One of the most important things to have on hand when embarking on a holiday baking project is parchment paper. Flour, sugar, butter and chocolate chips are fairly critical as well, but when you can't get your cookies off the baking sheet, it doesn't really matter what they taste like.
Parchment paper is a silicone coated paper that prevents things sticking to it and is oven safe up to 425F/220C. It is generally sold in rolls in the baking aisle of your grocery store, but can also be sold in individual sheets. One sheet can be used multiple times, with batch after batch of holiday cookies sliding right off it. Not only will you never have to use a spatula to pry cookies off a baking sheet, you will probably never have to wash a sheet again - just throw away the parchment paper when your cookies are finished. It is good for working with hot sugars and candies, which, like cookies, will not stick to the paper. Parchment paper is also an excellent way to line cake pans because, in addition to preventing the cake from sticking to the pan, no waxy residue from waxed paper or chemicals from plastic wrap will find their way onto your cake.
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