Oat and Currant Cookies

There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cookies on a cold winter's day. Baking these simple and delicious cookies is also a wonderful way to pass time with your children when it is not so nice outside.

Cookies and other treats, when given occasionally, help children build a healthy attitude to eating and teaches them that all foods can be enjoyed in moderation. Baking also exposes kids to different tastes, textures, measuring and pouring skills, as well as being a practice in patience while waiting for those special treats to cook and cool.



Oat and Currant Cookies

2 cups SR flour

1 tbsp baking powder

2 cups oats

200g margarine

3/4 cup caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup dried currants

1. Sift flour into a large mixing bowl. Combine with baking powder and oats.
2. In another bowl, beat margarine with the caster sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, beating until combined.
3. Gently fold currants through margarine mix. Then pour in dry ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon until combined.
4. Use a teaspoon to measure quantities. Form into small balls, depressing slightly in the middle with your finger.
5. Place on a lined baking tray a few cm apart. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for about 15 min or until they start to colour ever so slightly.

Date and Almond Biscotti

For a lower fat tea time treat, try biscotti instead of cake or regular sweet biscuits. They are surprisingly simple to make and also make a wonderful food gift during the festive season.

Date and Almond Biscotti

1 cup plain flour

1 cup SR flour

120g blanched almonds

150g pitted dates

1/2 cup castor sugar

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

1. In a large bowl, combine flours, sugar, almonds and dates
2. Make a well in the centre and add eggs and vanilla
3. Mix well with a wooden spoon to form a sticky dough
4. Use floured hands to roll the dough out into a long snake. You may find it easier to divide the dough into two parts when doing this.
5. Place on a lined baking tray and bake at 160 degrees for about 30min or until surface just starts to brown slightly.
6. Cool on trays then slice diagonally into 1cm thick slices.
7. Lie slices flat on lined baking tray and bake again at 160 degrees for about 25 min, turning over at halfway.



Sesame Snack Sticks

Try making these for a deliciously wholesome and all natural snack for kids. 

Cheese and sesame seeds are good sources of calcium and the wholemeal flour adds fibre.  

Suitable for 12mths+.

Sesame Snack Sticks

1 cup wholemeal SR flour

1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds

30g canola margarine

1 cup grated tasty cheese

1/4 cup milk

1. 
   
   Preheat oven to 200 degrees
2. 
   
   Heat sesame seeds in hot pan until lightly toasted
3. 
   
   In a large bowl, combine SR flour and toasted sesame seeds.
4. 
   
   Rub in margarine until mix resembles crumbs
5. 
   
   Add in grated cheese and pour in milk, mixing with a fork until just combined and sticks together to form a ball
6. 
   
   Place ball between two sheets of baking paper and roll out to form a very thin sheet
7. 
   
   Cut into sticks, numbers, or any other shapes you wish
8. 
   
   Bake for 5-10 minutes at 200 degrees. Keep a close eye on them while cooking as thin biscuits cook and begin to brown very quickly.

Muesli Maple Biscuits

As far as biscuits go, these are probably about as nutritious as you get. A great energy packed treat for lunchboxes and busy kids on the go.

Muesli Maple Biscuits

2.5 cups untoasted muesli

1/2 cup sultanas

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 cup plain flour

100g canola margarine

1/2 cup organic pure maple syrup

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees and line oven trays with baking paper
2. Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl
3. Add in margarine, egg, and maple syrup, mixing well with a wooden spoon
4. Use a dessert spoon to measure out mix as you form into small balls
5. Place balls onto baking tray, pressing down on the middle of each ball to flatten slightly before cooking
6. Bake in a moderate oven for about 30min or until golden brown.