The holidays are a magical time, filled with twinkling lights, cozy nights, and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked cookies. What better way to get your little ones involved in the Christmas spirit than by creating delicious holiday treats together? These Christmas cookie recipes for kids are designed to be fun, easy, and most importantly, delicious! Get ready for some festive family baking time.
Simple Sugar Cookies: A Kid-Friendly Classic
This recipe is perfect for young bakers, requiring minimal ingredients and simple steps. The best part? Kids can help with almost every stage, from mixing to decorating!
Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 8-10 minutes Yields: about 24 cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Christmas sprinkles, colored sugar, frosting, and other decorations of your choice
Instructions:
- Cream together the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Let the kids help with this using a hand mixer (under supervision, of course!).
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Chill the dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This will make it easier to roll out.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C): While the dough chills, preheat your oven.
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Let the kids help with rolling (with a rolling pin designed for smaller hands).
- Cut out cookies: Use cookie cutters to cut out festive shapes. This is the most fun part for the kids!
- Bake: Place the cookies on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool and decorate: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating with frosting, sprinkles, and other fun toppings. This is the perfect opportunity for creative expression!
Tips for Success:
- Softened butter is key: Make sure your butter is nice and soft for easy mixing.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing can result in tough cookies.
- Chill the dough: Chilling the dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Let cookies cool completely: This prevents the frosting from melting.
Variations:
- Gingerbread Cookies: Add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves to the dough for a warm, spiced flavor.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies: Stir in ½ cup of chocolate chips before chilling the dough.
- Peanut Butter Cookies: Replace ½ cup of the flour with ½ cup of peanut butter for a nutty twist.
Nutritional Information (per cookie, approximate):
Calories: 100-120 Fat: 5-7g Sugar: 8-10g
Making Christmas cookies with your kids is a wonderful way to bond, create lasting memories, and enjoy some delicious homemade treats. These easy recipes are a great starting point, feel free to get creative and adapt them to your family’s preferences! Happy baking!