Cinnamon Dough Cookie Ornaments inspired by McCormick

Ingredients:

1 large mixing bowl
1 wooden spoon
1/2 cup ground cinnamon plus extra for dusting
1/2 cup applesauce
1 roll wax paper
1 rolling pin
Assorted 2 to 3 inch cookie cutters
Skewers or drinking straws
1 to 2 baking pans
Acrylic or puff paints, various colors
Generous handful sequin or glitter
Ribbon

Makes 12 to 15 ornaments

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, pour cinnamon and gradually mix in applesauce with a wooden spoon until the mixture becomes a stiff dough.
2. Using your hands, create a ball of dough.
3. Place the ball of dough on a sheet of waxed paper dusted with extra cinnamon and flatten slightly using your fingers.
4. Top with a second sheet of wax paper. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough into an even layer, about 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick.
5. Use cookie cutters or your own templates to cut out fun shapes.
6. Create a hole at the top of the ornament using a skewer or drinking straw.
7. Air dry creations on a wax paper covered cookie sheet or a cooling rack for at least 24 hours until they are completely hard.
8. To dry ornaments faster, preheat oven to 200°F. Place ornaments on a parchment lined baking pan and bake until very dry and very hard. Allow to cool before decorating.
9. Once fully set, decorate using paints, or adhere sparkly sequins and glitter using school glue.

Scones in a Jar

Ingredients:

1 mason jar
1 sheet cardstock
plastic wrap
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cherries
1 printed recipe cards for scones in a jar
Ribbon

Makes 1 Jar

Directions:

1. Give each child a mason jar and a sheet of cardstock.
2. Help children form their cardstock into a funnel shape and place into the opening of the mason jar, ensuring that the edges are sticking out of the jar. This will help them neatly pour each ingredient into their jar.
3. Have the children pour each ingredient into their jar, one at a time, beginning with the flour. Tap the jar on the table after each addition to create an even layer.
4. Wrap dried cherries in plastic wrap to prevent moisture from seeping into the dried ingredients.
5. Screw the lid on tight and attach the recipe card to the jar using ribbon or tape.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

There’s nothing more smile inducing than Choceur Mini Chocolate Bears! They are sweet in flavor and shaped like cute teddy bears. Their mini-milk chocolate bears are individually to reveal a perfect bite of creamy, rich, milk chocolate – the perfect treat to make any child smile – young and old alike!

From the Mouth of a Kid:

The bears are so cute. I like letting them melt in my mouth!

From the Eyes of a Parent:

A special treat from time to time is always welcomed in our home and chocolate is the go to! These rich milk chocolate bears are the perfect little bite of pure milk chocolate goodness that my children and I love! Their high-quality flavor, affordable price, and adorable aesthetic make them a family favorite! My children loved learning where on the world map the bears came from.

Flavorful Features:

Choceur Mini Milk-Chocolate treats comes three holiday types:

• Mini Bears
• Mini Santas
• Mini Snowmen

Choceur Chocolate also comes in bars in a variety of flavors such as:

• Smooth White Chocolate
• Dark Hazelnut Chocolate
• Rich Almond Milk Chocolate
• Creamy Milk Chocolate
• Fruit and Nut Milk Chocolate
• And more!

The Icing on the Cake:

• No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
• Naturally gluten-free
• Made with real milk
• Made in Germany
• All-natural chocolate

Time to Eat?!

For dessert or a special treat.

Good to Go?

Yes, the small teddy bear shaped chocolates are individually wrapped. Note that they must be kept in a cool, dry place.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Ingredients:

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® peanut butter cookie mix

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon water

1 egg

2 tablespoons sugar

36 Hershey’s® Kisses® Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, oil, water and egg until dough forms.
2. Shape dough into 36 (1-inch) balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Immediately press 1 milk chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely, about 20 minutes. Store cookies in tightly covered container.

Makes 3 dozen cookies

Tips & Tricks: 

Peanut Butter Blossoms can be made with any type of kisses or candies! Get your kids helping in the kitchen by allowing them to help decorate these yummy cookies with their favorite treats.

Ingredients:

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1 egg

1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1/2 cup finely chopped almonds

1 teaspoon almond extract

60 Hershey’s® Kisses® Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped

3/4 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, flour, cocoa, almonds and extract until soft dough forms
2. Shape dough into sixty 3/4-inch balls; wrap each around 1 milk chocolate candy. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
4. Roll cookies in powered sugar. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Re-roll cookies in powdered sugar. Store tightly covered.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies

Video:

For more tips and a video how-to by Cricket Azima, view the video below.

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

The holiday season is the best time of the year, but it can also get pretty hectic with family and out of town overnight visitors. Take the stress out of holiday mornings with this playful recipe for Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins, from our friends at Cooking Light! It’s a great recipe to make in advance, so you don’t have to worry about making breakfast during the holidays when your house is full and you’re juggling holiday prep, family, and friends.

Ingredients: 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, sugars, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture.
3. Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (through vanilla); add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
4. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Fill each cup half full with batter.
5. Spoon 1 teaspoon jam into each cup. Spoon remaining batter on top to cover jam.
6. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Let cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool on a wire rack.

Makes 12 muffins

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.

Thanksgiving can be really challenging for vegetarians – with side dishes laced with chicken broth and turkey as the main event. Thankfully, our friends at Cooking Light have rounded up a bunch of delicious, meatless holiday recipes that are sure to be a hit with your vegetarian and non-vegetarian dinner guests, alike!

Pappardelle with Roasted Winter Squash, Arugula, and Pine Nuts

“This fresh and easy dish packs in lots of seasonal flavors, and you can put everything together in the 25 minutes it takes for the squash to roast. The recipe makes six filling servings, so it’s great for a family dinner or casual get-together, but you can always double or triple it to be the main course at any holiday party.”

Click here for the recipe!

Roasted Cauliflower with Fresh Herbs and Parmesan

“Cauliflower is a versatile yet often overlooked vegetable. Roasted here until just tender and browned, and flavored with Italian herbs, garlic, Parmesan, and lemon juice, it’s the highlight of any meal. It’s heavy on flavor but light on calories, with only 89 per serving.”

Click here for the recipe!

Honey-Roasted Butternut Squash

“This side is simple and fabulous. The cooking is mostly hands-off, and the prep is easy. Serve the tender butternut squash in large pieces to catch every last bit of the honey butter drizzle.”

Click here for the recipe!

The Creative Kitchen™, LLC, teaches children about food and how to cook in a fun, safe, and educational manner. Targeting families with children ages two to teen, the company focuses on teaching, writing creative content and curriculum, special events, recipe development, spokesperson work, webisode production and consulting to present educational and entertaining content through food-related activities. The founder, Cricket Azima, is an expert in cooking for and with children. She inspires kids to express themselves creatively through food and cooking, while complementing lessons with traditional educational material such as social studies, math, arts, science, and more. Visit www.thecreativekitchen.com for more information.