Most of my recipe are for grownups and recently a young friend asked me why I didn’t put up easy things that kids could make, especially around Christmas and make the recipe simple enough that mums and dads didn’t have to help other than the oven. Well, that gave me food for thought.
It’s been a long time since I had young ones and my grands are 10,000 miles away so I don’t get to cook with them very often.
Then I saw Bakerette’s post for Chocolate Crinkles and I knew I was on to a good idea. My execution wasn’t 100% but I’ll know better next time. I pushed the M&Ms in too far and that messed with the icing sugar and they didn’t look so crinkly. Keep the ball shape as much as you can.
I used red velvet cake mix (because it was holiday red) and I used red & green Christmas M&Ms for the top. I don’t know that they needed the candy on the top but kids like adding things so I used them.
Dump the cake mix in a mixer, add 2 eggs and half a cup of butter nearly melted (just pop it in the microwave for 10-20 seconds depending upon how cold the butter was) and some vanilla extract. Mix until it all comes together, about 2 minutes.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes (if you can last that long) and then take a teaspoon of dough in your hands and form into balls and then roll in icing sugar. Place on cookie sheet on baking paper and bake for 10-12 minutes or just until the cookies are set. They are cakey, not crunchy cookies.
When you take them out of the oven, slide the baking paper on to a cooling rack and see who burns their mouth first having the first bite. Remember the M&M is going to be really hot right out of the oven.
Notes:
Red Velvet cake mix goes straight through – you’re not dying, it’s the food coloring. Best not to peek after you poo. It’s like eating too many beets, you’re sure you’re dying of something.
Use a devil’s food cake mix and make the same way and turn them into whoopie pies Or spice cake crinkle cookies.
- 1 box cake mix, any sort
- ½ cup butter, very very soft
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (or other flavor extract)
- ½ cup Powdered sugar (icing sugar) for rolling
- Preheat oven to 350F/180C
- In a mixing bowl combine the cake mix, butter, eggs and vanilla until the dough comes together.
- Chill for 30 minutes
- Roll into balls and then into icing sugar and place on cookie sheet lined with baking paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the center is just set – don’t overcook.
- Store in a tightly covered container.
{ 113 comments… read them below or add one }
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Love this beautifully simple recipe Maureen! Thank you for sharing – hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas x
Christine @ Cooking Crusade recently posted..100+ Budget Christmas Gift Ideas for Foodies
Ag, these are so cute. I don’t have kids to cook for, but I might borrow some from friends for afternoon baking session. Just for fun
Gourmantine recently posted..Vin d’orange
Ah, these are so cute. I don’t have kids to cook for, but I might borrow some from friends for afternoon baking session. Just for fun
Gourmantine recently posted..Vin d’orange
There was a local show on TV last night showing kids making cookies. These would be perfect and you are right…kids like adding things.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Gorgonzola Sauce
Just wanted to stop back by and wish you a Merry Christmas.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..I Wish You A Merry Christmas
I love baking with kiddos, they really just light up when they see the finished product THEY helped make. I’ll definitely keep these beauties in mind next time I’m baking with my nephews!
P.S. I have nominated you for a Reality Blog Award. Come collect!
x http://www.foodmyfriend.com/2012/12/reality-blog-award/comment-page-1/#comment-28013
Baking with children is one of the best parts of Christmas time I think. My daughters and I would do sugar cookies when they were little, so now I am going to pass your recipe on for Chocolate Crinkles . Yummy
Thanks for sharing
Thanks Christine and so nice of you to stop by.
Such fun cookies Maureen! You crack me up too, love your “notes”!
How clever. You always amaze me Maureen. They look so good.
I LOVE cookies that are made with cake mix!! So yummy
They look beautiful!
Kristi @ My San Francisco Kitchen recently posted..Nutty Coconut Bars
… cookies that grown-ups like myself can make too!
These look great, I love the red and green middles too it gives them a definite festive feel!
All That I’m Eating recently posted..Christmas Spiced Tea
I’m only a kid at heart, but as a not so great baker I really appreciate your recipe. Yay cookies I can make!! Lol. Thanks for sharing Maureen.
