Last year my kids and I made these Salted Brownie Crinkle Cookies from Beyond The Butter around Christmas time. The process… went about how you would expect with littles 😬, but the kids ABSOLUTELY LOVED doing it and apparently this recipe was a huge win because they haven’t stopped talking about them all year! I’ll share the recipe below.
Recently I’ve been making a list of things that I want to do with my kids this season. I bought a ton of crafts and supplies from Hobby Lobby that have been keeping us busy, but I wanted to add some things that are more meaningful and I thought I’d share some ideas with you incase you are in the same boat. I thought these would be fun activities to do with the kids while teaching them about kindness and generosity:
- Bake cookies together and give them to a neighbor.
I’ll share the recipe to the Crinkle Cookies we did last year below. It truly doesn’t matter what you are baking. It’s the thought and effort that your teaching the kiddos that matters! A few years ago we made a ton of mini banana breads simply because I had a bunch of old bananas. 🤭
- Create handmade cards for teachers, mail carriers, or other community helpers.
Grab some construction paper, markers, and stickers (maybe some googly eyes because why not) and help your littles make special cards to show appreciation for the people who help in the community. I actually got this idea from my 7 year old daughter! She’s ALWAYS making cards for the people in her life.
- Go through old toys with your kids and donate them to a local shelter or charity.
This is a great way to teach your kids about generosity while decluttering your home. 😉 Involve them in picking out toys they’ve outgrown and explain how their donations will bring joy to other children in need.
- Write cute and uplifting messages and leave them in unexpected places.
This one is so much fun! Have your kids help write sweet notes like, “You are amazing!” or “Have a great day!” and tuck them into library books, slip them into grocery carts, or leave them in other public places for strangers to find. It’s such a small and easy act that can instantly brighten someone’s day!
- Offer to rake leaves for an elderly neighbor or someone who might need help.
With fall in full swing, this is a wonderful way to lend a hand to those who could use it. Your kids will love jumping into a pile of leaves, and you’ll set an example of kindness by helping out a neighbor!
Try one (or all!) of these ideas this month and see how much joy it brings to you, your kiddos, and those around you!
Salted Brownie Crinkle Cookies
Recipe by beyondthebutter.com
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
⅛ teaspoon Salt
2 Large Eggs (room temperature)
1 Large Egg Yolk (room temperature)
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
6 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (plus some for topping cookies)
¼ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 teaspoon Espresso Powder (optional)
Sea Salt Flakes (for topping cookies (optional garnish))
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Adjust the oven rack to the 2nd level mark (just above center) and preheat your oven to 350ºF. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Set to the side.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set to the side.
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Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, egg yolk, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract together on medium-high speed until fully combined and frothy.
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Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the semi-sweet chocolate chips and unsalted butter together over medium heat until fully melted and smooth. Remove from heat and immediately whisk or stir in the unsweetened cocoa powder and espresso powder.
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Carefully pour the melted chocolate mixture into the wet ingredients and mix until the chocolate is just combined.
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Add in the whisked dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. You can also simply fold in the dry ingredients using a spatula. The batter will be on the thinner side, but still scoopable.
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Using a 1 ½ tablespoon-size cookie scoop or 2 spoons, scoop the cookie dough out and place onto the baking sheets, leaving about 1 ½ inches of space between them.
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Sprinkle some sea salt flakes over the top of each cookie, then bake for 8-10 minutes at 350ºF or until the tops of the cookies have a shiny, crackly top to them.
Sea Salt Flakes
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Remove from the oven and top with a few additional chocolate chips (optional). You can also choose to use a round cookie cutter to shape them into perfect round cookies. Do this immediately after they have come out of the oven while they’re still soft.
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Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool almost completely—because they are really good still warm! Use a spatula to transfer the cookies because they will be very soft!