The holidays are almost here, and nothing feels more festive than the smell of cookies, cakes, and sweet treats baking in the kitchen. For many families, baking together is already a Christmas tradition—but let’s be honest, nakaka-stress din if your kitchen isn’t ready. Don’t worry, here’s a simple Christmas baking checklist para less hassle and more fun this holiday season.

Side kwento muna: Some of you might not know that I’m also a homebased baker. I actually own a small passion project called WTF Cakes (Whattafilling).

I’ve baked different cakes and loaves over the years, but my specialty is my very own ChocoLoco—my version of the famous dream cake. Every Christmas, my Choco Loco, banana loaf, ensaymada, and crinkles are my bestsellers (as in laging sold out!). That’s why holiday baking is extra special for me—kitchen prep is life.

• Clean and Organize Your Kitchen

  Start with a clean space. Keep baking supplies like bowls, spatulas, measuring cups, and pans in one location and clear your countertops. A tidy kitchen makes baking easier and keeps the mood light (no panic mode, diba?).

• Stock Up on Ingredients

  Check your pantry before you start. Make sure you have flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and other necessary ingredients. Buy extra holiday must-haves like sprinkles, food coloring, and vanilla. Also, get condensed milk, ube flavouring, or glutinous rice flour ready early if you want to make Filipino Christmas desserts. This way, you won’t have to hurry to the store while you’re baking.

• Get Your Appliances Ready

  Holiday baking is so much easier when your appliances are ready (life saver talaga!). The American Heritage Electric Oven (AHFEO-6330), with its 38L capacity and French door design, is one of the best ovens for home baking, giving you plenty of space to bake multiple trays of cookies or even a holiday roast for Noche Buena. With its independent top and bottom temperature control, you’ll get evenly baked goodies every time. Plus, the rotisserie and convection functions make it a versatile baking appliance for both sweet and savory Christmas dishes

  Pair it with the American Heritage Mix Whizzard 5-Liter Stand Mixer (AHSMX-6333)—perfect for kneading dough, whipping cream, or mixing batter (goodbye pagod braso ). If you’re wondering how to choose a mixer for baking, this one comes with a stainless steel bowl with handle, variable speed controller, and a digital timer display for accurate mixing. The splash guard helps avoid mess (alam mo na, flour everywhere moment), while the safety lock and anti-slip footings keep baking safe and hassle-free. Truly a reliable partner for both traditional recipes and modern holiday favorites.

• Plan Your Holiday Menu

  Decide early what you want to bake. Make a simple list of recipes and ingredients. Start with goodies that can be made ahead, like fruitcake or polvoron, then save quick treats like cookies, crinkles, and cupcakes for later. (Trust me, huwag sabay-sabay para hindi ka ma-burnout.)

• Try New Recipes Early

  If you want to try something new, don’t save it for Christmas Eve. Do a test run earlier so you can adjust the taste or texture if needed. Bonus na rin—you get extra treats to share with the fam. Ang saya, diba?

• Prepare Storage and Packaging

  Keep your baked goods fresh with airtight containers, jars, or tins. For gifts, use cute boxes or festive bags—it makes them look extra special and thoughtful.

• Enjoy the Baking Process

  Most important of all: enjoy! Put on Christmas music, let the kids join in, and make baking part of your holiday bonding. It doesn’t have to be perfect—what matters is the joy, the laughter, and even the konting kalat (memories yun, diba?).

Final Tip: Holiday baking is not just about food—it’s about family, traditions, and the happiness of being together in the kitchen. Start early, keep your easy holiday baking checklist handy, and enjoy every sweet moment this Christmas.