Looking for a sweet Forest School inspired activity for late winter? Try making these cute Bird Cookies! They feed the hungry birds and they’re easy and fun to make too!
I first made these cute birdseed ornaments with my kids at a Forest School session a few years ago. I’m not sure where we got the original recipe from, but this one works great! We continue to make them each year at the end of winter because they feed the birds, but also because they’re so fun and easy to make and look pretty too! Read on for the full instructions.
What is needed to make Bird Cookies
- Birdseed – I used Kaytee Waste Free Bird Seed Blend, which we found at a local grocery store, but you can find it here online as well.
- Water – You’ll need a half cup of cold water and a half cup of hot water.
- Gelatin – We chose Knox unflavored gelatin and you’ll need two packets. The gelatin will make your “cookies’ firm and retain their shape.
- Corn syrup – The corn syrup helps the birdseed cling together and not crumble.
- Cookie cutters – Depending on how large your cookie cutters are, you will need between 6 and 12 cookie cutters. We ransacked our holiday drawer and grabbed all kinds of cookie cutters from Christmas trees to Valentine’s Day hearts to Easter chicks and butterflies.
- Drinking straws – Three or four straws should be enough. You will need cut them into two inch pieces. These will be used to create the hole that the twine strings through.
- Yarn or twine – You’ll need a 6-8 inch piece of twine or yarn for each cookie, in order to hang it on a tree.
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions: How to make Bird Cookies
Gather your ingredients: birdseed, water, gelatin, and corn syrup.
Pour 1/2 cup of cold water into a bowl.
Sprinkle two packages of unflavored gelatin over the top of the cold water.
Once the gelatin has been sprinkled on top of the water, pour 1/2 cup of hot water over the gelatin, and mix until melted.
Add 2 tablespoons of light corn syrup, and stir until well combined.
After the liquid is well mixed, add 2 1/2 cups of your choice of birdseed mix. Then stir until very well combined.
Chill in the refrigerator for about ten minutes, or until slightly firm.
While your birdseed mix is chilling in the refrigerator, arrange 6-12 cookie cutters on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
Carefully spoon the birdseed mixture into the cookie cutters.
Mold the birdseed mixture into the cookie cutters by pressing down firmly with the spoon or your fingers to reach each part of the cookie cutter evenly.
Now, you will need to cut a few drinking straws into 2 inch pieces.
And then, shove a straw piece into each “cookie” to create a hole to later string them. Be sure to leave about 1/2 inch from the edges.
Chill the “cookies”on the baking sheet overnight in the refrigerator.
The next morning, pop the “cookies” out of the cookie cutters and pull out the straw pieces. If your cookie doesn’t feel quite firm enough to hold its shape, try freezing them for 10 or 15 minutes.
Cut 6-10 inch pieces of twine and string through the hole of each “cookie.”
Then for the best part – hang your cookies on an outdoor tree for the birds. These cookies seem to do best in colder temperatures (up to 35 degrees), but even sitting directly in the warm afternoon winter sunshine, they have retained their shape and have gotten a lot of attention from the birds!
Similar to our Ice Ornaments, these Bird Cookies are a lovely way to adorn your bare winter trees while also serving an even lovelier purpose: feeding the birds!
How to Make Bird Cookies
Looking for a sweet Forest School inspired activity for late winter? Try making these cute Bird Cookies! They feed the hungry birds and they're easy and fun to make too!
Materials
- 2 1/2 cups birdseed mix
- 2 packages of Knox unflavored gelatin
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 12 cookie cutters
- 3 drinking straws
- 1 baking sheet (lined with parchment paper)
- Twine or string
- Large bowl
- Stirring Spoon
- Twine or String
Tools
- Scissors
- Refrigerator
Instructions
Pour 1/2 cup of cold water into a large bowl.
Sprinkle two packages of unflavored gelatin over the top of the cold water.
Pour 1/2 cup of hot water over the gelatin, and mix until melted.
Add 2 tablespoons of light corn syrup, and stir until well combined.
Add 2 1/2 cups of your choice of birdseed mix, and stir until very well combined.
Chill in the refrigerator for about ten minutes, or until slightly firm.
While your birdseed mix is chilling, arrange 6-12 cookie cutters on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
Spoon birdseed mixture into the cookie cutters.
Mold the birdseed mixture into the cookie cutters by pressing down firmly with the spoon or your fingers to reach each part of the cookie cutter.
Cut a few drinking straws into 2 inch pieces.
Shove a straw piece into each "cookie" to create a hole to later string them. Be sure to leave about 1/2 inch from the edges.
Chill the "cookies" on the baking sheet overnight in the refrigerator.
The next morning, pop the "cookies" out of the cookie cutters and pull out the straw pieces. If your cookie doesn't feel quite firm enough to hold its shape, try freezing them for 10 or 15 minutes.
Cut 6-10 inch pieces of twine and string through the hole of each "cookie."
Then hang your cookies on an outdoor tree for the birds.
Notes
*Please note that this activity requires 12 hours of refrigeration time, so be sure to manage your time with that in mind.
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