I think the holidays are the perfect time to get the kids baking in the kitchen. And, if your kids are like mine, they love sweets and baking cookies.
Our favorite recipe is iced sugar cookies. The measuring, stirring, and baking means lots of fun family time, too. Then, decorating with icing lets us be creative. Finally, we can enjoy our delicious cookie creations with hot chocolate or milk.
Martha Stewart’s Sugar Cookies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Assorted candies, sprinkles, or colored sugars, for decorating (optional)
Directions
- Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in one bowl. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Divide dough in half; flatten into disks. Wrap each in plastic; freeze until firm, at least 20 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment. Remove one dough disk; let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Roll out 1/8 inch thick between two sheets of floured parchment, dusting dough with flour as needed. Cut shapes with cookie cutters. Using a spatula, transfer to prepared baking sheets. (If dough gets soft, chill 10 minutes.) Reroll scraps; cut shapes. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges are golden, 10 to 18 minutes (depending on size). Cool completely on wire racks. To ice cookies, spread with the back of a spoon. Let the icing harden, about 20 minutes. Decorate as desired.
To make icing, sift 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar into a small bowl. Whisk in 3 to 4 tablespoons milk, water, or lemon juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until smooth and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If too thin, whisk in more sugar; if too thick, add more liquid.
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We added cake coloring to color the icing. Look how bright the colors turned out!
**Try these molasses sugar cookies for a little varation.
Give your kids icing and sprinkles and let the artistry begin . . .
What else can you bake with your kids? How about one of these unique and delicious treats?
More Holiday Treats To Bake with Kids
Candy Cane Cookies (recipe and photograph from Spoonful)
Cake Mix Cookies (recipe and photo from Projects for Preschoolers)
Nutella Meringues (recipe and photo from Cream Puffs in Venice)
Rice Crispy Treat Houses from Land o’Lakes
Snowman Cupcakes (recipe and photo) from Meet the Dubiens
Peppermint Popcorn Bark (recipe and photo from Plain Chicken)
Mini Fruit Pizzas (recipe and photo from Banner Boutique)
Wreath Cornflake Cookies (recipe and photo from Mr. Food)
Accessories for Cooking with Kids
Finally, don’t forget that every young baker loves his or her own apron and supplies. You might like this Curious Chef Cookie Kit with cookie cutters, a whisk, a spoon, a rolling pin, and more. Imagine Toys has lots of cooking toys for kids, too. Play pretend with a play kitchen of your own!
I’m going to let my kids pick our next holiday treat recipe.
What about you? Which will they pick?
Love all these yummy ideas.. makes me want to get baking this weekend!
no kidding!