Christmas is the perfect time to spend quality time with your family. One of the best ways to bond and make memories is by cooking together. As a parent, you can make this even more special by getting your teenagers involved in helping out in the kitchen. If you’re looking for some easy yet delicious recipes that your teens can help prepare, look no further! Let’s explore some simple yet delicious recipes that will get everyone excited about cooking this holiday season.
Classic Roast Turkey
- Turkey
- Salt & pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Onions
- Celery
This classic holiday staple is surprisingly easier than it looks. Start by preheating the oven to 350°F and preparing the turkey for roasting. Have your teens rub salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika onto the turkey’s skin before stuffing it with onions and celery, then place it in a roasting pan. Bake for 2-3 hours or until golden brown and cooked through – your teens will be proud to serve up this delicious roast turkey!2
Christmas Cookies
- 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cookies are a classic treat during any holiday season – why not whip up a batch of Christmas cookies with your teen? Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium-sized bowl and set aside. Beat sugar and butter in a separate bowl until smooth, and then beat one egg into the mixture. Once combined, beat the second egg along with vanilla extract into the mixture. Then add the flour mixture until combined; then set aside dough in the refrigerator for two hours. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grease two cookie sheets. Roll out dough, cut desired shapes, and then place on a cookie sheet. Bake in batches in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 6 to 8 minutes, and once done, place on a wire rack to cool.1
Chocolate Christmas Trifle
- 1 20-oz. box dark chocolate brownie mix (such as Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 c. canola oil
- 1/4 c. water
- 1 5-oz. box of instant chocolate pudding
- 3 c. whole milk
- 1 8-oz. package of cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 c. granulated sugar
- 2 c. heavy cream
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 14.3-oz. package of chocolate sandwich cookies, such as Oreos
- Chocolate shavings, for garnish
What better way to end off a Christmas meal than with an indulgent trifle filled with creamy layers of custard? Preheat your oven to 325 F, and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prepare brownie mix according to the box, including the egg, canola oil, and water, and also prepare the pudding as directed, using the milk, and let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a separate bowl until smooth, about 3-4 minutes. Gold about 1 cup of heavy cream into the pudding to lighten it. To assemble, cut the brownies into about 20 pieces and crush up the package of chocolate sandwich cookies. Arrange half of the brownies in an even layer in a 4-quart trifle dish. Top with half of the chocolate pudding, sprinkle with half of the cookie pieces, and top with half of the remaining whipped cream cheese. Repeat the layers once more. Garnish with chocolate shavings. Serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.3
No matter which recipe you choose, spending time together in the kitchen is one of the most memorable parts of Christmas celebrations. Involving teens in cooking up these tasty dishes will also give them valuable kitchen skills they can use throughout their lives – plus lots of fun memories! So gather around the kitchen table this holiday season as you cook up these easy but delicious recipes with your teens – Merry Christmas!
References
- Best soft christmas cookies. Allrecipes. (n.d.). Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10110/soft-christmas-cookies/
- Kitchen, F. N. (2015, October 9). Classic roast turkey. Food Network. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/classic-roast-turkey-3364110
The Pioneer Woman. (2022, October 18). This chocolate trifle is a towering masterpiece. The Pioneer Woman. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a40809835/chocolate-trifle-recipe/
