Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Here's the deal -- I made a bet with a 10 year old that the first one of us to finish knitting the hats we were working on would bake the other a batch of cookies. I figured it was a sure fire way for me to get cookies as I had less to do to finish than she did. Lordy, Lordy, did I light a fire under that kid! She worked non-stop on the hat and now I'm the one baking the cookies. However, she is coming over to help me and wants cut out cookies (asking if I have any bear cookie cutters!). I haven't made cut out cookies in at least 20 years so what's a good kid friendly recipe? I figure I'll do a batch ahead of time and then one while she is here and she can roll and cut the first batch. Does that work? My experience with kids is limited (to the four-legged furry kind). Thanks, Holly

These sugar cookies are great and very easy. I got the recipe from my friend Susan but I think they may be originally from Fine Cooking mag. but don't quote me. Now I guess you need a good source for cookie cutters.

3 cups flour
1.5 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter(softened)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
.5 tsp. almond extract.
Mix all the wet ingredients and then add all the dry ingredients and let cool for 30 minutes in the fridge. Roll out the dough and cut out any shape you like. Bake at 350 F for about 6-7 minutes.

Notes:
They taste better when baked till a nice brown color is there. Great to freeze and decorate later. Have fun.

Mary

Thanks! I'm okay on cookie cutters but I will have to round up some decorating stuff! Didn't think of that.

I always make royal icing using meringue powder instead of egg whites. One year we painted on a thinner coat, let dry and then piped on accents in with a thicker icing. Very cute. And the sprinkly things, you gotta have sprinkly things.

Have fun!

Mary

Holly, It sounds like great fun! It also sounds like the budding of a special relationship. Enjoy the company of young person who still enjoys the simplest things in this world!!

Not only have you nurtured a knitter, but now also a baker. How wonderful.

Janet

Thanks for all your advice -- the cookie baking and decorating went well. She mixed the frosting colors together, got lots of colors and had a great time...I did an advance batch that was ready for her to roll out and sent all the frosting and the chilled batch that she made home with her -- her family will be eating cookies for days! All I can say is "my goodness, can that girl talk!"