To get to the grandparents’ house we don’t exactly go “over the river” as the song says, but we often do walk through the woods!

One of the things we love most about our home is that we can cut through the  woods to our Mimi and Papa’s place.  This week we took a field trip to their farm and spent the morning making Christmas cookies.

Making cookies is such a huge part of Christmas for so many families.  Christmas cookies involve so much more than stirring up a batch of chocolate chips… usually there is rolling and cutting and spreading and decorating….!  I love eating cookies that are beautiful and intricate.  My favorites have cream in the center, or cherries on top – it seems like Christmas cookies set a pretty high precedent for bakers!

I used to spend hours and hours making the most delicious oatmeal cream filled layer cookies, but the days of fancy cookies are on hold for now.  These days I much prefer the hand rolled treats my babies make – no pressure and all fun!  We make a simple sugar cookie that doesn’t even involve a rolling-pin, just use your hands and press with a fork!

The cookies we churn out taste delicious, but they look a little messy!  They are absolutely covered in sprinkles – because that is the best part, right!?

The children rolled, pressed, sprinkled, licked fingers, dunked cookies in milk, gave carrots to the horses, said hello to the cows, and played on the swings.  Then we walked home with some of our favorite people.  The cookies are going fast, but the sweet memories of a sunny day at Three Sister’s Farm will stick around forever.

Who are your favorite people to bake with and do you have a tried and true cookie recipe?

Fork Pressed Sugar Cookies
1 pound butter
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

What To Do:
Cream together butter and sugar.  Sift dry ingredients together and mix into creamed mixture.  Chill dough in refrigerator for several hours.  When chilled, roll dough into small balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Press slightly with a fork.  Add sprinkles!  Bake at 350 for 8-10 min until lightly browned.

Tips:
These cookies will spread out on the pan!  If making them with your children be aware that because of all the butter in this recipe, the warmer the dough gets in their hot little hands the more melted the cookies will be when they go into the oven.  Try to help them keep the holding and rolling of the dough to a minimum! :)

post by Sunshine, pictures by Sunshine & Peter