Miss Nelson’s Missing Sugar Cookies

A Sweet Back-to-School Story Recipe

There’s something special about starting a new school year with a good story—and something even more special about ending story time with a warm, homemade treat!

For this story-inspired recipe, we’re heading into Room 207 with Miss Nelson Is Missing! Make one simple batch of sugar-cookie dough, then give half the cookies a cheerful Miss Nelson makeover with pink sprinkles and the other half a grumpy Miss Viola Swamp makeover with chocolate sprinkles.

No rolling pin or cookie cutters needed! Just roll the dough into little balls with your hands, dip them in sprinkles, and bake.

Sugar Cookies

What You’ll Need

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Pink sprinkles

Chocolate sprinkles

Make the Cookie Dough

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until well combined.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix just until a soft dough forms.

Make Miss Nelson & Miss Viola Swamp

Now divide the dough into two portions.

Miss Nelson Cookies 🌸

Take a small piece of dough and gently roll it between your hands to form a ball.

Dip or gently roll the dough ball in pink sprinkles, coating the outside.

Place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

These cookies are cheerful, sweet, and colorful—just like Miss Nelson!

Miss Viola Swamp Cookies 🖤

Take another small piece of dough and roll it into a ball.

Dip or gently roll the dough ball in chocolate sprinkles, coating the outside.

Place it on the baking sheet.

These cookies are dark and grumpy—just like Miss Viola Swamp!

Continue until you have used all the dough, making a mix of cheerful Miss Nelson cookies and grumpy Miss Viola Swamp cookies.

Bake

Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and the edges are just beginning to turn lightly golden.

Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

A Tale of Two Cookies

Now put your two kinds of cookies side by side.

What do you notice?

The Miss Nelson cookies are bright and cheerful, while the Miss Viola Swamp cookies are dark and a little more serious. But underneath the sprinkles, they started with the same cookie dough!

That makes these cookies a fun way to talk about the characters in Miss Nelson Is Missing! and what makes each one different.

As you enjoy your cookies, ask:

Which cookie looks more like Miss Nelson?

Which one looks like Miss Viola Swamp?

What makes Miss Nelson a good teacher?

How do the children feel when Miss Viola Swamp takes over?

What makes a classroom feel happy and welcoming?

A Sweet Way to Start the School Year

Gather the family, read Miss Nelson Is Missing!, and make a batch of cookies inspired by the story.

One dough. Two personalities. Lots of sprinkles.

It’s a simple, playful way to kick off the school year with story-inspired recipes the whole family can enjoy—because sometimes the best stories are even sweeter when you can eat them afterward!