Why Should We Let
Kids Bake Cookies?

Letting kids bake cookies is only natural because they are loyal supporters of these yummy treats. Besides, cookies are the easiest of all baked goods to prepare, and kids learn so many practical lessons by making them.

• Baking is an ideal exercise in time management, organization, responsibility. Speaking from experience, cookies bake quickly and will burn miserably if a baker neglects to watch his/her oven and its temperature. Good organization reduces preparation time and makes cleaning up a breeze.

• School aged children, especially those in elementary and middle schools, are comfortable with concrete ideas, situations, or examples. Therefore, letting your kids bake cookies is an effective way for them to familiarize with basic mathematical concepts such as fractions, conversion, measurement, etc.

• When kids bake, they have less time to passively watch television. Baking cookies is a constructive and proactive way for them to socialize.

• Baking together teaches kids the value of teamwork. The ultimate reward is sweetest and most delicious when everyone participates and shares the work equally.

• Baking encourages creativity and gives kids a real sense of accomplishment. When kids bake pressed or spritz cookies, wafer cookies, even rolled or cut-out cookies, they have fun and develop manual dexterity at the same time.

Kids Bake With Easy Cookie Recipes

1. Animal Shaped Cookies
2. Applesauce Cookies
3. Bouquets of Cookies
4. Butter Crunch Clusters
5. Candied Peel
6. Candy Cane Cookies
7. Chocolate Heart Cookies
8. Chocolate Truffles
9. Cookie Decorating Project
10. Homemade Cookie Gift
11. Cookie Sun Catchers¹
12. Easter Egg Nests²
13. Oatmeal Bars³
14. Oreo Rice Krispy
15. Potato Chip Cookies
16. Pudding Cookies
17. Sandwich Cookies
18. Stained Glass Cookies
19. Wonton Cinnamon Crisps

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Cookie Sun Catchers

Not only that kids bake these cookies for fun, but they can also easily instill the theme of their parties or celebrations in them. Besides the following ingredients, they will need a few patterns that are appropriately associated with the special occasion.

Unsalted butter, softened	3 Tbsp
Vegetable shortening	1/3 cup
All purpose flour	2 cups
Egg	1 large
Granulated sugar	1/2 cup
Milk	1 Tbsp
Baking powder	1 tsp
Vanilla extract	1 tsp
A pinch of salt
Hard candy, finely crushed	1/2 cup

• Cream softened butter, vegetable shortening, and sugar together until light and fluffy.

• Add egg, milk, vanilla extract and mix well.

• Gently fold in flour and baking powder until just combined. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate it for a couple of hours.

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

• Roll out about half of the dough at one time on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 1/4-inch. Keep the other half refrigerated. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters or patterns of your own design.

• Carefully transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets. Cut out small shapes in the centers of cookies and remove the dough. Spoon just enough crust candy into each center to fill the hole.

• If you like to hang these cookie sun catchers, put a small hole at the top of each cookie with a toothpick before baking it.

• Bake for 7 or 8 minutes until cookie edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Cool completely on wire racks.

• For hanging, thread a strong string or wire through the hole at the top of each cookie.

Other Easy Cookie Recipes

Beginning of Kids Bake

¹Adapted from Bake The Best- Ever Cookies! Quick Start For Kids! by Sarah A. Willamson.