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I have recently started to bake cookies with my children (twins of 3 1/2). I would like to do it more, and I was wondering if anyone has got tips. Recipes that your own children love, ways the kids can help other than cutting out the cookies and taking the finished cookies of the cookie sheet.

I also think it would be nice to glaze the cookies, but the waiting time needed makes that difficult.

So far, I have found that you do need roll-out dough and not the sticky stuff you put in with a spoon. Maybe when they're four or five...

Wester,

I think children of that age LOVE to put sprinkles on everything.  I would try colored sugar, or plain granulated sugar in shaker jars.

I think they can also handle dumping and pouring the ingredients into the bowl, after you have measured them.

The recipes our daughter has enjoyed making have always been the ones she likes to eat--chocolate chip, gingerbread, and plain sugar cookies.

I also have a recipe for Hermits (it's actually my late grandmother's recipe, and I have very fond memories of making these with her as a child), where you roll the dough into a sausage, and then flatten the snakes with a glass dipped in water.  They are also sprinkled with sugar before baking.  After baking the logs are sliced.

Let me know if you'd like the recipe--I'd be happy to share.

Hi Wester,

How terrific that you’re involving your kids in baking, you’re building lots of great memories!

Folks here have made some fun suggestions and I thought I’d share a couple of ideas as well. 

I make up a basic sugar cookie dough and roll it out into a circle then let the kids top it “pizza-style” with things like nuts, dried fruits, chocolate chips, smarties, gum-drops etc.  At parties I’ve let each of the kids flatten their own small round of dough and make individual pizza cookies.

Thumbprint cookies are also fun for kids.  Depending on their age, they may enjoy helping to make the small dough balls, and/or rolling the balls into coconut or chopped nuts.  Their fingers are the perfect size for making the indentations in the cookies and, they have fun filling them with their favorite jam, jelly or even pb&j.

Happy Baking!

Sue

Hi Jumali,

At our house, hermit cookies are a total favourite and if you'd be willing to share your recipe, I'd be delighted.  I've never come across a roll & slice version before and would LOVE to try it out.

Thanks so much,

Sue

As requested, here is the recipe for

Gram's Best Hermits

3/4 C vegetable shortening

1 C granulated sugar

1 egg

1/4 C molasses

2 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

2 1/4 C flour

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t ground ginger

1/4 t ground cloves

1/2 C raisins

Mix first four ingredients.  Mix remaining ingredients except raisins and add to first mixture.  Add raisins and mix until combined. Wet hands, and roll dough like sausage, approximately one inch in diameter.  Cut 4 lengths to fit the length of an  ungreased cookie sheet, and place one inch apart.  Squash lightly with a glass dipped in water.  Sprinkle sugar on top.  Bake at 375 F about 9 to 10 minutes, or until they crack on top.  Cool completely before cutting.

(Note from Gram:"I divide the dough in 4 equal pieces and then roll--it can be messy but persevere!"

Just to let you know how things are going: today I baked cookies again. I let the children put everything in the bowl (after I'd measured it). Here they are adding the egg. They were drop cookies so no rolling out, but I did let them sprinkle some chocolate on top which they loved. Thanks for the tips!

Lovely photo - I remember those days fondly.  My 17-year old son would rather cut off his right arm than bake with me though my 15-year old daughter still enjoys baking (though not clearing up).

Wester, your photo takes me back!  I used to love to bake with my two boys, now 22 and 13, and miss those times when we and the kitchen were all covered with flour!  Jane's comment about her now-teenage son's aversion to cooking made me laugh out loud...my older son is the same way, but his younger brother is quite the accomplished cook and even plans and makes Sunday dinner for us most weeks!  I'd like to think it all started with baking chocolate chip cookies when he was 3.