Nancy/SpicieFoodie recently posted..Cooking Mashed Potatoes by Feel and The Yummy Pics Community
My family loves these cookies. They are fun to do with kids as you say; my fourteen year-old loves getting into the kitchen to bake them. They do make good Christmas cookies too!
Maureen, I have always wanted to try Crinkle Cookies….they look so fudgey and good! Love the M & M’s in the middle….very festive! I am certain, had I been in your kitchen, I would have been the first fool to burn my tongue on these scrumptious treats! I definitely have to bump these up on my must make list! : )
Great post, Maureen. I’m not sure I’d leave my kids alone with either the cake mix or the M&Ms though – I don’t think there would be any cookies to bake if I did!
Love the coloured centers to these cookies which make them look so festive. Nice touch.
I will be making these with my little kiddies as soon as school breaks up!
Complete with red and green smarties! Thanks for sharing
GourmetGetaways recently posted..Smoked Salmon Wontons
What great cookies and so much fun! I could feel like a kid making these.
Fun pictures as well!
mjskit recently posted..Shepherd’s Pie, New Mexico Style
This comes at the right time, we have a cookie contest on Saturday which my children are entering, I am going to get Laith to make these. He’ll enjoy doing these. They look fabulous and easy too. Thanks for the idea Maureen!
Nazneen
Coffee and Crumpets recently posted..Kousa Mahshi ~ Stuffed Squash
A great recipe, Maureen. I had trouble finding something that would be simple enough for me and my niece to bake. And voila – I came across your blog. Thank you very much for your effort.
P.S. The smiling faces in the sidebars are absolutely positive and energizing.
Diane Clark recently posted..3 Smart Ways to Save Money in College: Thin Wallet Guide
These look so good Maureen and I’ll heed your advice about them going straight through! I think I saw a similar looking cooking on Just a Smidgen but she called them crackle mounting cookies! xx
my daughter loves helping me in the kitchen…cooking is indeed a nice activity to bond with the kids..thank god for recipes like this!
I’ll make my hubby bake this ones with me
thank you, I love easy recipes.
Happy New Year, Marta and thanks for coming by. I’ll check out your blog!
Hi Maureen! I found your blog via Minnie’s The Lady 8 Home and absolutely love your blog! Can’t believe I didn’t click over here sooner
. I love how easy this recipe is and think this might be a good school holidays activity to do with the kids that I sometimes look after! Thanks for sharing 
.
Hi Ames and I really appreciate your visit and I hope to get to know you better! Happy New Year!
Maureen, how delicious… I’ve been wanting to make these for ages! Thank you for sharing this recipe. And may I take this opportunity to say what a joy it was to meet you this year… love your work and you’re a great lady too… keep in touch, best wishes for Christmas and the new year. Lizzy xoxo
my kid is way too little to be making cookies but maybe i can make these with him next year… i think he would have fun!
happy holidays maureen
I agree, the world needs easy and quick cookie recipes. Christmas time passes like a whirlwind! One more reason why I wished I could get ready made cake batters here.
Merry Christmas Maureen and John!
wow really that simple? good for newbies like me
Latest: Thanks for being here in 2012!
FiSh recently posted..2012: The Endless Awesomeness
Those cookies look really yummy and also easy! Perfect.
Ilan recently posted..Homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Happy holidays to you Maureen, hope you’ve had a blessed Christmas and many good wishes for the New Year, Chris
YUM! I am a huge fan of chocolate crinkles. These look so good.
Hi Sarah, thanks so much for the comment and Happy New Year!
These cookies looks really delicious
and so easy, perfect not only for Christmas but for any other occasion. My daughters are still too small to help me in the kitchen but will try the recipe for myself till then:)
Hi Ella and thanks for the comment. This recipe is perfect for quick whoopie pies too!
need to try making red velvet cookies, have only had the muffins. They look great even if you did squish them down a bit too much!
Hi,
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Kind regards,
Senka
I haven’t replied to this comment because I’ve been trying to think of a tactful way to say I’m not in the US, so I wouldn’t qualify but thanks for the invitation.
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