The holidays are a season of sweets and treats, so get the kids making and baking. This handy countdown will make sure you have plenty to share with friends, neighbors and whoever else might drop by. (Maybe a jolly man in a red suit?)

1

Winter is the season for peppermints and candy canes! Make pretty and festive Peppermint Bark for a delicious dessert. Kids will love swirling the chocolate and smashing up candy canes. Instructions at americastestkitchen.com.

2

The holidays are a great time to connect with family and traditions. Call or Zoom grandpa, grandma, an aunt or uncle to learn how they make a family favorite. Creative kids might enjoy designing a family cookbook with festive dishes!

3

Travel to the North Pole. Start by baking cupcakes. Then, turn them into polar bears using frosting, coconut, marshmallows, candy eyeballs and icing. Instructions at wilton.com.

4

Time to decorate the tree — the appetizer Christmas tree. Create a cute snack using crescent rolls, cream cheese, milk, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots and cucumber for a fun and colorful way to eat veggies. Instructions at pillsbury.com.

5

For a sweet and salty snack combination, make adorable pretzel Christmas trees. Using a pretzel rod as the base, drizzle white or green candy melting chips across the pretzel to resemble a tree. Decorate with candy sprinkles and top with a candy star. Instructions at smartschoolhouse.com.

6

Half the fun of holiday treats is decorating! Make brownie pops, and decorate with red and green sprinkles or candies. Instructions at hersheyland.com.

7

Use your heritage to find a festive recipe. A Yule log is often served as a dessert in France, Belgium and Switzerland. For more inspiration, find tons of recipes from around the world at cookingtheglobe.com.

8

Create and decorate ornaments using Oreos, vanilla candy coating, miniature Reese’s Cups, miniature candies, sprinkles and frosting. Instructions at blog.candiquik.com.

9

Make a wreath-shaped appetizer with cheese cubes, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper and rosemary. Instructions at fivehearthome.com.

10

Get creative with candy! To make a candy wreath, use colorful ribbon to attach wrapped candy to a wire wreath frame. Use glue or toothpicks to attach treats to a Styrofoam form to make a tree – think gumdrops, green M&Ms or peppermint candies. Use candy canes and candy bars to create Santa’s sleigh – find directions at bettycrocker.com.

11

Shine bright by making and decorating Rice Krispie treats for a holiday spin using stars. Use frosting, decorating gel and candy for treats the whole family will have fun decorating. Instructions at ricekrispies.com.

12

Hot chocolate is the best way to warm up on a chilly winter night, but why not try your hand at a homemade version? It’s easier than you think – all you need is cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, water and milk. Find full instructions at scholastic.com.

Looking to make the holidays easier? These cooking and baking kits for kids are a great place to start.

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