Baking with Baketivity – Fun For Kids

If you are like me, you love to bake. It is one of the things my youngest son and I do together often. He’s become quite the hand in the kitchen, although he’s still such a mess I’m always surprised. (When does that stop? Ever?)

We’ve recently tried out these fun kits from Baketivity. We did two at once, because sadly we were pretty sick when the “Back to School” one arrived (we had Covid, and I got very, very sick from it). No matter, it was fun doing them both together.

baking with kids

Each kit comes with everything you need, already measured out, labeled, and pre-packaged. It also comes with cute “kid sized” chef gear (hat and apron) as well as a cute little spatula- also kid-sized.  Apologies he’s not wearing them- they are a little too “kid sized” for him, LOL. This boy has been in men’s sizes for a few years now. What can I say- he’s just a giant.

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One kit was “back to school” themed, and was sugar cookies sliced into the shape of pencils, with colored sprinkles decorating them to look like them, as well. They were delicious, and disappeared immediately. Like, gone within a day.

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The second kit was cinnamon buns, and my son did these nearly entirely on his own, very limited help from me. He really enjoyed doing them. We make cinnamon buns all the time, but usually from either one of my books or from memory (my memory, so he needs me to tell him everything at this point). My books are obviously geared towards adults, so sometimes he gets confused on what to do next, or by a specific measurement. This kit really simplified things, and the directions are so easy for children to follow.

cinnamon bunds

If you have an aspiring baker, a kitchen helper, or you just want your child to be confidant and competent in the kitchen- I highly recommend getting a Baketivity kit. They are fun, easy to follow, and give kids the confidence to try bigger and more difficult things. And hey- don’t worry about the mess. That’s why we have mops and brooms and cleaning supplies, right? They can help us clean up, and it will be one more thing they get better at, right? There we go. Truly- really fun time. You will be so glad that you did.

Enjoy your day, and stay safe out there!

WHITE CHOCOLATE GINGER COOKIES

(chewy cookies with a ginger kick)
makes 2 dozen big/over indulged cookies
makes 4 dozen smaller/less decadent cookies

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INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, can substitute vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger (we suggest using a microplane)
  • 11 ounces white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, salt and baking soda.
  2. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a hand mixer cream together the butter and sugars. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until fully combined. Add in the vanilla paste and ginger, mixing until just combined. Gradually add in the flour mixture 1 cup at a time. Add the white chocolate chips.
  3. Drop by the heaping tablespoon full onto the prepared baking sheet and bake until lightly golden (12-15 minutes), cookies will appear still slightly soft in the middle, but will set up firmly as they cool.  (Note: For smaller less decadent cookies use a teaspoon measure and bake for 8-10 minutes). Using a spatula, remove cookies from the parchment to cool. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.

You can find these and other recipes at www.terraskitchen.com

WIN Krusteaz National Cookie Day Prize Pack

Did you know National Cookie Day was coming up on Dec. 4?  Neither did I!  Why do we miss all the fun holidays?  Ha.

Holiday baking can be hectic for many, and Krusteaz is here to help, offering high quality and easy-to-bake cookie mixes – saving you time in the kitchen and making more time for you to spend with family this holiday season. It’s easy to create and share fun holiday-inspired cookie recipes and creatively package them up as small sweet gifts- if there are any left, that is.

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There are tons of options available, and not just cookies- breads, pancakes, muffins, flatbreads for pizzas, cakes, and so much more from Krusteaz. It’s one of our favorite brands, and such a good way to wake up in the morning, too (fresh blueberry muffins, hello!)

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My son and I recently went on a baking extravaganza- making gingerbread up the wazoo here.  Cookies, a gingerbread house, and eventually gingerbread bars as well.  Hey, whatever works. Pick out your favorites and get baking for the holidays (and all the merry-making that accompany them).

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One of you lucky readers will have the chance to win a really great, really timely prize package.  Krusteaz will send you the following items:

  • Two boxes each of the following mixes: Shortbread, Gingerbread, Snickerdoodle, Butter Vanilla Sugar and Oatmeal Scotchie
  • Some fun holiday baking items like an apron, tote bag, cookie cutters, frosting decorating pen and a mason jar (for gifting and storage!)
  • Holiday cookie recipe ideas for inspiration

Please feel free to enter using the RC form below- good luck!  Ends Dec. 22, 2015.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cake Boss Accessories for Cooking and Baking

Cake Boss is a nationwide phenomena. The show follows the day to day life of the king of cake decorating Buddy Valastro in his family owned and operated bakery in Hoboken, NJ.

