Summer Crafts for Kids: baking edition
Summer crafts for kids: Baking edition
Summer is a great time to get kids involved in creative activities at home. One of the best ways to combine fun and learning is through baking. With the right baking kits and recipes, kids can explore their creativity, learn basic cooking skills, and enjoy yummy treats. In this blog post, we’ll show you some of our favourite summer bakes that are perfect for kids..
Why is baking a great summer activity for kids?
Educational Benefits
Baking is a wonderful way for kids to learn maths and science skills. Measuring ingredients teaches them fractions and quantities, while the chemical reactions during baking introduce them to science.
Creativity and Expression
Decorating biscuits or cupcakes allow kids to really explore their creativity. They can experiment with different colours, shapes and designs making each bake their own.
Bonding Time
Baking together can be a wonderful bonding experience for families. Away from screens and other distractions it can provide the perfect opportunity for parents to spend quality and memorable time with their children.
Essential Baking Tools for Kids
We recommend having some basic tools that are kid-friendly before you start…we’ve made a list to help..
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For easily reading measurements and the handles are easy to hold for little children
- Mixing Bowls: Have a few - big ones are best as less messy! We recommend lightweight ones.
- Spatulas and Wooden Spoons: For mixing and stirring.
- Rolling Pin: We recommend a child-sized one
- Cookie Cutters: A good selection of designs is great so the children have lots of choice.
- Decorations: Sprinkles and more sprinkles…
you can visit our supply shop to grab some bits from the above list
Our top 5 summer baking ideas for kids
You can make these by following our recipes below or you can save time and buy one of our ready made kits with the all the ingredients pre measured and ready to go….
Sunshine biscuits
Ingredients:
- 170g all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 110g butter
- 150g caster sugar
- 1 medium egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Yellow food colouring
- sprinkles and decorating icing writer pens ( buy from our supply shop)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Add yellow food colouring until the dough is the desired shade of yellow.
- Roll and Cut: Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Use a fork to flatten slightly.
- Bake: Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let cool on wire racks.
- Decorate: Once cooled, let the kids decorate the cookies with sprinkles and gels to create their own sunshine designs.
2) Magical Meringues
Why not make some magical mini rainbow meringues to take on your next picnic or pop in a jam jar and gift to a friend. You can make these easily using our I love Meringue making kit which includes an extra summer craft activity to do while the oven is on.
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Beach-Themed cupcakes
Ingredients:
- Your favourite cupcake recipe or buy one of our cupcake kits and add in the extra bits..
- Blue and white icing
- Digestive or rich tea biscuits
- Gummy fish sweets
- Small paper umbrellas
Instructions:
- Bake the Cupcakes: Prepare cupcakes according to your recipe or following the instructions in your cupcake kit and let them cool completely.
- Prepare the Sand: Crush your biscuits to create "sand."
- Ice the Cupcakes: Divide icing into two bowls. Dye one bowl blue for the ocean and leave the other white for the waves. Ice half of each cupcake with blue and the other half with white, blending them slightly where they meet.
- Create the Beach Scene: Sprinkle the biscuit sand on the white icing half of each cupcake.
- Decorate: Add gummy fish sweets to the blue side and small paper umbrellas to the sandy side. Let the kids get creative with other sweets and decorations to complete their beach scene.
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Campfire S’mores Brownies
Ingredients:
- Brownie mix or your favourite brownie recipe – You can buy a brownie kit from our site to make it easy..
- Mini marshmallows
- Milk chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Bake the Brownies: Prepare and bake the brownies according to your recipe or follow the Craft & Crumb kit instructions.
- Add Toppings: Immediately after removing the brownies from the oven, sprinkle mini marshmallows on top. Return to the oven for 3-5 minutes, until the marshmallows are puffy and golden.
- Finish with Chocolate chips: While the marshmallows are still warm add the chocolate chips into the top of the brownies. Let cool slightly before serving, allowing the chocolate to melt slightly into the marshmallows.
Cupcake Decorating playdate party
Host a cupcake decorating party at your summer playdate where kids can unleash their inner baker and have fun in the kitchen. You can buy our mega supply box with everything in it for you to host or buy your own bits and bobs from your supermarket.
Ingredients for 24 Cupcakes:
- 200g caster sugar
- 200g self raising flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 100g unsalted butter
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons of milk
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with cases
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Add flour to a large mixing bowl.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
- Combine: Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour mixture.
- Bake: Fill each cupcake case 2/3 full and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Let them cool completely.
Decorating:
- Icing : Prepare different colours of buttercream or icing.
- Toppings: Provide various sprinkles and edible decorations.
- Tools: Supply piping bags for frosting.
Let each child decorate their cupcakes and enjoy with their friends…
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Fruit Pizza
Fruit pizza is a healthy and fun option that combines baking with decorating.
Ingredients:
- Biscuit dough – your favourite recipe or you can buy one of our kits and adapt.
- Tub of cream cheese
- 30g powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Assorted fresh fruits (strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, etc.)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll Out Dough: Roll out the biscuit dough into a large circle on a baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the dough for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let it cool completely.
- Make the icing : In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Assemble: Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cooled cookie. Arrange the fresh fruits on top in any pattern.
- Serve: Slice and enjoy this colourful, fruity summery treat.
Conclusion
Baking is such a fantastic way to keep kids engaged and entertained during the summer holidays. These delicious baking ideas will not only provide hours of fun but also offer educational benefits and the joy of creating something delicious to enjoy afterwards. Whether it's decorating biscuits, assembling fruit pizzas, or making campfire-inspired brownies, there's no shortage of creative bakes to try.
For more inspiration and baking kits that make these projects even easier, be sure to check out our range of baking kits designed specifically for fun and educational bakes for kids. Happy baking!