Baking is fun for everyone in the family. The process may be so much fun because the end result is so delicious. Playing with real dough as opposed to clay or Play Doh tastes so much better and it gives your child the sense she is doing something grown ups do. If you have not allowed your preschooler in the kitchen for fear of a mess or sticky fingers, I understand. However, it will end up being fun for everyone if you keep your expectations at bay and walk into it with a sense of humor. A little or even a lot of flour on the floor never hurt anything.
ThIngs Your Preschooler Can Do
- Measure ingredients
- Crack eggs
- Cut out cookies
- Mix batter
- Add chcolate chips, nuts, candies
- Dip items in chocolate
- Knead dough
- Pour batter into cupcake tin with a scoop
- Scoop or roll cookies
- Decorate cookies
- Frost cupcakes
Of course, you will have a mess on your hands. Cover your work area with wax paper or a disposable plastic table cloth for easy clean up.
There are times when your preschooler will want to help but that is simply not possible. During times like that you may want to have your child make Aggression Cookies. The cookies got their name because the more you beat the batter the better they are supposed to taste. Here is the recipe.
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- Put ingredients together in a bowl. For each child’s bowl, use 1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1/2 cup of flour, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
- Then mash, knead, and squeeze with hands until there aren’t any lumps of butter. Form into small balls not as big as a walnut. Put on ungreased cookie sheet. Butter the bottom of a small glass and dip in granulated sugar. Flatten each ball of dough, dipping glass in sugar each time.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on cookie rack.