So what to do if you live half a country away from Carlo’s? Why not bring Carlo’s to you if you can’t get to Carlo’s. With the new Cake Boss line of bake ware, decorating tools and serving ware. All you need is a creative baker and you can have the next best thing to Carlo’s Bakery, your own kitchen boss.

cake boss baking

The bake ware line is available in three lines of products- basic, deluxe and professional. Each product in the line is built tough and meant to be baked in an oven up to 450 degrees. The basic set is made from heavy duty carbon steel, and the cookie pans even have drop zones for your cookies for even, uniform cookies to delight all this holiday season. The Deluxe line feature commercial-quality carbon steel with rolled edges for added strength and durability. Most of the products have red silicone grips which stay cool to the touch even in the oven for ease of use. Last but not least are the professional products which are made of professional-quality aluminized steel. They also sport a texture which imitates Buddy’s quilting pattern while also heating evenly and eases the release of the baking items without leaving an odd texture on your baked goods.
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Banana Bread Recipe

baking bread

You can’t go past a good homemade banana bread. One slice after another – and before you know it you have eaten a whole loaf. Make sure you use really ripe bananas, as they bring about a deep, sweet banana flavor. Often I spread a cream cheese icing on top, finished with toasted chopped walnuts – but it wouldn’t be a bread then, would it? Tip: you can also make this delicious banana bread recipe in bread maker appliance easily.

Makes 1 x 23cm LOAF

220g self-raising flour

¼ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

80g sugar

45g brown sugar

2 eggs

60ml milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

75g melted butter or vegetable oil

200g mashed ripe banana
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3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

This is a perfect recipe for the kids to do themselves. Of course adult supervision is needed to handle the baking and hot pan but the kids can mix this up all by themselves. Another great thing about this recipe is that you only need 3 things- Yes THREE!  This is why I really love this one. I do enjoy baking cookies but sometimes getting all the ingredients out and measuring each single one makes a mess. You only need an egg, sugar and peanut butter for this.

 

They bake fast so watch them carefully

They bake fast so watch them carefully


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Cake Boss Cookwear and Mix Review and Giveaway

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I was super excited when I got my package from Cake Boss to try out in my kitchen as I think baking is so much fun, especially as the weather turns colder and indoors becomes the hangout. My daughter and I will frequently bake on days when boredom creeps up and we are in the mood to do something fun and wholesome together. In fact, every Sunday, we do something special together and call it our “date”. This past Sunday, Cake Boss was part of our Sunday.

I tested out some bake-wear from the Cake Boss collection. I was sent a “Born To Bake” heart-shaped cake pan, “Devoted To Dessert” cupcake pan with snap on lid and a”Tiered Circle Cakelette Pan”. The Tiered Circle Cakelette Pan was by far my favorite and I was excited to give it a spin. We were also sent a Cake Boss Primo Yellow Cake Mix as well as Whole Lotta Chocolate frosting.
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Pies and Tarts with Heart Cookbook

 

Who doesn’t like Pie? I mean come on, you have endless possibilities of what can make up a pie. You can have cookie crusts, pastry crust, heck you can even make a vegetable crust <- Yes I said that, and no I’m not making it up! You can even make a cookie dough crust! Are you drooling yet? Hungry are you? I haven’t even started in on the fillings, you’ve got fruit, vegetables, cheese, cream, meat the sweet the sour the in between and do not ever forget the toppings!  The toppings, yum whipped topping , ice cream, warm homemade sweet fruit glazes.

How about now are you drooling? No?

pie

Now are you drooling?  This Crumble Top Berry Pie came from the book Pies and Tarts with Heart by Dynise Balcavage.

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Inspired by vegan recipes for both the sweet and savory pies this book brings on pies in a whole new light . I know you all have heard the saying, “Easy as Pie” . While yes it may seem hard, Balcavage has made it that much easier with bright colorful photographs throughout the cookbook you have the beginning to a wonderful start in pie making.

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Easy to follow directions, you are walking through making your first crusts which is of course the base of it all. Go for nutty, go for gluten free or use that vegetable oil you have on hand. You have several different crusts to pick from and each one comes with step by step illustrated pictures to guide you smoothly through it. Tips and tricks are throughout the book making it extremely reader friendly.  Each recipe also has a quick code by pictures, need a Gluten Free recipe? Just look for the  wheat symbol crossed out. Short on time? There’s plenty of quick recipes, and if you have a special diet that needs to be low in fat they are all listed with quick code icons at the top of each page. Kid friendly recipes are throughout as well making it highly family friendly. Don’t feel like baking? Not a problem there’s no bake crusts and pies in here too like my kids favorite S’more Pie!
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