Baking with Baby - Handprint Sugar Cookies

We've been super busy over here at the Harp's preparing for Christmas, but we've been having so much fun in the process.  Last weekend I decided that I was going to make sugar cookies with my baby (because, memories).  In the back of my mind, I was wondering if I was going to regret this decision.  I hate messes and I'm a bit of a control freak.  But baked goods are never a bad decision.  Little Harp was so excited and absolutely hilarious while we were making the cookies.  He even created  his own special cookie with his hand print right in the middle, which completely stole the show.  My Christmas tree cookies weren't nearly as adorable.  Naturally, we made a few more of those hand print cookies!  I think that these would make super cute gifts, and I would definitely give them to all my relatives if they lived in state!

To make the hand print sugar cookie pictured, all we did was stir together boxed sugar cookie mix with the necessary wet ingredients.  I plopped balls of dough onto parchment paper and he added his emblem.  Then, I let him go crazy with the sprinkles.  I helped him put a bunch of non-perils onto his hand print cookie, and it really improved the appearance.  The non-perils rolled into his hand print and made it stick out.  They were super easy!

 

Yes, he is wearing a dinosaur Christmas thermal and acorn pants.  

My husband dressed him.  As he put it, our son is "nuts about dinos."

Though, I did learn a few things along the way.  If you are also feeling brave and festive this Christmas season, maybe some of these tips and tricks will help you!

1. Prepare all ingredients ahead of time, if possible.  I had everything sitting on the counter ready to go and it was really easy to just throw everything into the bowl.

2. Ignore the mess or you will stress.  Seriously pretend like it's not happening, unless he's doing something dangerous.

3. He loves stirring.  He actually kept 95% of  the dough in the bowl, too!

4. He love adding sprinkles even more. Shake, shake, shake!

5. Distract him when you put the cookies into the oven.  He will want to follow them into the oven.

6. Get him out of the kitchen ASAP when you are finished.  If you do not get him out of the kitchen, boredom will ensue and he will destroy the kitchen.

This is one Christmas memory that is definitely going to stay with me!  I'm so glad that I braved the kitchen with the little one and ended up making some awesome cookies.  I hope you make some wonderful holiday memories this year also.  Happy Holidays!