![\"Pepparkakor-11\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Pepparkakor-11.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI thought it was going to be this perfect afternoon with my two older kids. \u00a0All laughter and smiles, Christmas music playing in the background, my little guy playing happily in his high chair watching us and not fussing. \u00a0But once I started getting everything together for our cookie decorating I was reminded that rarely does\u00a0that perfect experience you’ve created in your head actually come to fruition. \u00a0Not only is that just the way\u00a0life goes, but kids are just unpredictable. \u00a0My daughter was having a longer than normal nap, and if we wanted to get finished before dinner we had to go on without her. \u00a0My son was just impatient with the process of getting it all ready. \u00a0I had the cookies made ahead of time, but had to make frosting and gather sprinkles, and then I had to explain to him what to do when all he wanted to do was do it! \u00a0A few times while I was getting everything set up he said, “I think I’ll just go do legos\/play outside\/get my cars instead, mom.”<\/p>\n
Thankfully he did sit down with me for a good while and decorate. \u00a0And he liked it! He was even bummed when we ran out of cookies to decorate. \u00a0I’d love to instill, if not a passion for cooking and baking, at the very least a good understanding of the kitchen in my kids. I recently started participating in Kids Chefs Club<\/a>. \u00a0Every month you receive a cooking tool, a card with activities and recipes, and access to online content to help your child learn about being safe in the kitchen, kitchen tools, nutrition and basic kitchen skills. \u00a0The first month my son got the apron he’s wearing in the pictures below. \u00a0Every time he helps me cook he wants to put it on. \u00a0We are going on our third month. \u00a0My kids’ desire to help me with meals has increased a great deal. \u00a0That has been both very exciting\u00a0and very challenging.<\/p>\n Cooking with kids takes longer and is messier than cooking on your own. \u00a0It also takes a good bit of patience and a great deal of letting go! \u00a0I like control in the kitchen, so letting my kids help has been tough, but really good for me, and it’s been great for them. \u00a0If you’re interested in trying Kids Chefs Club here is a discount code that will give you 20% off any membership plan, either 3, 6 or 12 months. \u00a0It’s valid until the end of the year, December 31, 2015! \u00a0Just use HolidayFriends15\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>at checkout. \u00a0If you need a last minute gift, this would be a great one.<\/p>\n Now about these cookies! \u00a0They are spiced wonderfully and I really enjoy the crunch they have…if you bake them right \ud83d\ude09 \u00a0I forget how much I love cardamom sometimes, but then I notice it in something and am reminded of how warm and unique and wonderful it is. \u00a0These take a little time and patience. \u00a0Instead of simply creaming butter with sugar to begin, you must boil together sugar, molasses and water which you then mix into the butter. After cooling it down, you make the dough. \u00a0Then you have to chill the dough for at least 24 hours. \u00a0If I’m not in a time crunch, this type of recipe is good for me since I often don’t have the freedom to complete a recipe start to finish without interruption from the kids. \u00a0So spreading it out over a couple days was no problem! \u00a0I wasn’t stressed thinking, “Oh! I have to finish those cookies!” I was able to finish part of the recipe and think, “Now I just have to wait. \u00a0The recipe says I can take a break. \u00a0Thank, you recipe.”<\/p>\n My first batch was the best. \u00a0Working with a little dough at a time (since it warms up and gets soft pretty quickly) roll and cut your cookies. Bake for 4-6 minutes at 400\u00b0F, “but don’t overbake!” says the recipe. I did 5 minutes and they were a teensiest bit dark but good. \u00a0My next batch I did for 4 and a half minutes. \u00a0They were soft coming out of the oven and I just thought they’d set up nicely after they cooled. \u00a0So I did 4 and a half minutes for the rest of them. \u00a0After the first batch they did not get that nice crunch that pepparkakor should have. They still tasted great, but were on the soft side. \u00a0I tried to bake them more after they’d cooled with not much luck. \u00a0Now I know that while overbaking is bad, so is underbaking. \u00a0You basically need perfect baking time. \u00a0Good luck! \u00a0I’d rather have them a little overbaked (but not burnt) to be honest, nice and crunchy. \u00a0But that’s just me.<\/p>\n To decorate I used royal icing so that it would harden completely. \u00a0It isn’t the tastiest, but you get mostly spice from the cookie and a simple sweet crunch from the icing. \u00a0This recipe<\/a> is what I used. \u00a0It’s more than you need, and you will have to add some water to make it more pipe-able. \u00a0Just a teaspoon at a time until you get it where you want it.<\/p>\n I’ve seen so many insanely beautiful holiday cookies all over blogs and on Instagram lately that I was feeling like I’d better do something awesome. \u00a0But there’s no joy in trying to do something just as or more awesome as other people. \u00a0So we had fun with these and didn’t worry about all those other people. \u00a0Enjoy and have fun with these!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n