1-2-3 For a Merry Christmas Eve

I love traditions, especially during the holidays. There is a calming feedback that occurs with the knowledge that, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, some things will never change. In my house, this means that the same ornaments will be placed on a lopsided pine tree and the same cracked plastic plate with a winking cartoon Santa will ferry cookies and milk to the fireplace on the night before Christmas. And because my family’s traditions include celebrating Hanukkah, it means that December is a month spent celebrating miracles, delicious food and great times we’ve spent together! 

Every family has traditions; they are how we remember times past and how we fold in our varied histories and make new memories together. Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, I will always put out cookies, milk and carrots for Santa’s reindeer. It’s a non-negotiable. I even honored this Christmas Eve tradition when I was living in Thailand! Granted, it was the first time I was also the one to, ahem, enjoy these treats after the clock struck midnight, but growing up has its perks: you can share in the traditions of everyone you love, whether you live with them or you celebrate from across the globe, and make new memories together. I may still be the one to put out cookies for Santa Clause, but I also know how hard parents and caregivers work to make the holidays special for their kids, so my trifecta of treats this year is especially tailored to busy homes  so that you have one less thing to worry about before you watch all of your careful decorating and wrapping be blown to smithereens in a few short hours. I hope you enjoy these tips to make a fuss-free plate of reindeer treats, DIY iced cookies and even a cheeky glass of eggnog to reward those 21+ at the end of a long night! 

I grew up in New England where getting the comics on Christmas morning sometimes meant skating down our ice-ridden driveway, so the reindeer definitely deserve to refuel with a handful of carrots on Christmas Eve. Either peel 2-3 extra carrots from your batch of ingredients for other holiday recipes or grab a bag of baby carrots at the store. If you’re on this page because you’re looking for quick and fuss-free ideas for Christmas Eve, the extra $1-2 dollars spent for peeled+pre washed Ready to Go carrots is worth it. 

1-2-3 for an Merry Christmas Eve:

a plate for Santa, the reindeer and a hard working elf

• A handful of carrots, peeled + cut, or use baby carrots 

• A batch of my Super Simple Sugar Cookies, LINK to recipe post

• A bottle of high-quality eggnog. I recommend Arethusa Farms located in Connecticut, but you can always substitute with a dairy-free brand of choice. Optional: high-quality bourbon, whisky, cognac or rum. 

Place carrots and cookies on a plate for Santa and his reindeer. Pour your eggnog into a cup with the option to add two shots of your favorite bourbon, whiskey, cognac or rum. This can also be added later if your Christmas Eve traditions include reading The Night Before Christma- then again, maybe it will help if one reading just isn’t enough for your household!