Enjoy a Story, Make Cookies: Christmas Edition!

Perfect for an afternoon with your own children, grandchildren, or for kindergarten and early elementary classrooms!

1. “Gingerbread Baby” by Jan Brett

 Story-Time Gingerbread Cookies

A simple dough with no tricky steps—perfect for little helpers.

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups flour
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup butter (softened)
• ½ cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt

Kids Can Help With:

• Pouring spices
• Rolling dough
• Using cookie cutters

Steps:

1. Mix dry ingredients.
2. Add wet ingredients and mix.
3. Roll dough to ¼ inch and cut gingerbread shapes.
4. Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
5. Decorate with icing dots like Jan Brett’s illustrations.

Extension Activity:
Let kids create their own “Gingerbread Baby Escape Map” after cookie time!

2. “If You Take a Mouse to the Movies” by Laura Numeroff

 Snowball Sprinkle Cookies

These are soft, sweet, and rolled in powdered sugar—easy and fun!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• ½ tsp salt
• Powdered sugar for rolling

Kids Can Help With:

• Rolling dough balls
• Shaking cookies in powdered sugar “snow”

Steps:

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Add vanilla, flour, and salt.
3. Roll into small balls.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
5. While warm, roll in powdered sugar.

Extension Activity:
Have students create a “Snowy Scene Mouse Drawing” inspired by the book.

3. “The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg

 Hot Cocoa Cookies

Soft chocolate cookies that pair perfectly with a warm read-aloud.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• Mini marshmallows for topping

Kids Can Help With:

• Pressing mini marshmallows on top
• Stirring dry ingredients

Steps:

1. Mix wet ingredients.
2. Add dry ingredients.
3. Drop a spoon-full at a time onto a baking sheet.
4. Press 2–3 mini marshmallows on each.
5. Bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes.

Extension Activity:
After eating, have kids sequence the story with a “First, Next, Then, Last Train Ride” chart.

4. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” by Dr. Seuss

 Grinch Heart Thumbprint Cookies

Bright green dough with a red heart—simple and super festive.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 ½ cups flour
• Green food coloring
• Red candy hearts or red jam

Kids Can Help With:

• Mixing in food coloring
• Pressing thumbprints

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients, coloring dough green.
2. Roll into balls and press thumbprint.
3. Add a candy heart or jam.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Extension Activity:
Students write or draw: “Three Ways My Heart Grew Today.”

5. “Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn & Mark Buehner

 Melting Snowman Sugar Cookies

Simple sugar cookies decorated with marshmallow “snowmen.”

Ingredients:

• Store-bought sugar cookie dough (for ease!)
• Large marshmallows
• White icing
• Mini chocolate chips or edible pens
• Pretzel sticks

Kids Can Help With:

• Decorating faces
• Drizzling icing “melt”

Steps:

1. Bake sugar cookies according to package.
2. Once cool, drizzle icing.
3. Add marshmallow head and decorations.

Extension Activity:
Create “What My Snowman Does at Night” drawings.

6. “Pete the Cat Saves Christmas” by James Dean & Eric Litwin

 Cool Cat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pete loves simple, groovy classics.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 ¼ cups flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• Chocolate chips

Kids Can Help With:

• Dumping ingredients
• Stirring chips

Steps:

1. Mix butter and sugars.
2. Add egg and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients and chips.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Extension Activity:
Let kids retell the story using “Cool Cat Holiday Words.”

Happy Baking with kids!