Cookies – the sometimes food we all love! Celebrate National Cookie Day on December 4th by taking a bite out of something delicious… and maybe even homemade. Getting the family together in the kitchen is a great way to include children in family traditions, model how to help out and work together, explore math and science skills, and learn to take on new responsibilities.
Indulge your sweet tooth with the family-friendly cookie recipes, games, and science experiments below. And remember, when it comes to baking, don’t be afraid to take whisks!
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Family-Friendly Recipes From PBS KIDS
Mozie-mazing Cookies From “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”
Nana Platypus shares her recipe for a special family treat. Enjoy making it with your own family!
Bake Gingerbread Letters
It’s time to take the A-B-Cs to the kitchen! Make gingerbread cookies in the shape of the alphabet with this simply delicious activity.
Book Cookies
Bake these book cookies for a literary twist on a delicious DIY treat you wont want to put down! Decorate with some of your favorite titles, or make up new stories of your own.
Frankie’s Winter Wonderland Cookies
All Grades
Bake delicious and festive winter cookies inspired by Alma’s Way to share with family, friends, and the special people in our community!
The Science of Baking
Cooking Cookies with Solar Power
Grades K-8
The ZOOM cast tests two homemade solar cookers to determine which one can cook a “s’more” faster. Both designs exploit the fact that heat flows in three ways: by conduction, convection, and radiation. Though one cooker performs better than the other, they both outperform the experiment’s control setup.
Math at a Bakery
Grades 3-5
Meet Wendy, Bake Me Happy co-owner and baker. She shares how she uses math every day at her gluten-free bakery to make cookies, price items, and create recipes!
Why Does Buffalo Smell Like Cheerios? | Compact Science
Grades 3-8
Take a sensory journey through the science of scent! Discover how molecules create smells and dive into the Maillard reaction, which gives us deliciously browned foods. From cereal to cookies, learn why these scents make our mouths water.
Games, Books & Activities
Our Family Recipe Cards
All Grades
Write your favorite tigertastic recipe here to share it with a family member or friend. It can be a family favorite, one passed down from generation to generation, or something entirely new! What cookies will you create?
Detective Elmo: The Cookie Case
Grades PreK-K
A cookie painting has been stolen from the museum! Your child can help Detective Elmo look for clues to solve the mystery of the missing painting.
The Cookie Games
Grades PreK-K
Cookie Monster is playing in the cookie games! Compete in ring spin, hurdles, and archery and help him calm his feelings to win medals in each sporting event.
Ruff’s Cookie Creator
Grades K-2
Ruff Ruffman is creating new kinds of cookies by experimenting with how much of each of 4 ingredients to add to the recipe. Use science inquiry to explore and test different ingredients to help Ruff make, decorate, and serve cookies to his family in this kitchen science game.
Books to Nurture Little Foodies
Grades PreK-4
Whether you have a chef in the making or a picky eater you’re eager to convert, these books will entertain and educate young readers all about food, glorious food!