Cookie Baking

This week I spent two separate afternoons conducting a special Bake and Take class with some of the children from my school's aftercare group. The AC director and myself decided to limit the number of participants to 9, the right amount to fit into the kitchen and to keep an eye on. It was first come, first served, and we chose Monday and Wednesday to do this. I decided on doing cookies for this first outing and settled on my family's favorite recipe for cutouts. I purchase the ingredients (all at Aldi), 9 cookie cutters and billed the AC group for reimbursement. The AC director also agreed to a flat fee for my time so that little bit extra will come in handy!!
I have to say I had an absolute blast and would've done this for free. I had a nice mixture of kids on Monday, three kindergartners, a first grader, a third grader, and three 4th graders for this first session. Lots of hands to measure, mix, roll, cut out, and get those cookies on the extra big tray! I also did a small bit on keeping our hands clean and gave them a tour of the kitchen (a huge hit since most of these kids buy hot lunch and were pretty excited to see where that comes from). The AC director purchased already made frosting and sprinkles and once the cookies were out of the oven they got to let their creativity run free and decorate.
Apparently this group had so much fun that by Wednesday the AC director was overwhelmed with requests. We took the first 9 children and the rest were promised spots in future classes. We will be doing this each month until school ends alternating cookies with cupcakes.
Here is the Cut out Cookie recipe that we used:

Cut Out Cookies:

3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 sticks butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar

Mix flour, baking soda and baking powder together with a whisk in the bowl of a stand mixer. Cut butter into small chunks and add to flour mixture. Mix on low until butter is cut into flour as if making pie dough. In a second small bowl lightly beat eggs and sugar together. Add egg mixture to the flour mixture and mix on low until a ball of dough forms.
Roll, cut with favorite cookie cutters and place on tray. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 5-8 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden. Cool completely before frosting and decorating.
You can also lightly brush unbaked cookies with a beaten egg white then decorate with colored sugars before baking if you prefer not to frost them.