Tips For A Homemade Holiday With Half The Work

Holiday preparations can be hectic and exhausting. Save yourself a little time and energy with some tips to make the festivities fun and tasty—but without as much effort. Try these homemade treats and save half the work this holiday season: 

Visit a Bakery

One of your best resources during the busy holiday season is your local grocery bakery. Here you can buy goodies, breads, cakes, and pies—rather than bake them yourself—and check some things off the to-do list. Think of the time you will save by not trying to bake everything yourself. Plus, you know the recipe will turn out right. Visit a local bakery to learn more. 

Bring a Dish

Cooking for a crowd? Why not start a new tradition of a potluck? Ask each guest or family that is attending to bring a dish or some other element that will be served during the festivities. Some organized hosts create a menu and ask guests to sign up to bring one of several specific items. This ensures there are no duplicates and that there is plenty of food for all. 

Get It To-Go

There is nothing wrong with ordering one of your meals or some of your goodies from a local restaurant to bring home for the holiday. Plus, you are contributing to a small business in your area. Plan to order your Christmas Eve snacks, holiday brunch, or Christmas Day dinner with trimmings from a local restaurant and save yourself significant work.  

Stretch It Out

Baking treats for everyone on your gift list can be daunting. When creating and gifting baked goods, line the box or bag with purchased, individually wrapped candies. Create a little nest for the goodies that you make. This allows you to stretch your homemade treat and spend less time in the kitchen, but still gift something tasty, sweet, and homemade to those you love.  

Start a Swap

A cookie swap is a great way to get together with those you love during the holidays and an easy way to stock up on treats for the upcoming holiday. There are numerous ways to pull off a cookie swap, and in some instances, the host will assign specific cookies to each guest. In other scenarios, guests are free to bring whatever kind of cookies they want, as long as they bring a plate or dozen cookies per guest, and a few extra to snack on during the event.  

Holidays can be a lot of work, but you still want to put your personal touch on the season. Lighten the load with these tips for a homemade holiday with half the work.  

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