Make Your State Cookie

It’s baking.It’s science.It’s time . . . to make the cookiethat represents your state!

But before you get your apron on, let’s learn how to build a cookie recipe.

X

Choose your flour. Flour is most of the “stuff” in cookies. It gives them their shape. When wheat proteins meet water, gluten forms. Gluten acts like elastic. That’s just what a cookie needs. While baking, it stretches—and that’s all thanks to . . . 

your leavening agent. You want your cookie light and fluffy, not as hard as a hockey puck. Baking soda, baking powder, or yeast will give your cookies lift.

Now it’s sugar time! You pick: White sugar? Brown sugar? (Brown sugar is just white sugar plus molasses. The molasses makes your dough stick together a bit better.) You can also choose honey or maple syrup. Note: If you picked yeast for your leavening agent, you’ll need sugar to help activate it.

Salt. Don’t worry. This won’t ruin your cookies, as long as you don’t put too much in! Salt balances flavor. One famous chef says salt “makes food taste more like itself.”

Eggs. The incredible edible egg does many jobs at once in cookie batter. It adds flavor. It helps cookies rise. Eggs are also a binder. They keep cookies from falling apart. 

Fat. You can thank fat for making cookies so yummy. Fat adds moisture. It combines with sugar and forms little air pockets for fluffy cookies. Will you use shortening or butter? Cookies made with shortening will likely rise more. Cookies made with butter will probably turn out crunchier.

Add-ins. Now is your time to make the cookies unique. What foodie items make your state stand out? Is your state famous for a certain color, smell, or flavor? Florida orange? Vermont maple? Michigan cherry? What extracts, candies, herbs, spices, or icings will make your cookie reflect the state you call home?

• 1 tsp vanilla or other      flavor extract • 1½ cup flour  • 1/2 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • Plus your add-ins!

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! — Psalm 34:8

Basic Cookie Recipe:

Ingredients . . .  • 1/2 cup butter, unsalted  • 1/4 cup sugar • 1/2 cup brown sugar • 1 egg

• Cream together sugars and butter. Next, beat in egg and       vanilla (or other extract). In another bowl, combine     flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix the wet and dry     ingredients and then stir in your add-ins. • With a grownup’s help, bake for 9 to 12 minutes at     350 degrees.

Recipe adapted from kristineinbetween.com. Note: The above recipe is for “drop cookies.” If you want to make cookies using a cookie cutter, have a grownup help you find a recipe for roll-out cookie dough. 

Send yours to WORLDkidseditor@gwnews.com.

Share your results?Tell us about your state, your add-ins, and share your final recipe! Pictures or short video clips of your final product are welcome too!