Consumer Corner

Baking cookies with your children or grandchildren can be a fun activity to do. Don’t forget to add such decorations as M&M’s, sprinkles, mints or colored frosting. The choices are many and the working (really play) is good therapy for everyone. What a de-stressor during these fast paced days.

Here are some possible cookie doughs to choose from. Enjoy the cookies with hot chocolate, milk or your favorite coffee or tea.

1. King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Cookie Mix: this is a great tasting cookie plus the added advantage – gluten free. These are buttery brown sugar cookies, are delicious alone or you can turn them into snicker doodles (sprinkling with cinnamon and sugar before baking). You can also make fruit cookies by adding candied fruit and a little extra vanilla to the mix. Mmmm delicious! Cost: $6.00 at your supermarket

2. Naturally Nora Spectacular Sugar Cookies Mix: this is an all-natural sugar cookie mix. Don’t have the time but want the taste of cookies from scratch? Then this is the mix for you. All natural means no additives, no preservatives, no coloring. Your children can also decorate the cookies with sprinkles and other goodies, your choice! Cost: $4.00 in your supermarket.

3. Betty Crocker Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix: If you love chocolate then this is the mix for you. The double chocolate cookie mix is pure decadence. Cost $3.00 in your supermarket.

4. Barefoot Contessa Coconut Macaroon Mix: these cookies are chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. Melt some chocolate, dip the macaroon into the chocolate and voila` an even tastier cookie. Cost $.00 at stonewallkitchen.com

5. Stonewall Kitchen Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Mix: I love pumpkin pie, pudding, cookies, pumpkin rolls, even soup etc. This is a pleasurable delight to bite into – part cookie and part cake. The Whoopie pie is excellent for the traditional dinner gathering when you are looking for something special. Cost $9.00 at stonewall.com

These ideas are easy and you can add to the cookie mix. Find time when both you and your children can enjoy an afternoon together. Good baking to all!