Mud Pie Stomp: A Recipe For Cookies and Fun!

Who says baking can't also be fun?! Baking is a terrific way to get your kiddo's involved in an activity while having fun and learning. Wanna know how? Grab your kids and Safari animals and dive into these delicious chocolate cookies! 

Mud Pie Cookies

A little bit of cooking and a lot of fun!

  Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup melted butter
• 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa  Powder
• 1 Cup White Granulated Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/3 Cups All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/3 Cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 4  packets of Hot Chocolate Powder 
• 1/2 Cups Milk Chocolate Chips
• Safari Ltd Toob of your choice for garnish! 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and wash Safari animals.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together melted butter, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, and white sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla until fully mixed.
4. In large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add wet   ingredients from medium bowl into these dry ingredients.
5. Mix until dough forms. Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
6. Scoop tablespoon sized amounts of dough and roll into a ball. Roll the ball around in hot chocolate powder that is poured onto a plate.
7. Place cookie balls 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheet.
8. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. The cookies will be soft, but will harden up more as they cool.
9. Melt milk chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Drop a teaspoon of melted chocolate on top each cookie.
10. 10. Let cookies cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan.
11. 11. Place cookies on plates and then add Safari Ltd animal figurines for added fun (see instructions in box below).                             

  **Remove the  ANIMAL FIGURINES before eating cookies**

Time for Safari Animals

Instructions:

• Lay the cooled cookies on a plate or clean pan. Invite your child to have the animals stomp or roll in the “Mud Pies” (cookies).
• Another option is to use the animal figurines to smash the mud pie cookies, “play in the mud,” and then use the crumbs as toppings on an ice cream sundae.
• After playtime, enjoy the delicious cookies, and then encourage your child to give the animals a “bath.” to wash off the mud. You can put soap and water into a container or put them in the actual bathtub with your child.

Books about Mud

Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley

Stuck in the Mud by Jane Clarke

Anji Audley is an early childhood educator with experience in grades Pre-K through First. She is also a mom of two active and creative boys  ages 9 and 13. Anji is a strong advocate for play-based learning. She infuses learning with STEM activities, play, and art to inspire discovery and creativity.