Cookie Cutter Education

Cookie Cutters aren't just for cookies anymore! Of course, we all love fresh baked cut-out cookies, but cookie cutters have many uses, including teaching your child!

Cookie Cutters as a learning tool? Just the simple task of making sugar cookie cut-outs gives a child a satisfing sense of personal accomplishment and creates a bonding with his parent. Not only that, it teaches motor skills, creativity and sharing. As if that isn't enough, now we have cookie cutters in alphabet shapes to sneak in a little education as well!

Baking cookies with Mom has always been a memorable event for kids. Kids love making and baking cookies because they get one on one time with Mom, to help in the kitchen and be creative. The excitement of waiting for the cookies to bake and cool, icing, decorating and finally getting to actually eat and share your cookies always makes a memory!

Alphabet shaped cookie cutters are a fun way to teach your child the alphabet! Use letter shaped cookie cutters or use square shaped cutters and ice cookies to look like ABC Blocks. Not only does your child get exposed to the alphabet when cutting the cookies, but also later, when eating the cookies! If your child already knows his/her letters, practice spelling words with cookies. Use cookies to spell their name or Happy Birthday!

Use Shaped cookie cutters to teach your child the basic shapes. Ice cookies in different colors to teach colors. Let your child help you mix the colored icing to teach which colors are used to make other colors.

Valentine's Day is a great time to bring out the heart shaped cookie cutters and bake and decorate hearts with your child. You are sure to make a memory!

But, wait...cookies aren't the only use for cookie cutters! Use them to cut sandwiches, jello jigglers or even play dough. Everyone has made salt dough ornaments at Christmas. Use the same recipe and cut out alphabet letters and shapes as learning tools for your child. These ideas could also be done in the classroom when baking cookies is not an option.

• Alphabet
• Shapes
• Colors
• Spelling
• Sharing
• Motor Skills
• Creativity

• Sugar Cookies
• Sandwiches
• Jello Jigglers
• Play Dough
• Salt Dough

Sugar Cookie Recipe

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 teaspoons milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and sugar. Cut in shortening until course. Blend in egg, milk and vanilla. Roll out on powdered sugared board. Cut with cookie cutters; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for almost 8 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets to a cooling rack. Cool completely. Decorate as desired.

Yield: 6 dozen cookies

Cookie Icing

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 3 drops food coloring

Salt Dough Recipe

• 3 Cups of Flour
• 1 Cup of Salt
• 1 1/4 Cups of Hot Water

Dissolve salt into water, then slowly add flour. Stir until mixed. Knead and roll. Cut out with shaped cookie cutters. Bake at 200 degrees until hard.

~ BAKE THE ALPHABET WITH YOUR CHILD TODAY! ~