These simple, festive treats are easy enough for children to make on their own, with just a little supervision. They'll learn that giving holiday gifts to teachers, family and friends is even more fun when you've made them yourself. Delegate appropriate tasks to the big kids and little kids, and get creative with the wrapping and decorations.
Kids Can Make: Cheese Straws
These easy, flaky cheese straws make a cute teacher or camp counselor gift. For little and big kids: Let everyone help dust the work surface, roll and twist the dough into sticks, brush them with egg wash, and sprinkle on the cheese. To wrap them up: Tuck the straws into a pencil case or a cup.
These one-bite treats are extra rich and satisfying, thanks to the surprising addition of dried apricots and prunes. For little kids: Let them roll and decorate the truffles. For big kids: Let them measure, scoop, decorate and package them. To wrap them up: Roll 5 to 6 truffles in parchment, and twist the ends closed.
For little kids: Let them measure, tear up the baked tomato paste and fill the sachet and shaker. For big kids: Let them do all of the above, plus operate the spice grinder. To wrap it up: Fill a sachet with 2 heaping tablespoons of the pizza spice, then tuck it into a 6-ounce cheese shaker with 1/2 cup popcorn kernels and the Pizza Popcorn recipe below.
How do you make blondies even better? Add our two favorite salty snacks to the sweet mix. For little kids: Let them measure ingredients and add toppings. For big kids: Let them pulse the food processor and spread the batter. To wrap them up: Place 4 blondies in a wide-mouth Mason jar, with cupcake liners separating them.
Rosemary bread baked in a clay flowerpot makes a charming gift — especially when you include herb seeds in the package for planting after the bread is gone. For little and big kids: Let them bloom the yeast, measure the flour and add it to the mixture, knead the dough, watch it rise, punch it down and shape it into balls. To wrap it up: Push a garden tag (or thank-you card) into the bread, and wrap the pot with a packet of rosemary seeds.
