Overview
Even Santa had a fleet of little helpers. Let your kids, nieces, nephews and neighbors be part of the holiday prep this year. With these ideas from eHow Food, put your excited little ones to work and get some help in the kitchen to create a truly heartwarming holiday.
Get Creative with the Cookie Cutters
Make sure you have creative cookie cutters on hand because the most important part of this recipe is the cutouts. You can involve the kiddies in the baking, or you can make the dough ahead of time and let them form the cookie shapes themselves. - in association with Rachael Ray
Let Them Add Their Own Frosted Flair
Let the little ones express their inner artist by having them decorate their own sugar cookies. Fun for them and stress-free for you (you can cross "decorate holiday cookies" off your to do list), this is the perfect compromise for the young baker and hassled host. - in association with Rachael Ray
Dip and Decorate Pretzels
Have the kids help make this sweet and salty snack. With a bag of pretzels, some melted chocolate and any other candies you have on hand, you are just a few dunks away from festive pretzels. - in association with Rachael Ray
Related: Watch Sweet and Salty Chocolate-Covered Pretzels in HD
Homemade Chocolate Truffles
Get everyone into aprons and make sure your counter tops are cleared -- these truffles look beautiful when they are finished but the making gets messy. Kids will love the opportunity to stick their hands into chocolate (under parental supervision), just be on the lookout for any furtive finger-licking. - in association with Rachael Ray
Pumpkin Painting
Washable paint and non-permanent markers can be used instead of spray paint to make Evette Rios's pumpkin decorating ideas more kid (and furniture) friendly. Arts and crafts for them, heartwarming decorations for you, this is a win-win all around. - in association with Rachael Ray
Related: Watch Fall Decorating: 3 Ways to Use Pumpkins in HD
Personalize Your Mashed Potatoes
Let your kitchen helpers feel extra special by setting them up with their very own "potato mashing station." Let them mash away happily while you finish roasting or seasoning the other sides and with any luck, they will channel their excess sugar-rush energy into the perfect side dish. - in association with Rachael Ray
Easy "Elephant Ear" Palmiers
All you have to do is buy the premade dough, help the kids fold the "elephant ears" and man the oven until they brown. Ten minutes later, watch the look of wide-eyed wonder as you pull Heather's pretty French pastries out of the oven and show your beginning bakers what they just created. - in association with Rachael Ray
Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies
A playground favorite year-round, these rich cookies are easy for little hands to mold and will please grown-ups just as much. - in association with Rachael Ray
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