I normally do not venture over here into the Food section. My safe zones are in Education, Marriage, and now Movies. However, as a teacher I watch my kindergarten students and my own children sit endlessly and trace their hands with crayons and markers. The girls then proceed to cut out the hands and decorate them with beautifully colored nails and fine jewelry.
While the boys are not into this activity so much, they do enjoy some crafty projects every now and then!
That is why when I found this adorable cookie recipe I just could not resist sharing it with you! It is great fun for the kids and a wonderful way for you to spend a little extra family time this summer.
These cookies are just as fun as tracing and decorating your hands on paper. Yet the special part is that you can eat these handprints when you are finished!
Decorated Handprint Cookies
Ingredients:
Any flavor of refrigerated cookie dough (20 ounce package). I find that plain flavors such as sugar or peanut butter work best. Try to avoid flavors with add-ins such as chocolate chips or raisins.
All-purpose flour
Decoration items such as glazes, icings, small candies (gum drops, jelly beans)
Directions:
Begin by greasing two cookie sheets.
Remove the cookie dough from the wrapper and cut the dough into 4 equal pieces. Keep one piece out and place the other three back into the refrigerator. Sprinkle the dough you kept out with flour to keep it from sticking.
Roll the dough out into a piece about 5 by 7 inches. Place your child’s hand palm down onto the cookie dough. Carefully have an adult cut around the child’s hand with a knife (a dull knife will work). Remove the scrap pieces.
Use a spatula to separate the fingers on the cookie apart as far as you can so that they do not cook together. Also pull the fingers out to make them a little longer.
Create more hands with the other pieces of dough.
Place the cookies in the freezer for about 15 minutes and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Bake the cookies on the cookie sheets for about 7 to 13 minutes. The cookies should be set and the edges should be browned. Let the cookies cool completely on the cookie sheets.
Once the cookies are cool, they are ready to decorate!
Gum drops cut in half from top to bottom and laid on their sides make cute finger nails. Use other candies to make bracelets and rings. You may want to ice the entire hand before decorating. Use either white, cream, or brown icing.
Other Ideas for Kids in the Kitchen:
Turkey Wraps and Hamburger Cookies