The benefits of baking with children are seemingly endless. First and foremost, there’s the experience itself – the fun, the excitement, the creativity, and the chance to bond. Then there are the lessons that are learned along the way – from teaching children how to follow a recipe to various baking techniques that will serve them well throughout the rest of their life, there’s no doubt baking has its educational qualities. Then, finally, there are, of course, the feelings of accomplishment you can share together, as you savor the delights of the end result of all your hard work.
In an effort to ensure your first baking experience with your kids is as successful as possible, here are a few tips you should find helpful…
1. Let your children choose the recipe
It’s often tempting to opt for very basic recipes when baking with kids for the first time. That is one option, but letting your children take the lead in deciding what they create is a great way to fully involve them in the process from the start. Encourage them to browse through options until they find something that catches their eye; perhaps it’s a recipe for classic scones, a hummingbird cake recipe, or they’re drawn to a how-to guide for a more savory option such as cheese muffins – whatever it is, if they’re excited about creating it, then you are on to a winner.
2. Set aside enough time
Whatever the prep guidelines are on your chosen recipe, you can – as a general rule – expect to double them when you’re baking with kids. It’s therefore advisable to set aside a large enough amount of time to be able to go through the recipe at leisure. Then you can be sure everything will be done and there won’t be a need to rush at any stage.
3. Consider investing in child-sized utensils
It’s not impossible for children – and especially older children – to bake using standard adult utensils. If you can, opt for a few tools that are designed specifically for children. Specially-designed options tend to be smaller and easier to use, which can help to build confidence.
4. Explain “why” as well as what
As often as possible, explain why you are doing something – whether it’s lining a pan with butter to make a cake easier to remove or carefully washing your hands before touching anything – as you do it. Doing this helps to connect the physical action with theoretical knowledge, which should stand them in good stead when baking in the future. For example, your kids will know in the future that they need to grease a pan before adding a mixture, because they understand why they had to do it in the first instance.
5. Consider pre-measuring
While by no means an essential, it’s worth considering pre-measuring all of your ingredients. Measuring is one of the trickiest parts of baking as it requires precision. It is not particularly “fun” for kids, and mistakes made with measurements are most likely to cause issues with the bake. As a result, pre-measuring is often the best option for all involved.
In conclusion
There’s no doubt that baking with kids is a wonderful experience for all involved, and we hope the tips above prove to be useful as you embark on this adventure for the first time. Most of all, enjoy the memory-making – and the sweet reward.