Sweet Treats for our Community Heroes: Recipes for Kids to Bake

Our children are still at home and we are busy providing them with enjoyable activities. Our kitchen projects, namely, baking cookies are a learning experience for our young bakers but can often have another important result. In this difficult time, many of our community heroes, including teachers, firefighters, members of the police force, health workers and postal and delivery workers, would welcome a sweet treat during their busy day. A delivery of home baked cookies lovingly prepared by the youngsters in our community would bring a smile to the faces of these workers as well as teaching the little ones the pleasure of giving during difficult times in their young lives. Cheerfully wrapped with a handmade thank you note enclosed these treats will certainly be a bright moment in the busy days of our community heroes.

Here are a few suggestions for your sweet treats that kids can create with a little help from an adult. You may find the cookies so good that a second batch is in order to serve at your family table.

CHOCOCONUT CRUNCHIES (ABOUT 50 COOKIES)

We Need:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ pound sweet butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups quick cooking oatmeal
3 ½ ounces flaked coconut

We do:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet. Cream together the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour, baking soda and cocoa. Stir in the oatmeal and the coconut. Drop the dough on a cookie sheet by the teaspoonful about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and remove from cookie tray. Continue until all of the dough is used.

DOUBLE TROUBLE CHOCOLATE DROPS (about 50 cookies)

We need:
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. baking soda
½ pound sweet butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbsps. milk
1 cup chocolate chips

We do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and both sugars. When it is smooth blend in the vanilla, cocoa powder and milk. Blend in flour and baking soda. Fold in the chocolate chips. Place dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes. Cool and remove with a spatula.

SNICKERDOODLES (about 50 cookies)

We need:
2 ¾ cups all purpose flour
2 tsps. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup softened butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs

4 Tbsps. sugar
4 tsps. cinnamon
Mixed together

We do:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream together butter and sugar. Blend in the eggs. Blend in the flour, cream of tartar and baking soda. Roll dough into walnut sized balls. Roll each ball into the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place on ungreased cookie tray about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden

COCONUT CHOCOLATE CHIP OUT OF THIS WORLD ORANGE CUTIES (ABOUT 36 SMALL COOKIES)

We need:
2 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
¾ cup sugar
2 egg whites from jumbo or extra large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
¾ cup mini chocolate chips
2 tsps. finely grated orange peel

We do:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl combine sugar, coconut, egg whites, vanilla orange rind and mini chocolate chips. With your clean hands mix it very well. Use about 1 tablespoon of the mixture for each cookie. Wet your hands with cold water and make a pointy mound out of each tablespoon of the coconut mixture. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat to use all of the mixture, placing the mounds about 1 inch apart. Bake until golden or about 13-15 minutes. Cool and remove from cookie sheet.
Your baking experience with an adult guiding the way will be exciting for the heroic recipients and for the bakers, as well.