The Great Cookie Bake

I got this idea from Journey into Unschooling, except instead of making it a competition, we just had fun making our own type of cookie to share. First you start with a basic cookie dough. Journey into Unschooling uses a chocolate dough. You could use a sugar cookie dough as your base or you could use what I used, which is just a chocolate chip cookie base (without the chocolate chips):

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Now take this batter and divide it into several small bowls. Get out lots of things to add to your cookies.

chips of all sorts

mini marshmallows

nuts of all sorts-almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc. -sliced, crushed, whole, etc.

raisins

craisins

coconut

cocoa powder

flavoring extracts

spices such as cinnamon or cayenne pepper

oatmeal

peanut butter or other nut butters
Have your (eager) volunteers put what they want in their own bowls and stir them up.

Sometimes it is hard to decide with all those choices.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment paper. You can write the name of the baker right on the paper. BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Once baked, you can share your creations with each other and have a wonderful time.