As part of our week-long celebration of Valentine’s Day, Jane and I made these scrumptiously crunchy sugar cookie sandwiches today:

It was loads of fun to do together while Sam napped and it’s the perfect toddler baking activity because there are no raw eggs involved, so your child can eat as much of the uncooked dough as s/he pleases. Here’s what you and your toddler will need to make these yummy treats:

Ingredients

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup butter (room temperature)
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups sanding sugar
• salt
• powder food coloring (optional)
• red currant jelly (optional for sandwiches)

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325.

Step 2: Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

You can do this by hand or with an electric mixer.

Step 3: Divide the dough into two equal portions and wrap each portion separately in cling wrap. Chill the dough for at least 10 minutes - chilled dough is easier to work with.

Step 4: Spread the sanding sugar onto your work surface. If you want to tint your cookies (pink for Valentine’s Day, for example), mix in some powdered food coloring. You can do this right on your work space with your fingers. Alternatively, you can also use regular pre-tinted sugar in the color(s) of your liking.

Then roll the chilled dough into the sugar, coating generously. The sanding sugar granules are what make these cookies delightfully crunchy.

Step 5: Now use cookie cutters, or a sharp knife, to cut out shapes for your cookies. Remember to make an even number of cookies if you are going to make the cookie sandwiches. The cookies are just as delicious and a beautiful gift as single cookies, too.

Step 6: Place the cookies on a dark baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. The butter in the cookies will prevent them from sticking to the cookie sheet surface, so no need for baking spray.

Toddlers will have their own ideas - of course - about rolling out the dough. Jane preferred small balls of dough that she could flatten into the sugar with her palm.

Step 7: Cool the cookies on a rack. Once they’re cool, if you’re going to make the sandwiches, spread the red currant jelly on the bottom of one cookie and then top it with another.

Finally, enjoy or wrap the cookies in colored tissue paper and a decorative tin for a tasty treat that is sure to please everyone.

Happy baking!

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Chrissy – who has written 426 posts on The Outlaw Mom® Blog - Creative Living in a Conventional World.

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