Easy Jelly Bean Flower Cookies ~ a quick and easy springtime slice and bake sugar cookie that kids can do themselves! Great for Easter and Mother’s Day.
If you need a last minute Easter project to do with the kids, this is it. It’s the kind of thing I used to love doing with my girls. You can make these Jelly Bean Flower Cookies any time, anywhere, there’s no mess involved because it uses store-bought cookie dough. All ages can participate and get creative. The older ones can count out the number of ‘petals’ they’ll need, and experiment with color combinations, the younger ones can sort the candy and get a little dexterity practice. There’s no right or wrong, no mistakes, when it comes to something this simple. So if you’ve got kids, neighborhood kids, grand-kids, or nieces and nephews, this is a great weekend holiday project to do with them. Grab some refrigerated sugar cookie dough, jumbo M&Ms, a bag of jelly beans and you’re ready to go.
All you have to do is gently press the candy into the warm cookies to form the flowers. That’s it— it couldn’t be easier. Buy the smaller jellybeans that come in lots of colors for the best results. A tray of them will look like a bright granny square blanket!
I think this kind of simple project is worth its weight in gold around holidays. It gives kids a chance to participate and get creative. Even if you don’t have kids this is kind of fun. Of course you can use other types of candies as well, and I would love to do this on mini frosted cupcakes. If I were making these for a party, I might use my VANILLA BEAN SHORTBREAD COOKIE recipe instead instead of the ready-made dough, it doesn’t spread as much and the flavor is legendary.
Ingredients
- 1 log of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
- jumbo M&Ms
- assorted jellybeans, (smaller sized)
Instructions
- Set the oven to 350F
- Unwrap the dough and set it on a floured surface. Shape the dough into a fat disk, and then roll it out to about 3/8 inches. Cut out cookies using a 2" cookie cutter and place the rounds 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for about 8 minutes.
- When the cookies come out of the oven, press an M&M in the center of each, and then place the jelly bean 'petals' around it. You don't have to apply much pressure, as the weight of the candy will sink into the soft dough.
- Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet until firm, and then remove to a cooling rack.
Notes
If doing this with children, you may want to cover the edges of the pan with a dish towel to prevent accidental burning.
Notes:
- Be sure to press the candies into the cookies while they are hot out of the oven so the candies will adhere well.
- Use any candy you like for this project, gumdrops and other jelly candies work well, too.
Have a wonderful weekend, I hope you’re spending it with family!
7 Comments
Heather // girlichef
April 19, 2014 at 3:45 pmThese are so much fun, Sue! I may have to run to the store and go the super-easy route…the kids would love making these. :)
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
April 18, 2014 at 11:12 pmSue, I’m finding that I love nearly every recipe that you post! They always make me feel like sharing them somewhere!
I would have loved this when I was a child, and probably still would! I just posted a pretty flower-themed biscuit recipe, too. Different, but it made this recipe of yours jump out at me even more. Happy Easter!
Sue
April 19, 2014 at 12:36 pmThanks Helen, I would have loved to have done this as a kid, too, and I still love playing with color. I’m off to check out your biscuits. Have a nice weekend!
clare
April 18, 2014 at 6:17 pmthese are SOOO adorable!! I love how they all look together, too. Like a field of flowers!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
April 18, 2014 at 3:43 pmSuch fun spring cookies, kids would absolutely love decorating these!
Sue
April 18, 2014 at 10:39 amThanks Cheri!
cheri
April 18, 2014 at 9:50 amOh my goodness Sue, what will you think of next, these are brilliant! Happy spring to you!