Here is an basic cookie recipe that you can use for cooking with kids
The processes are easy enough for children to be able to attempt or complete most of them with minimal assistance depending on their age and skill levels
Ages: 2+
(M was 2 (almost 3y/o) here. See the bottom for tips to Extend or Simplify for your child)
We used the recipe that came with the cutter to make Christmas Tree Cookies. I find these cookies end up somewhere between a sugar cookie and shortbread. The mixture is crumbly and the cookies it makes are perfect for decorating.
Here it is:
Ingredients
- 120g Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 Cup Castor Sugar (fine white sugar)
- 1 whole egg
- 2 cups sifted self-raising flour
- 3-4 drops vanilla essence
Method
Children need constant supervision while cooking
- Preheat oven to 170°C (338°F or gas mark 3) and lightly grease 2 oven trays (or line with baking paper)
- Beat together the butter and castor sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer
- Add the egg and mix till combined
- Sift the flour and add it and the vanilla essence to the mixture
- Knead the mixture and make a ball.
- Wrap the dough in plastic film and refrigerate to let it rest for approx 20 minutes (perfect amount of time to clean up any mess, toilet break etc. and get prepared for the other steps)
Yes, we have a laugh while cooking too. I love the time spent with my kids
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough until it's 4-5mm thick (As the dough is quite crumbly it will probably need to be re-rolled a number of times. Get a flat, smooth area, cut any shapes you can and then scrunch back into a ball and roll again)
- Using a cutter, press out your shapes (When placing shapes on your tray, use a spatula to lift the cookies so that they don't break)
- Place in the oven and cook for about 5 minutes or until lightly golden
- Allow to cool on a wire rack (they will still be soft to touch when you remove from the oven. They harden up quickly as they cool)
- Decorate as you like
After making these cookies we took them to an Assisted Living Centre to hand them out and wish the residents a Merry Christmas.
We love Cooking with Kids here are a couple of other posts you may like
(click on the picture to take you to the post)
Handy Tips:
- Simplify this activity by assisting your child in any of the processes they need help with. Instruct and guide your child as they are learning.
- Extend this activity by having your child attempt as many of the processes unassisted as they can. Allow them to measure and talk about the numbers, symbols etc. Have your child read or write the recipe themselves.
- Mix it up by adding some essence/flavouring to the cookie mixture for different flavours.
- Use any kind of cookie cutters you have. You can even add some food colouring if you're adventurous for coloured cookies
- Let your child have some input into the decorating. You could provide them with icing etc or they could make their own. This is where you can get creative.
Happy cooking,
Debs :)
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