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Elder Care Fun: Hand Cookies for Sugar Cookie Day

Elder Care in Zebulon, NC

Elder Care in Zebulon, NCSugar cookies are a tried-and-true favorite for many people and whether they are sprinkled with coarse sugar, decorated with thick frosting, or just plain, there is never a need for an excuse to enjoy these treats as part of your elder care with your aging loved ones. Sugar Cookie Day on July 9, however, may just be the perfect one.

Making sugar cookies is a holiday tradition for many families, but there is no reason you should have to wait all summer and fall to enjoy these sweet, old-fashioned treats. Sugar Cookie Day reminds you to indulge in life’s simple pleasures and find ways as often as possible to have fun and treat yourself and the people you love. On this holiday, enjoy a unique spin on the traditional sugar cookie by making these adorable personalized hand cookies. Each person gets a chance to customize his own cookie and then snack on it later, making this activity an enjoyable way to stimulate your parents’ minds and excite their senses.

Invite their referred caregiver to get in on the experience with you so that they can connect with your parents, foster a closer bond, and help you keep an eye on them if physical or cognitive limitations may make the project challenging.

What You’ll Need

For the sugar cookies

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
  • 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
  • 1 1/3 cups vegetable shortening
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons milk
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Hand mixer
  • Sifter
  • Waxed paper
  • Rolling pin
  • Dull knife
  • Cookie sheets
  • Wire cooling racks

For the colored glaze

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 drops of food coloring per yolk, different colors
  • 4 small bowls
  • Fork
  • Small, soft brushes such as new, high-quality paintbrushes

For the icing

  • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Several drops pure vanilla extract
  • Mixing bowl
  • Hand mixer
  • Utensils for frosting the cookies

Decorations

  • Candy jewels
  • Edible glitter
  • Sanding sugar
  • Sprinkles

What to Do

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
  • Put the shortening, granulated sugar, lemon zest, and pure vanilla extract into the large mixing bowl and cream with the hand mixer
  • Add the whole eggs one at a time and beat into the mixture until it is pale, light, and fluffy
  • Add in the milk and combine
  • Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder together into the medium mixing bowl
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until thoroughly combined
  • Divide the dough in half. Gently flatten each piece in between two sheets of waxed paper
  • Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour or freeze for about 20 minutes
  • Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface
  • Place your elderly loved one’s hand on the dough and use the dull knife to carefully cut around it, creating a hand-shaped cookie
  • Repeat the process for all the dough
  • Transfer the cookies to greased cookie sheets. Now prepare the glaze.
  • Put each egg yolk into a different bowl
  • Add 4 teaspoons of water to each; beat with the fork until smooth
  • Add 2 drops of food coloring into the yolks and mix until you have 4 different colors of glaze
  • Use soft brushes to paint the cookies. This glaze makes wonderful “nail polish” but can be used for any designs you desire. Remember you will also have frosting and decorations once the cookies are baked
  • Bake the cookies for approximately 6 minutes. Do not allow them to brown at all
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the wire cooling rack. Now prepare the icing.
  • Put the confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, butter, and pure vanilla extract into the mixing bowl and blend until smooth and fluffy
  • Decorate the cooled cookies with the icing and edible decorations

Modified from this recipe.

The articles posted on this blog are provided for general information and discussion purposes only.  These articles are not intended to suggest anything with respect to the operations or services of this office.

If you or an aging loved one are considering non-medical in-home care in Raleigh, NC, call Griswold Home Care and speak to one of our caring staff members today. Call (919) 229-8944

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