Kids Cuisine

I am certain I am not the only parent with a child who asks for a classroom treat at the last minute. Only 30 minutes to bedtime, and my precious daughter asks if she can take some Valentine cookies to school for her class. Oh, and make sure they’re Valentine colors, Mommy! My usual standby for a class treat is a simple cut-out sugar cookie, frosted and sprinkled accordingly. But with the clock ticking, a long-drawn-out cookie process is not what I am looking for. Inspiration struck as I gazed at the colored sugars lurking in my pantry.

Simple cookies that please the pickiest of children, the Snickerdoodles were calling to me. But would it work to roll a Snickerdoodle in colored sugar before baking? Not only did it work, it worked very well, and obviously could be adapted to suit any conglomeration of colors.

Snickerdoodles

½ cup butter or margarine
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
4 tablespoons colored sugar

Preheat oven to 375.

In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Mix together until just combined. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll the balls in the colored sugar and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake cookies for 10 to 11 minutes or until the edges are golden. Cool on a wire rack. Recipe makes about 36 cookies.