Bake Tree Ring Cookies

Looking for a fun way to combine science with cooking? Teach kids about cross-sections with this fun kitchen activity. Kids make their own cookie log, then cut it into cross-section slices. This experience helps kids understand how one slice relates to the whole, making it easier for them to interpret cross-sections when they come across them in science class. Your duty is clear: bake cookies in the name of science!

What You Need:

• Chocolate cookie dough
• Vanilla cookie dough
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• Pastry brush
• Rolling pin
• Wax paper
• Plastic wrap
• Baking sheets
• Butter knife
• Easy reader book about trees (optional)

What You Do:

1. Divide chocolate and vanilla dough to make four balls. Ask your child to choose one, then refrigerate the rest.
2. Have her form a short, fat sausage shape on generously floured wax paper. Take turns rolling the dough with the rolling pin, aiming for a rectangle. Flip the dough over often, and use plenty of flour.
3. Roll dough as thinly as possible, then slide the dough onto freshly floured wax paper. If the dough tears, she can reposition the pieces, overlapping slightly.
4. Next, have her brush the flat sheet with lots of milk to hold all the layers together.
5. Repeat, alternating dough. As you finish rolling out each ball, place each new sheet on top of the first, brushing with milk between each one.
6. When all are in place, have her fold the pile in half, then gently roll it into a log together.
7. Wrap the log in plastic wrap and freeze for an hour.
8. While you wait, this is a great time to read an easy reader science book about trees! If you have access to a tree cross-section, count some rings together. Explain to her how the number of rings represents the age of the tree.
9. Preheat the oven and prep baking sheets per your cookie dough recipe.
10. Remove the chilled log and mark it every 1/4" by pressing with the knife.
11. Have her slice on the marks with the butter knife. After she cuts each slice, move it to the baking sheet.
12. Bake as directed.

When they're cool, count the rings to find out how old your cookie would be if it were a tree!