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December 22, 2024

Michael Sullivan/NYT Wirecutter

	By Isoke Samuel Isoke is a newsletters producer at Wirecutter.

I’m the youngest of six children in a boisterous, everyone-is-in-everyone’s-business kind of family. And each of us has a distinct role during the holidays. My eldest sister is the master decorator, in charge of making the house look as festive as possible. My middle sister, the most talented cook out of all of us, is head chef. Maybe it’s because I’m the baby, but I’ve always been the tradition maker.

As a kid, I got my mom to let me sprinkle reindeer food outside on Christmas Eve. Another year, I listened to Nat King Cole sing “The Christmas Song” so many times I became convinced the holidays wouldn’t be the same without roasting chestnuts on an open fire (er, in our oven, on a baking sheet). But perhaps the most impactful tradition I started is the ambitious Family Cookie Night I now host every year.

Family Cookie Night started when I was a broke college student—I was the last sibling by a long shot to start making enough money to buy actual holiday gifts. So I sneaked out to the grocery store two days before Christmas, loaded up on supplies, and surprised my entire family with a kitchen counter full of flour, sugar, frosting, and sprinkles. I had a simple mission statement: Let’s all take the time to bake some cookies together.

READ THE GUIDE

The best cookie baking gear→

If you find yourself in a similar position, or you’re just desperately searching for a last-minute—but not thoughtless—gift, consider giving your family a new holiday tradition.

That rowdy night of baking ended up being far more meaningful than the haul of cheap gifts I could have afforded. And now, nearly a decade later, it’s an integral part of our holidays. Sure, the kitchen is packed, but that’s half the fun. Christmas music blares as we loudly debate what movie to watch later. And I always try to cajole everyone into playing a board game as the cookies bake, mainly for the joy that comes from hearing my nephew (poorly) dodge accusations of cheating.

We bicker, we laugh, and we eat cookies. It’s cheesy and obvious, but true: It’s not really about the cookies. It’s about getting everyone together.

The tradition you start doesn’t have to be cookies, of course. Think of an activity that your whole crew would get excited about. Load up thermoses with hot apple cider and spend an evening driving around your neighborhood taking in the lights; build gingerbread houses together; or if you’ve been blessed with snow, how about an epic family snowman competition?

Then, choose a night to schedule it, gather the materials you need, and be completely and totally in charge of making it happen. Send a text to the group chat (or if you’re fancy, a Partiful invite) with the details. Amidst the chaos of the holidays, give everyone a moment they don’t have to plan. The ringleading is your gift. Think of it as a way to extend joy this season—without the pressure of purchasing something material.

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Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; food styling by Maggie Ruggiero

High-quality butter can be the key to making perfectly textured, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread, or delicious, spreadable frosting you can eat with a spoon. To find the best grocery store butters, our kitchen experts tested dozens of options—and found one that’s satisfyingly smooth, luxuriously creamy, and genuinely delicious.

The best butter→

Why you should store your cookies with a slice of bread And more tips for transporting your precious holiday goods→

Can’t get an even bake? This “toast test” can help. It will give you a more accurate picture of the hottest and coolest parts of your oven→

A delicious chocolate we love for baking Plus: It’s safe for people with allergies→

Rozette Rago/NYT Wirecutter

Yes, you could host a delightful family game night with the classics like Scrabble or Monopoly. But why not mix it up this year? We have recommendations ranging from the complex and strategic to the simple and beautiful—games that’ll suit just about any kind of player.

Add these to your game night rotation→

Psst: Our friends at NYT Cooking have gathered some of their best Christmas cookies for you.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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