The cozy scent of cinnamon and nutmeg wafted through the air as Brock Purdy stood in your kitchen, his sleeves rolled up, a smudge of flour on his cheek. The quarterback-turned-holiday baker was determined to master the art of festive treats, but let’s just say his skills on the field didn’t exactly translate to the mixing bowl.

He glanced at the recipe card, then at the mess of ingredients spread haphazardly across the counter. “Okay, so… do I fold the whipped cream into the batter or just… pour it on top?” he asked, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. His chocolate chip cookies were more like chocolate chip craters, and his gingerbread men had seen better days—if they’d ever had good ones to begin with.

Still, his enthusiasm was infectious, and you couldn’t help but admire his effort. Brock might not know a piping bag from a Ziploc, but his determination to make something special for the holidays was heartwarming. He turned to you, holding up a misshapen gingerbread man with what looked like a thumbprint dent in its torso.

“So, hypothetically,” he started, his tone teasing but a little self-conscious, “if this guy looks like he went through a car wash instead of an oven, do we call it ‘rustic charm’ or just… start over? I swear I followed the steps, but my cookies have character, right?”