It's Cookie O'clock

Time

Food
Sensory

4 3 2 1 Early-Mid Stages

Benefits

Participants

One to One or Group Activity

What you need

200g brown sugar
250g unsalted butter
2 eggs
3tsp vanilla essence
1tsp salt
450g self-raising flour
400g chocolate (cut into small chunks, roughly 5mm x 5mm)

Intro

We’re of the opinion that you never need an excuse to eat cookies, but just in case you’re searching for one, World Chocolate Day is on 7th July, and it’s a perfect date to enjoy this activity! Baking these chocolate chunk cookies is a great reminiscent and sensory activity and, of course, it comes with the added bonus that you get to eat your creations. Why not make a morning of the baking and treat people to the cookies with their afternoon tea?

This recipe creates up to 60 cookies, but this is all dependent on how big you want them.

The Activity

Divide all the ingredients in half, so 2 people (or groups) can work on a mixture at the same time
Preheat the oven to 200°C
Ask 1 person to mix the butter and sugar together in a bowl, then ask them (or the next person) to mix in the egg and vanilla essence
2 people can work together with this step: 1 person to sieve in the flour and salt, and 1 to stir it as it’s being added
Mix in the chocolate chunks and combine well
Take some mixture on a teaspoon and roll it into a ball, then place it on a baking tray lined with baking paper (to prevent sticking)
Lay all the balls on the tray, but not too close together (you may need more than one tray) then place it in the oven and bake for 7-10 minutes
As the cookies are baking, encourage the group to share their memories of baking and food, specifically of chocolate!
Once you’ve taken the cookies from the oven and they’ve cooled, they’re ready to be served and devoured with a cuppa