Carrying on with our Easter Theme and the Virtual Book Club post from yesterday - we've also been baking some cookies. J's friend came around and along with J and T we made and decorated some Easter Themed Shortbread cookies.
Now as this was T's first go at anything baking related (she didn't manage it though as fell asleep in her high chair before she got the dough) I decided it was best to use an egg free recipe for the cookies which meant when (notice I don't even attempt to say if) she ate it I wouldn't have a problem.
What you need to make our egg free Easter cookies
115g/4oz/half cup Butter or Soft margarine at room temperature diced
175g/6oz/1 and a half cups Plain Flour (all purpose)
50g/2oz/quarter cup Caster (superfine) sugar
for decoration
Icing sugar
Water - to make to some icing with
Food Colouring
Sprinkles
Balls
Glitter
Sugar coated candies
How you make the egg free Easter cookies
Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. Then add the flour to make a paste - turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Then wrap in film and chill for at least 30mins in the fridge.
I had this prepared in advance and when J's little friend A arrived we got out the dough and they started to knead it and spread it out - we went with the using the hands to press it into shape method as we only have one child-size rolling pin and at 2 and a half neither J nor A take turns very well when it's such a fun activity.
We preheated the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4 and greased a baking tray whilst they made the dough as flat as possible and then using my easter themed cookie cutters they cut out eggs, bunnies, eggs with legs and lambs from the dough and we laid them on the tray to go into the oven. Once done they cleaned themselves and ran out to play whilst the cookies cooked and cooled.
When they had cooled we set up a decorating station - using a muffin tin we made up 4 different colours of icing and then using baby food freezer pots we put out some added decoration for them to the use and then left them to decorate the cookies themselves. A went for the minimalist look and J went for the all on look. Both had great fun making these and they are so easy to make.
Ingredients
- 115 g /4oz/half cup Butter or Soft Margarine, diced, at room temperature
- 175 g /6oz/1 and a half cups Plain Flour (All Purpose)
- 50 g /2oz/quarter cup Caster Sugar (Superfine Sugar)
For Decoration
- Icing Sugar
- Water
- Food Colouring
- Sprinkles/ balls
- Glitter
- Sugar- Coated Candies
Instructions
- Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until smooth and creamy.
- Add the flour to make a dough then turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth.
- Wrap in film and chill for at least 30mins in the fridge.
Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. - Roll out the dough and cut using Easter-themed cutters.
- Place the cookies on a greased baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack before decorating with icing sugar and sprinkles.
Cerys Parker
Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, high school teacher and mum. Realising that life doesn't have to be put on hold and you don't just have to survive whilst the kids are young she shares ideas to inspire you to LIVE with the kids, with activities to do together, recipes to cook and enjoy and family travel to make memories to last a lifetime.
Tricia says
They look yummy! Love the decorating station idea! Thanks for linking up to the Kids Co-op!
crystal@growingajeweledrose says
What a great idea to take the egg out if the recipe! Cookies look so yummy too!