There’s the warm and fuzzy image of holiday baking with your kids, and then there’s reality: smeared hands, gloppy spills and flour everywhere. You can’t escape the mess altogether, but these one-bowl cookie recipes will help you minimize it -- while maximizing the fun. They’re quick, easy and virtually stress-free. Try them:
Meltaway Ginger Cookies
Makes 3 dozen
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 4 tablespoons molasses
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients and stir well.
- Add wet ingredients and mix well.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls, roll in sugar and arrange on un-greased cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Flatten with a fork.
- Bake for eight minutes.
Peanutty Peanut Butter Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/3 cups flour
- 1 cup peanut butter chips
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Beat the butter and both sugars together. Beat in the peanut butter and egg.
- Scrape sides of bowl and beat in the salt, baking soda and vanilla.
- Add flour and stir until blended. Stir in the chips.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls and arrange on un-greased cookie sheets, about 2.5 inches apart. Flatten balls with a fork.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges.
Oatmeal Banana-chip Cookies
Makes about 2.5 dozen
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed well
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1/4 cup skim milk (less, if batter seems moist enough)
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or raisins
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
- Melt butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and let stand until oats are wet, about five minutes.
- Drop 1 tablespoon of the mix onto cookie sheets.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool on the sheet for about a minute before removing to wire racks to cool.
Baking together is an opportunity to teach kids about shapes, measurements and following directions. But more important, it’s a chance to spend time together during the holiday rush. And cutting down on the mess puts the focus where it belongs: on making lasting holiday memories.
Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/JaniceRichard
