Christmas Magic in the Kitchen: Festive Cookies Au Pairs Can Bake With Their Host Kids
- Cheney Collins
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The holiday season is finally here, the streets glow a little brighter, houses smell like cinnamon and pine, and families all around the world gather to slow down, connect, and celebrate. For au pairs, this time of year can be extra special. It’s a chance to share your own traditions, learn new ones, and create memories with your host children that last far beyond the festive season.
And what better way to bond than with Christmas baking?
Whether your host kids are tiny helpers who like to sprinkle decorations everywhere (including the floor!) or older children who love being part of the whole process, these Christmas cookie recipes are fun, simple, and guaranteed to bring joy to your host home.
So put on those Christmas tunes, tie on your aprons, and get ready to bake some magic!
1. Classic Gingerbread Cookies
A Christmas staple! These cookies are perfect for decorating with icing, sprinkles, and colourful candies.
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup butter (softened)
1 large egg
½ cup molasses or golden syrup
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
A pinch of salt
Instructions
Mix butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add the egg and molasses.
In a separate bowl, whisk dry ingredients together.
Combine wet and dry ingredients, knead lightly, and chill for 1 hour.
Roll out dough and cut into festive shapes.
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 8–10 minutes.
Kid-friendly job: Cutting shapes and decorating with icing.
2. Melt-In-Your-Mouth Shortbread Stars
These buttery, simple cookies are ideal for little hands because the dough is soft and easy to work with.
Ingredients
250g butter (soft)
½ cup icing sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Cream butter and icing sugar.
Stir in the vanilla.
Add flour and mix until a soft dough forms.
Roll out dough, cut into stars (or any shape).
Bake at 160°C (320°F) for 12–15 minutes.
Kid-friendly job: Decorating with sugar dust, sprinkles, or dipping in melted chocolate.
3. Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
This one is a showstopper, crackly on the outside, soft in the middle, and full of chocolatey, minty Christmas flavour.
Ingredients
1 cup cocoa powder
1½ cups sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp peppermint essence
½ tsp salt
1 cup icing sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
Mix cocoa, sugar, and oil.
Add eggs one at a time, then peppermint.
Stir in dry ingredients.
Chill for at least 2 hours — must be cold!
Roll dough into balls, then into icing sugar.
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes.
Kid-friendly job: Rolling balls in icing sugar (and tasting the icing sugar, obviously!).
4. Frosted Sugar Cookie Ornaments
Make cookies you can hang on the Christmas tree, the kids will LOVE this!
Ingredients
2½ cups flour
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
Instructions
Cream butter and sugar, then add egg and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients to form dough.
Roll out, cut shapes, and use a straw to poke a small hole at the top.
Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 8–10 minutes.
Decorate with icing and thread a ribbon through the hole.
Kid-friendly job: Decorating with coloured icing and threading ribbons.
Tips for Stress-Free Baking With Kids
✔ Keep recipes simple
✔ Prep ingredients ahead of time
✔ Expect mess and lots of it!
✔ Make it fun, not perfect
✔ Let them be creative
Baking isn’t just about the cookies, it’s about the laughter, the flour-covered noses, the teamwork, and the shared joy of creating something together.
A Sweet Ending
Whether you're an au pair spending your first Christmas abroad or a seasoned traveller who loves holiday traditions, baking Christmas cookies with your host kids is a wonderful way to create connection, comfort, and festive cheer.
So warm up the oven, turn up the Christmas playlist, and enjoy this magical season - one cookie at a time. 🍪✨
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