Cooking together is great fun, and there is lots of learning involved too!
Writing a shopping list, finding the right ingredients and following a recipe will introduce early reading skills for young children, or for older children, will improve their reading skills. They'll be learning about measurements and counting, and developing their coordination and muscles too!
This recipe is easy to follow and child-friendly, with delicious results!
Ingredients:
350g / 12oz plain flour
175g / 6oz soft brown sugar
100g / 4oz butter
1 egg
4 tablespoons of golden syrup
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
4 teaspoons of ground ginger (or less, depending on how you like your biscuits)
Icing sugar, writing icing and other cake decorations
You’ll need:
Mixing bowl
Star-shaped pastry cutter (If you don't have a cutter, just use your hands)
Rolling pin
Baking tray
Method:
1. Adult: Pre-heat the oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas Mark 4
2. Child: Put the flour, butter, ground ginger and bicarbonate of soda in a mixing bowl. Mix it all together with your fingers until it feels like crumbly breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, syrup and egg with a spoon until it makes a firm dough.
3. Child: Dust the rolling pin and a flat surface with flour. Roll out the dough you’ve made until it’s about half a centimetre thick.
4. Child: Using the pastry cutter, press down on the flat dough to cut out your biscuits. Place the biscuits on a greased baking tray ready for the oven.
5. Adult: Place the baking tray in the pre-heated oven and leave for 15 minutes until they are golden brown. Wait for the biscuits to cool.
6. Child: Using icing sugar, writing icing or any other decorations, decorate your biscuits with any festive design you wish!
Top tip!
Let your child do as much of the measuring and making as possible. It's a great learning experience and they will be proud of the finished biscuits!
