Ginger and Orange Cookies
A holiday at home, kids bursting with energy, and you’re in “help, I need a plan” mode? Take a deep breath—the solution is in the kitchen. Baking cookies with kids is one of those activities that seems simple but has enormous power: it keeps the little ones entertained for hours, creates memories they’ll cherish forever, and (bonus) fills the house with a scent no scented candle can ever replicate.
Yes, I hear you. You’re already picturing flour flying everywhere and mentally calculating the cleanup time. But think about it: the kitchen wasn’t going to clean itself anyway. So, it’s better if that creative “chaos” serves a truly special purpose—flour-covered cheeks, laughter mixed in with the dough, and memories that last long after the cookies are gone. Of course, a walk outdoors is always a great option. But when you come back home with rosy cheeks, you won’t find this irresistible aroma waiting for you.
My little girl is my biggest partner in this adventure. She absolutely loves every part of the process—kneading, cutting, decorating. And when it’s time to eat? She takes after her mom: she can’t resist a good little cookie! Get ready, because my little big chef is going to be making a lot of appearances here. I have a feeling this will be one of your favorites—just as it already is one of ours.
This adorable recipe comes from the book “Mommy and Me in the Kitchen” by DK Publishing—a book I’ve mentioned in a previous post and wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to spend more time in the kitchen with their kids. (Recipe and ingredients as per the original post).
See these golden treats? The aroma that filled our kitchen that day—unfortunately, I still can’t send that through the screen. But when you make these cookies at home, you’ll immediately know whether or not the flour scattered across the countertop was worth it (Spoiler: it will be. Always.)
Ginger and Orange Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Adults should start by preheating the oven to 180°C. Next, line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
- In a large bowl, rub the flour and butter together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar, ginger, and orange zest.
- In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg with your choice of golden syrup using a fork. Then mix this into the previous mixture with a wooden spoon until it forms a ball.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes (I’ll take this opportunity to warn you that this dough is a bit finicky and can drive you crazy, because it sticks to the counter very easily, and since kids love to touch the dough, it gets warm, which doesn’t help. But with a lot of patience, it’ll work out—be brave and persistent; it’ll be worth it).
- After that time, roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a floured surface and cut it with your favorite cookie cutters—this time we chose stars and hearts.
- Arrange the stars slightly apart, bake them for 10 to 12 minutes (keep an eye on them because I think it took less time). Remove them, transfer to a cooling rack, and enjoy.
Tips for cooking with your little ones:
If the idea of cooking with kids during the holidays has won you over, here are some tips to make the experience even smoother:
- Set up the countertop before calling the kids over—ingredients already measured out, utensils ready to go. It reduces the chaos considerably.
- Give each of them a specific task—who mixes, who kneads, who cuts with the cookie cutter. It prevents arguments and keeps everyone involved.
- Embrace imperfection with love—crooked cookies are the tastiest. Always.
- Take pictures of the process—you’ll want to keep these memories forever.
- Count on cleanup as part of the activity—yes, they can help clean up too. 😄
Have you ever made cookies with your kids? Tell me all about it in the comments—I love hearing how it went, if there was flour on the ceiling (it happens!), and if the cookies survived until the end of the day (here at home, that’s a rare occurrence).
And if you make this recipe, tag me on social media (@ihaveacoconut) — I’d love to see the flour-covered faces of your little chefs! 📸
