Five Fun Ways To Make Holiday Memories Together In The Kitchen

NC – In most houses, fresh-from-the-oven cookies don’t last long – especially around the holidays. What does last however, are the memories shared with loved ones baking in a warm kitchen and the satisfaction of enjoying a delicious treat (or two!) made from scratch.

Anna Olson, celebrity chef and host of Food Network Canada’s Bake with Anna Olson, knows just how great spending time in the kitchen can be at this time of year.

“Holiday baking always stirs up memories for me of spending time with my loved ones,” says Olson. “Laughing over spilt ingredients, sneaking a bit of chocolate here and there, watching cookies rise and smelling the sweet aroma of sugar, butter and vanilla.”

To make your own memories this season, why not try a few of Anna’s favourite baking tips for the most festive time of the year:

1. Start with the basics. Olson suggests stocking your kitchen with essential ingredients. Keeping the basics like flour, sugar, eggs, butter, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips on hand means you are ready to start baking at any time.
2. Make it fun. Play your favourite music or holiday tunes to really get you in a festive spirit. Singing and dancing around the kitchen can be just as fun as the baking process.
3. Get inspired. Instead of adding just regular chocolate chips, for example, brighten up the cookies with different flavours, like the variety offered by Hershey’s Chipits. Having fun ingredients in your pantry will help avoid a baking rut.
4. Change it up. When it comes to holiday baking we often think of the classics, like decorated sugar and gingerbread cookies, but know that you can branch out and try something modern like cake pops, or whoopie pies with a holiday twist.
5. Or keep it simple. Never underestimate the power of a chocolate chip cookie. Wonderful memories can be made even over the simplest recipe.

Additional information and baking inspiration can be found at www.hersheyskitchens.ca.