On a rainy Sunday afternoon in April, my 3 year-old is especially crabby. It is the kind of day that, as a mother of young children, you could start to climb the walls. The rain, the whining, the tears. So I carry him into the kitchen, set him on the counter and preheat the oven.
Baking is a bond for us.
When he was a small baby and never wanting to be out of my arms, the one place he was content to sit and watch was in the kitchen. Now he is old enough to bake at my side. I bought him his own toy mixer several weeks ago and because his mixer actually mixes and looks even more professional than my Kitchenaid, it has taken his fondness for baking with mama to the next level.
Today we keep it simple.
Three ingredients.
Butter, sugar, flour.
Shortbread.
Pure, simple and delicious.
There is something soothing about the whir of the mixers and the smell of shortbread browning in the oven. Don’t take my word for it, try your own batch on the next rainy day.
For your own little one, Wynn’s beloved mixer is here:
Classic Shortbread Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
-
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Cream butter and brown sugar. Add 1 1/2 cups flour and mix well.
- Sprinkle board with the remaining flour. Knead for 5 minutes, adding enough flour to make a soft dough. Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into 3×1 inch strips. Prick with fork and place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes.
Enjoy!
I had no idea shortbread was so easy! We are definitely going to have to try that with the boys. 🙂 And that little mixer is so adorable!
I love the photo of your son…so sweet!! I didn’t realize this was such a simple recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing it!
So sweet how you bake together! I love how simple times of creating can be so bonding. Reminds me of our daughter and her toy “mender” (blender)) that she loved when she was little. She’s a young adult now and does not love to bake; however, she is a very healthy eater and can whip up wonderful smoothies with her real life blender : ) Continue to treasure your time ~ those days go by quickly…
I love when my girls help cook or bake. It’s precious time and on those days when they won’t do ANYTHING on their own, I find its easier to slow down and include them in my household tasks. It may make my “chore” take twice as long, but at least I get it done. Which wouldn’t happen if I was telling them “no, I can’t play” every few minutes. That’s so much less productive. And it ends up being some of our best time together.
My older daughter is SET on an easy bake oven for her next birthday. She asked for it when she was 3 and I told her she needed to be 6. She has reminded me often over the past 2 1/2 years that when she’s 6 she’ll be able to surprise us with dessert. I think this mixer is a MUST for my younger daughter’s birthday this summer. Then they’ll be baking together!
wow! never thought of buying a child’s mixer but that is cute! good idea.