wrap the treats into lovely packages. On my way home, I put on the holiday tunes and drive around to friends’ house doing what I’ve cleverly called Cookie Drop. Since the holiday season is busy, I rarely catch my friends at home, but that is the best part. I leave the pretty package of cookies on their doorstep, take a photo on my phone (I love blending old and new) and send the photo and text letting them know to check the front door when they get home. I love getting the replies of warm holiday wishes and requests for more cookies!

Baking holiday treats with my girlfriends – my mom and sister – is a long, but rewarding day!

Andi has never met a chocolate chip cookie she did not like. By day, she is a Collection Development Librarian (fancy way of saying buys library materials) and in her spare time writes about crafts, recipes, libraries and saving money to remodel and decorate her house at udandi. (And share lunch and friendship on Lunch It/Punch It.) Like every blogger she is on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest

What’s your favorite treat to bake for the holidays? What’s your holiday tradition?

Thanks Andi for sharing! Love her idea of the Cookie Drop and sending a text/photo to let her friends know what is waiting for them – tasty treats that say ‘you’re a special, appreciated friend!’

For more great Holiday Girlfriend Advice check out our FREE eBook – The Girlfriendology Guide to Holiday Girlfriend Advice. And have a HAPPY HOLIDAY Girlfriends!

*** Girlfriend shares her Banana Bread recipe