On Christmas Eve, I had off of work. It's probably the first year since... I graduated college and got a job (I think!) that I've had off work. That's a good 9 years of Christmases! But, working retail will do that to you.
Anyway, I digress.
I've tried to bake with Mason before. It didn't end well. So I was a little hesitant to try again, but I was so excited about making cookies for Santa (and really, just trying this white chocolate chip brownie cookie recipe!) that I kept bringing it up to him throughout the week. "Mason, do you want to make cookies with mommy tomorrow?" "YEAH!" He seemed excited so I thought I'd go with it. And I'm so happy I did!
I started getting out all of the ingredients that we needed, knowing that it would be easier to have everything out and ready for him when he started helping. I moved the mixer to an area that was easier for him to get to (it's normally in the back corner on the counter). I called to him and asked if he was ready to help me make cookies. He must have seen that I was in the kitchen getting ready because he yelled "YEAH!!!" and RAN over to the table and pushed the chair all the way over to the kitchen counter all by himself. He climbed up on it and was ready. Only problem was, I wasn't yet! I didn't quite expect the enthusiasm and thought I had a few more minutes to get all the ingredients out. So, I explained to him that I had to get a few more things out, told him to go play for a couple minutes, and I would call him back over when I was done.
He ran over and hopped up on the chair. We poured the butter in the bowl, we squeezed the cream cheese out of the package, and I turned on the mixer to mix it up. You know, on low. Then all of a sudden, super speed! The kid pulled the lever all the way back to be on HIGH speed. I turned it back down to low and helped him pour some brownie mix into the mixture and let it mix... on low. I took my hand off the lever for a second and it was back up to high. Poof! No, no, no, Mason!
I turned it back down and we finish adding the brownie mix into the mixture. I filled the measuring cups with white chocolate chips and asked him to pour them in. He was shy. He just wanted to watch the mixer mixing. So I showed him how to do the first one and he got all excited. I filled the measuring cup again and this time he wanted to pour it in, but he almost put the whole measuring cup in! I quickly pulled it out and filled it one more time for him to pour the last of the white chocolate chips in.
I turned off the mixer and took the bowl off so we could put the cookies on to the cookie sheet. I gave Mason the cookie scoop so he could do it and the first thing he did was put it in the bowl upside down. I corrected him and cleaned off the scoop and as I did... he wiped all the cookie batter that was on his hand on to his pjs. I helped clean off his hands, took off his shirt, and realized that it would probably be easier for me to scoop the cookies by myself. I scooped all the cookies and put them in the oven and told Mason that they were cooking. He tried to open the oven to see and I immediately stopped him (#safetyfirst) and turned on the light to show him. He sat there for a good few minutes (which is like an eternity for a toddler) and looked at the cookies baking in the oven.
When they were done, I put them on the cooling racks to cool. And when they were finally cool enough to eat, I called Mason over again so he could taste his work.
It definitely wasn't the cleanest (though it could have been worse!) activity to do together, but it was the MOST fun! He was so, SO excited to help and loved every single second of it and I just had the biggest smile on my face the whole entire time. He even helped me put out the cookies for Santa, the milk for Santa, and the carrots for the reindeer later that night. He must have thought that Santa was REALLY going to like the cookies we made because he gave him FIVE cookies on his plate. Lucky Santa!
I can't wait to bake with Mason again!
I love the pictures of him peeking in the oven to see if the cookies are done! What a cutie! This recipe sounds delicious; I'm going to have to try it out soon.
ReplyDeleteI love baking with Noah and while it can be messy they get so much better each time you do it. Noah is a pro now and knows what we need to add for certain recipes already. Mason looks like he was having so much fun. You should definitely keep doing this with him. Great way to introduce math and other skills as they get older with the measuring and stuff. Noah loves counting how many scoops of flour he gets to put in :)
ReplyDeleteI love baking with Nicklas!! I always tell me friends that he is going to make a good husband!! Those cookies look so yummy!
ReplyDeleteSo fun! What a fun memory.
ReplyDeleteAwwww...this is so sweet! My kids love helping me bake/cook. Mac can do quite a few things in the kitchen and Mim just loves to wash dishes in the sink. I let them both play help while I'm cooking most nights. They're ok with dinner, but mainly, they like making sweets. Our kitchen is always a disaster afterwards, but it's a disaster most of the time anyway, so why not let them help!
ReplyDeleteI love his enthusiasm!
ReplyDeleteBecky
bybmg
He looks SO happy to be helping out with the baking. I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteConnor and I will be baking this afternoon but we are making muffins. It's amazing how the little things (oven lights, using a mixer) is such fun for little ones. Connor loves being in the kitchen and I'm going to try to make it happen more often.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet!! I love Mason's enthusiasm! And, I totally laughed when he kept putting the mixer speed on high. That sounds like something Marcus would do!
ReplyDeleteHe is just the cutest sous chef! That cookie scoop looks amazing, does it work well? I usually just use the tablespoon measuring spoon for uniform size but that spring release is calling my name ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen Aria turns on the mixer I put my finger to the spot she needs to turn it to. I tell her the speed and she is usually good about getting it there but just in case she goes too fast my finger holds it back lol. Probably her most favorite part of the whole process, well that and tasting =) So much fun to make santa cookies.
ReplyDeleteI seriously love how happy Mason always is! What a fun day of baking! And the cookies sound/look delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe excitement in his face is the sweetest!!! What great memories you're making! :)
ReplyDeleteI have got to get one of those mixers! Baking with kids definitely can be messy but it's one of my favorite things to do. Reese's favorite too :) And those cookies look so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the play by play. Great work introducing making cookies to Mason. Your a great mom giving him all these experiences in a fun way while building memories together.
ReplyDeleteThose look divine!! And I love that you're doing things like this with him. Such fun new memories to have!
ReplyDeleteI love all the pics, he looks sooo excited!!! They look yummy too! Good job Mason!
ReplyDeleteAww! That looks like a great time and super yummy! Baking must have been quite the task if Mason lost his shirt during. Ha ha! The cookies look so good and the best part is you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteHeck yes! I love this!! Baking with toddlers sucks AND is the best al at once. Also... Now I want cookies.
ReplyDeleteSo much fun, totally worth back tracking a bit. I love that you two had a blast in the kitchen cooking together!
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