When it comes to holiday traditions, a favorite for many families is baking cookies—gingerbread, sugar, shortbread and more. While there are few things better than the smell of Christmas cookies in the oven, we understand if you don’t have the time (or the patience) to bake your own holiday treats from scratch this crazy pandemic year.
So, here are 9 local businesses selling DIY cookies decorating kits and other tasty desserts to make the holiday season a little less stressful and a whole lot sweeter.
And the Three Bears Baking
Owned by a mom of three little ones, this home-based business is offering gingerbread, sugar and combination cookie kits that can be picked up porch side on Dec. 20. Choose from premade cookies or raw dough to shape and bake at home. $30 kits include one dozen cookies and icing in three colors, while $18 kits include a half dozen cookies and one color of icing. All kits come with sprinkles. Silver Spring, MD
The Lemonade Bakery
Cookie decorating kits are available in two sizes: small ($16) and large ($24). You can also order a complete gingerbread house kit for $29, perfect for budding architects. Or pick up take-n-bake cinnamon roll kits, starting at $16 for a half dozen, so you can enjoy a stress-free Christmas morning. Manassas, VA
Cake Time
This DIY cake decorating shop specializes in dessert kits. You can go the traditional route with cookies shaped like ornaments, snowflakes and Christmas trees, or pick up the whimsical DIY Ugly Sweater Cookie Decorating Kit and have a contest for the most outrageous design. Free delivery to select ZIP codes every Saturday and on Dec. 23. Chantilly, VA
Purdy Sweets
You can expect “beautiful cookies that taste great” from this Montgomery County bakery. Christmas cookie decorating kits are available for $22 through Dec. 20 and include a dozen assorted premade cookies, four colors of icing and sprinkles. Supplies are limited, so be sure to place your order in advance. Germantown, MD
Captain Cookie & the Milkman
This mobile bakery based in Northwest DC now offers take-home baking kits: 12 dough balls that you can freeze for up to a year. Choose from chocolate chip, double chocolate, or funfetti-flavored dough. Email [email protected] to get yours. Washington, DC
Henry’s Sweet Retreat
If your cookie cravings are of the gourmet variety, this shop offers bake-at-home dough balls in flavors such as salted toffee and hot chocolate. Get six dough balls for $7.50. Traditional cookie kits—12 premade sugar cookies, three colors of frosting and three different toppings—are also available for $25. Bethesda, MD
Fran’s Cake and Candy Supplies
The popular cake-baking and candy-making store is offering several unique decorating experiences. Find cookie kits in either Christmas colors or icy blue hues and cupcake kits with Christmas or winter themes, each for $25. Fran’s is also selling Cocoa Bomb Kits with all the fixings for $8 apiece. Whether you give one as a gift or make one for yourself, this product is at the height of holiday indulgence. Fairfax, VA
Sprinkles Georgetown
The popular bakery puts a playful spin on cookie decorating with its Santa’s Cookies Frost-a-Roos—three different cookies with three different frosting shots for $13.50. The shop’s BYO TO GO Holiday Boxes, available for $35 through the end of the year, make a dozen cupcakes—red velvet, dark chocolate or vanilla— and are limited to two per customer. Then, get to work frosting and adorning your desserts! Washington, D.C.
Out of the Bubble Bakery
This Northern Virginia bakery offers the most customizable cookie decorating kit on the list. Pick your cookie flavor, four cookie shapes and two colors of icing for $31.99. The order form also allows customers to specify dietary restrictions (all cookies are free of nuts, soy, dairy and eggs) and to choose between standard and dye-free icing. Springfield, VA
