Eats // JELLO cookies {and play dough}

This past week Brayden had his first play date with a friend from school and with all the rainbow inspiration from my St. Patty’s day roundup, well, all those cheery colors were still swirling in my head. So, besides the quintessential boy play rituals of Legos, superheroes and swords, which inevitably ended up with one of the boys falling into the pool somehow (and I won’t name any names), this play dough recipe made with jello and turned into cookies was a huge hit.

I most definitely consider any play date a success when 1) all limbs are still intact and 2) the children don’t want to leave my house. A bit of rainbow colored sugar always helps ensure the latter. These were easy to make and fun for the kids, so even if I didn’t have any extra wee ones around, they’d still be a hit with my own little crew.

// Ingredients

• 3.5 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 cups softened butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• food coloring
• whatever flavors of Jello you’d like to use

// Process

1. Mix flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, beat butter until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.
2. Divide dough into 4 sections and add one section back into mixer. Add 2 Tbsp of selected jello flavor and desired food coloring. Mix slightly until color is blended through, then pull out to knead. Repeat with each flavor and color. Then play with the dough until you’re ready to bake!
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll each ball in a bowl of the extra jello from the packets. Flatten slightly and place, 2 inches apart, on lined baking sheets.
4. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Let cool for 2 minutes then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 Recipe adapted from here.

Then, just enjoy the sweet and very colorful fruits of your labor!

xo