We are going to follow the recipes from the following page- cookie recipes. You can choose one of the three cut out cookie recipes on this page- basic sugar cookie dough, simple sugar cookie recipe, or brown sugar and spice cut out cookies. Any of these recipes will make a great dough for the cookie decorating kids cooking party.

When preparing the recipe allow kids to take turns adding and stirring ingredients in a large mixing bowl so everyone gets a turn. You should be able to use the dough without chilling it for several hours. When dough is complete give each child a portion of the dough and allow them to roll out the dough on a floured surface. Cut out cookies with cookie cutter and place on cookie sheet. Have an adult bake and allow cookies to cool. While you are waiting for cookies to cook and cool, prepare another recipe you have planned, decorate aprons, chef hats or play cooking games.

Set table with frosting, table knives and sprinkles. Allow kids to decorate and place on a paper plate or shallow box to take home.

Lemony Snowballs
½ Cup butter, soft
2/3 Cup sugar
1 egg
¼ Cup lemon juice
1 ¾ Cup flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
powdered sugar to use after snowballs have baked
Cream butter and sugar together in mixing bowl. Add egg and lemon juice. Blend together. Add dry ingredients, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar and flour. Stir together until well blended. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into small balls and place on cookie sheet. If dough is too sticky to handle chill for 2 hours. Bake snowball cookies for 10-12 minutes until bottoms are lightly browned. Move to cooling rack or sheet of waxed paper. After cookies have cooled slightly so you can handle them, roll them in powdered sugar. Makes about 24.

Gingerbread Recipe
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
1 ½ cups shortening
1 ½ cups dark molasses
¾ cup cold water
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
¾ teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons salt
7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour




In mixing bowl beat shortening, sugar, molasses and water together until well blended. Then add in baking soda, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Blend together and add flour. Form into a ball and chill for 1-2 hours. Roll out dough onto a floured surface and using templates or make your own cardboard house dimensions cut out pieces. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Don't allow to brown. Lay your pattern pieces on top of the cooked gingerbread and trim if needed. The dough may have spread while cooking and you want your pieces to fit nicely together. Let cool and construct your gingerbread house.

Kids Christmas Cookie Recipes

Mice Cookies
This Christmas cookie recipe will keep the kids quiet as a mouse.
1 Cup creamy peanut butter
½ Cup butter (no subs), softened
½ Cup sugar
½ Cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ Cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ Cup peanut halves (ears)
2 Tablespoons green and red mini M&M’s (nose)
4 teaspoons mini chocolate chips (eyes)
red shoestring licorice (tail)
In bowl, cream peanut butter, butter, and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour and baking soda and add to creamed mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll into balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Pinch each ball at one end to taper into a tail. Insert two peanut halves in center of each ball for ears. Add one M&M baking bit for nose and two chocolate chip eyes. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Gently insert one licorice piece into each warm cookie for tail.