Baking can be a fun activity to do by yourself or with friends during the holidays, no matter your skill level. Especially with friends, baking over the holidays is a fun activity to learn something new.

From prepping dough in advance and checking if your ingredients are still good, numerous tips are good to know before jumping in to baking.

Simple and easy recipes are a good choice to ensure good results. “…maybe something easy… sugar cookies or like a simple cake or something,” said freshman Anh Nguyen. Recipes with limited ingredients, steps, and prep are best to start with for beginners.

“Definitely rice krispies. All you need is marshmallows and cereal. You don’t even need butter because it tastes good even without. Some other things I would recommend…brownies because it’s just chocolate, definitely get yourself a good pan for that and all in all you don’t have to bake to have a good time in winter break and just hang out with friends and you’re all set,” said freshman Sarah Park.

Additional simple recipes include peppermint bark cookies, sugar cookies, or a simple iced cake. While they may seem plain, additions of toppings and festive decorations are easy ways to spice up a delicious bake. Even if the recipe is simple, there are still many problems that could be overlooked.

When making cookies, avoid overworking the dough to avoid a tough cookie. Always remember to add corn syrup to your cookies to help sprinkles and other toppings stick. If you are having trouble shaping your cookies, be creative! Use other cookie cutters to help make the perfect shape.

“…I enjoy baking. I’ve baked cakes with my grandparents and Sarah before,” said freshman Kyra Sequiera.

Baking not only produces delicious results but also helps put you in the holiday spirit. Spending time with friends is another way to enjoy the holiday season.

While for many baking with friends may be challenging or frustrating, having extra hands can help with a more effective process. The numerous steps can be divided up for different people and to account for different skill sets.

Overall, having friends to bake with makes the experience more memorable.The holidays become special by spending time with those close to you. Learning new skills and experimenting with
your friends truly makes the holidays worth celebrating. Find a place and choose any recipe and start baking!