The holidays are fast approaching, and with the turn of the season and the change in the weather comes the time to bring out the festive ornamentation once again. While many households are set to bring their trees, wreaths, menorahs, and more out of retirement, here are some fun ways to elevate your festive decor before winter rolls around — using supplies you can find in your kitchen cabinets.
These festive treats are sure to turn a basic holiday season into a fun-filled winter, and are easy enough to make that they can double as a bonding activity that the entire family can enjoy. Happy crafting, and happy holidays!
Popcorn & Cranberry Garlands
A timeless homemade decoration perfect to adorn a doorway, fireplace, or Christmas tree, these garlands are simple to make and only require four things: popcorn, cranberries, string, and a needle. Simply thread the ingredients together, like TikTok creator Authentically Tiffney does in her video, to create a basic but classy accent for your home that will give your unadorned doors a festive twist for the holidays.
Dried Citrus Slice Garlands
Not a fan of the classic popcorn and cranberry? Not a problem — TikTok creator fair.freckled.friend shows how to craft a garland made out of dried citrus. To make this, cut slices of any citrus of your choosing, sprinkle them with salt to remove moisture and prevent browning, and then bake them at 175 degrees for four to six hours until they dry out, flipping every hour. String the slices onto a piece of twine, and your garland is complete.
Cookie Ornaments
To craft a winter delicacy like TokTok creator Michele Chung, cut cookie dough into whatever festive shape you desire. Then, poke a hole in the top before baking, so that a ribbon or thread can be inserted for easy hanging. Once your cookies have baked and cooled, top them with royal icing to decorate, and let them sit and dry. These fun holiday treats will be a perfect addition to your tree!
Snow Globe Cookie
A cute, three-dimensional twist on a simple holiday treat, these snow globe cookies originated by TikTok creator Jenn Ordway are sure to stun and will be the perfect addition to a mantle or windowsill. Start by baking sugar cookies, then piping on white icing to make snow peaks. Then, add in rosemary sprigs for Christmas trees, top with icing decorations of your choice, and cover with a half of a clear ornament to create the globe topper.
Cake Pop Christmas Tree
This edible tree is great for a larger family or party, as it makes a delicious and easy pull-apart dessert like TikTok creator SaraGalloWilson crafted for the holidays. You’ll need a foam base in the shape of a tree to start. Then, prepare your cake mix and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Once the cake is cooled and out of the oven, crumble it and mix it with frosting, and roll it into balls to create your cake pops. Then, freeze them for an hour, put a lollipop stick in them and coat them in icing, and stick the finished pops into your foam base to make the perfect sweet treat to share.