2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Assorted candies
15 to 18 lollipop sticks
Cookie frosting

Directions

Measure the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Stir well and set aside.

TIP: Show your child how to measure flour precisely. Spoon it into a dry measuring cup, then level it off with a knife.

Pour the flour directly into a mixing bowl.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer for about 1 minute. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar, mixing well after each addition. The dough should be stiff. Gather the dough into two balls, flatten into disks, cover with plastic and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.

After the dough has chilled, place one half on a large piece of plastic wrap, cover with another piece of plastic wrap and then roll until it is 1/4-inch thick.

Lift off the top sheet of plastic wrap and use a widemouthed glass (about 3 1/2 inches in diameter) to cut out the faces for the cookie puppets.

Place each round on an ungreased baking sheet and insert the lollipop sticks in the center of each cookie. To ensure that the faces hold their shape, chill for another 30 minutes. Repeat the process with the remaining dough.

While the dough is chilling, heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then remove to racks. Makes 15 to 18 puppets.

To add features to the puppets, fill a pastry bag with frosting and use a writing tip to add eyes, a mouth and a mop of hair.

Set out assorted candies so that your child may use dabs of the frosting to attach raspberry gel lips, peppermint button eyes, candy orange slice ears or lace licorice hair.

KIDS' COOKING SKILLS:

Use this recipe as an opportunity to teach your kids how to measure dry ingredients, cream butter and sugar, roll out cookie dough and cut out cookies.