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| {Photo Source: Kraft} |
Here's the
ingredient list:
18
red and green clear hard candies
2/3
cup butter, softened
2/3
cup shortening
1/2
cup granulated sugar
2
teaspoons baking powder
1/4
teaspoon salt
2
eggs
1
teaspoon vanilla
4
cups all-purpose flour
Sifted
powdered sugar
Cookie cutters of the kids' choice Note: You'll need
a large cookie cutter and a matching smaller cookie cutter for some cool Christmas trees, bells, stars... let them use their imagination.
Line cookies sheets with foil and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Have the kids put the red and green candies in
separate small "heavy" plastic zippy bags. Crush candies, leaving
them coarse. Place each color in a small bowl.
Now let's mix up the cookie dough...
Let the kids measure the ingredients using
several measuring cups (just like on the cooking shows)! And, please stop the
mixer and let them dump ingredients into the mixing bowl. DO NOT keep the mixer
running while those little fingers are near, please.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and
shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds (an
adult helper is needed here, please). Add granulated sugar, baking powder, and
salt. Beat mixture until combined, scraping sides of
bowl occasionally (if the kids want to scrape, please stop the mixer).
Beat in
eggs and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir
in any remaining flour. Divide dough in fourths.
Now the kids can jump in... the kids will love
trying to roll out the dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll a portion of
the dough 1/4-inch thick. Using 2-1/2- to 3-inch cutters in desired shape, cut
out dough. Place cutouts about 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat
with remaining dough.
Using smaller, 1/2- to 3/4-inch hors
cutters, cut out two, three, or four shapes from each larger cutout.
Note: The key here is to not let the kids cut out too many shapes so the
dough won't hold together... I know, details!
Fill cutout openings with crushed candy. Bake
in preheated oven about 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned (have the
kids watch carefully so they don't burn). Cool completely on foil. When
completely cool to the touch carefully peel foil away from cookies.
The kids will like this part... using a small
brush, dust the edges of cooled cookies with powdered sugar. Makes about 4
dozen. These
make great gifts and the kids will be SO proud of them!
Merry,
Merry!
'Tis the Season for Cooking with Kids,
Jan
McCracken, Culinary Coach
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