Little cakes and cookies are so attractive and easy to serve. They make nice gifts, too, for those who do not have the time or the facilities for baking at home. And how the children love cookies or cakes which have been made especially for them! The mother who is always too busy or lacks the imagination and skill to cater to children: who never makes wonderful animal cookies or fat, dumpy gingerbread or doughnut men, has really deprived her offspring of untold pleasure. Not only the eating of these mysterious, delightful creations, but to stand and watch them being made and to wait impatiently what seems ages before these miracles come out of the oven, all brown and fragrant. The memory of these childish joys is never forgotten.

Any household department can supply inexpensive cookie cutters. They come in most attractive shapes - all sorts of animals, chickens, birds, stars, diamonds and hearts. So, if time is limited, animal cookies can easily take the place of the gingerbread man.

Any rolled cookie recipe will be satisfactory. Only after the dough is mixed, set aside in a cool place for at least one hour, longer, if possible, to allow the dough to stiffen so it can be easily handled. Try not to work in a warm room when rolling and cutting and the process will be much easier. Lay the gingerbread man on a greased cookie sheet as you make him - then he won't have to be moved. Use whole allspice for the eyes, the star of a clove for the nose; a pointed knife will make a slit for the mouth - upturned, or not, as you wish - and dried currants or seedless raisins will answer for buttons down the front. The doughnut man is made by simply putting the round parts taken from the center together in the shape of a man and patting and joining them together. Or fry these centers; they make golden brown balls that can be rolled in sugar. The children will call them fried holes - which is really the right name after all.

Muffin pans can be used to advantage for a variety of little cakes. Almost any cake batter may be used - Cup

Pound, Devil's Food or Nut Cakes or Sponge Cake batter. Baked in this form the cakes may be decorated in many ways without requiring much time or effort. Turn upside down (cutting a small piece off of the base so they will stand level) and either ice all over or just on top. Half a nut meat or chopped nuts may be placed on the fresh icing before it hardens; or cocoanut, candied fruits or marshmallows. They can be elaborately trimmed with a pastry bag, or the top may be cut off completely, then scoop out a small portion of the center and fill the space with whipped cream (using a pastry bag, if possible).

Now cut the top or lid in two in the center and replace, pushing down the center edges, and let the outside look like a half opened basket filled with whipped cream. Shallow sponge cakes are very attractive when baked in muffin pans, then iced, split half way through the center and filled with whipped cream, French cream or a meringue. Any favored cake recipe may be used to make these little cakes, and there is no form in which to make them that requires so little skill to make decorative.

Cream puffs and eclairs are not difficult to make and can be made any size desired. For gift boxes, make about as big as a chocolate cream, place each small cream puff in a little paper case such as candy is packed in, then place in boxes and they will look wonderfully tempting.

Dropped cookies are very easy to make and offer great variety. Any cake batter may be used. Drop from the tip of a spoon on a greased cookie pan, several inches apart, and bake in a medium oven. An ordinary cake recipe will make a good many cookies. They may be sprinkled with nuts or candied fruit, cocoanut, etc. Filled cookies are very rich and are made by spreading a filling on top of one cookie, then placing another on top, pressing the edges firmly together.

Little cakes and cookies are even more attractive than home made candies. Packed neatly in gay little boxes and tied with ribbons, they will prove a very, acceptable gift. And for the informal social gatherings, always so popular during the holidays, little cakes and cookies offer many possibilities.

Note

All measurements are level and flour is sifted once before measuring. One-half pint measuring cup is used.