Baking is one of my favorite sensory-rich activities that stimulate the brain. It’s an occupation that brings creativity, relaxation, and nourishment. I love flavor combinations: lemon lavender, chocolate caramel, mint chocolate, and honey lavender cookies. I recently made a batch of homemade Twix Bars and let me tell you…they didn’t last very long in my home! I can’t say they tasted exactly like a Twix, but they satisfied my sweet tooth.

The shortbread base of these Twix Bars is the perfect mix-with-your-hands dough, which increases the sensory-richness of the activity. Mixing this dough by hand inspired the recipe in this blog: honey-sweetened lemon lavender shortbread cookies.

I love this recipe because the dough is edible and allergy-friendly (no raw egg, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan). This is an important factor to consider when baking with a loved one who has dementia and puts everything in their mouth. Additionally, the coconut oil and honey made my skin feel soft and smooth when kneading the dough. An added bonus!

If you need multiple days for a project, this is a dough you can let sit overnight, and then resume the activity the following day without compromising the quality of the cookie. The dough becomes more crumbly the longer it sits, but it returns to a cohesive form when mixed by hand.

Honey-Sweetened Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon lavender flowers (I plucked the flowers off dried lavender from Trader Joe’s)
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 3 tbsp honey, warmed (you can substitute maple syrup)
• Parchment paper
• Large mixing bowl
• Baking sheet
• Rolling pin (optional)
• Cookie cutters (mason jar lids work great!)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Melt coconut oil.
3. Warm the honey.
4. Combine melted coconut oil, warmed honey, coconut flour, and almond flour in a large bowl. Begin stirring with a spoon, then transition to mixing with your hands. Mix until all crumbles are combined.
5. Add the lemon zest and lavender flowers to the dough. Mix with hands until combined to create the shortbread dough.
6. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper, then set aside.
7. Roll out the dough until it is ~1/4″ thick. If the dough is too crumbly, add a little bit of water, melted coconut oil, or warm honey.
8. Use cookie cutters or mason jar lids to create cookie cutouts.
9. Gently place the cookie cutouts on your parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
10. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for ~8 minutes, or until cookies edges begin to turn golden brown. Cook ~10 minutes if you prefer a crunchy shortbread texture. When soft, the cookies have a grainy texture.
11. Let the cookies cool completely, then enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee!

When I bake, I choose to mix by hand when possible for increased sensory input. Keep in mind, I modulate tactile information without difficulty. I can get my hands messy in dough, mud, glue, paint, etc. without experiencing a tactile over-response. Not everyone’s brain processes tactile input in the same way.

Signs that could indicate tactile over-response (also known as “tactile defensiveness”, “tactile avoiding”, or “tactile sensitivity”):

• Finger splay: fingers stretched out
• Redness of the cheeks or ears
• Pulling hands away
• Quickly and repeatedly trying to wipe hands clean
• Avoiding or refusing to participate in the activity
• Big emotional response or meltdown

If you notice signs of tactile over-responsivity that limits a person’s ability to engage in daily tasks or responsibilities, try to connect with an Occupational Therapist who is trained and qualified to evaluate and treat sensory processing disorder. Try searching the STAR Institute’s Treatment Directory to find a therapist closer to home.

In the meantime, try to modify the activity for decreased tactile input:

1. Use a spoon or kitchen gadget for mixing
2. Wear kitchen gloves while mixing (plastic gloves, rubber dishwashing gloves, etc.)
3. Place the dough inside a plastic Ziploc bag for mixing
4. Wrap a towel around the dough to mix by hand (you can also step on the dough using your feet!)

Tactile sensory bins often get marketed for children, but adults need sensory play too! Overall, adult sensory play might look different (although I do enjoy sticking my hand in a bin of water beads or kinetic sand!). In addition to baking and cooking, adults have tactile-rich experiences when gardening, creating art, fishing, washing dishes, doing laundry, applying lotion, etc.

Individuals with dementia may initiate less or have fewer opportunities for sensory play, which can contribute to sensory and occupational deprivation. If baking or cooking was previously a meaningful occupation, how can you support your loved one’s engagement?

Here are a few ideas for your toolbox:

1. Focus your attention on the sensory details of the experience. Describe every ingredient and invite your loved one to smell. Describe the feel of the dough and invite your loved one to touch. Provide physical assistance as appropriate and accepted.
2. Create recipe cards that include simplified language and a single picture. Break the activity down into its smallest parts and focus on one step at a time. Design the recipe cards with high contrast colors to support visual processing.
3. Hold the bowl while your loved one mixes. Coordinating both hands to do opposite tasks is challenging! You can also use non-slip mats for one-handed mixing.
4. Take turns mixing as a way to model and decrease the risk of fatigue.
5. Use the concept of chaining. Backward chaining occurs when you start the task, and then the person with dementia completes the last step. In contrast, forward chaining means the person with dementia does the first steps, and then you complete the task.

What other strategies or modifications work for you and your loved ones in the kitchen?

Disclaimers: Before baking, cooking, or eating, be sure to consult with your healthcare professional regarding swallowing safety, dietary restrictions, or precautions.

Although I am an occupational therapist and the information compiled is based on years of training and clinical experience, this is NOT a place for skilled therapeutic intervention.  The ideas presented on this website and in products are for informational/educational purposes only and are not medical advice.

A website does not replace an individualized plan of care developed as the result of assessment, clinical observation, and collaboration between therapist, client, and care partner(s). If you are concerned about the cognitive, sensory, or functional abilities of yourself or someone you know, then you should talk with your physician or your therapist.