How to Have a School Holiday Baking Day with the Kids
When my girls were younger, we used to set aside one day each week of the school holidays for baking. We’d block out the day, choose a few things we felt like making and spend hours together in the kitchen.
There were usually cookies, a slice and cupcakes to decorate. We’d make something fun for lunch too, like Vegemite or pizza scrolls. By the end of the day, the kitchen was a mess, there were loads of dishes to wash and we had treats ready to enjoy during the week.
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a day baking with kids, a school holiday baking day is a lovely one to try. It doesn’t need to be perfectly planned and you certainly don’t need to make everything in one go. Here’s how we used to make it work.
Let the kids help choose what to make
Before you start, ask everyone to pick a recipe they’d like to try. Choosing something themselves makes it much more exciting to get into the kitchen.
I’d suggest picking two or three recipes with different steps so there’s something for everyone to do. One child might love measuring and mixing, while another is more interested in the decorating.
Need a few ideas? Try Choc Chip M&M Cookies, Chocolate Weet-Bix Slice or Banana Pear Muffins.
Keep lunch fun and simple
You’ll want a break from the sweet stuff by lunchtime! We often made Vegemite Scrolls or Pizza Scrolls, which were just as much a part of the day as the baking.
For something the kids can help assemble, you could try Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Snacks or Mini Puff Pastry Salami Pizzas. They make a tasty lunch on the day and any extras are handy for another afternoon.
Make a little something for later in the week
One of my favourite things about our baking days was having treats ready for the days that followed. A container of cookies or a slice you can cut into squares makes afternoon tea much easier.
Mars Bar Slice is a good one for this and Popcorn Pretzel Slice is another fun option if you want to include a no-bake snack the kids can help make.
Give yourself permission to spread it out
A whole day in the kitchen can be wonderful, but it isn’t the only way to do it. If you’ve got plans or simply don’t feel like tackling several recipes at once, pick one thing to make together today and another later in the week.
Even making Brownies or whipping up a batch of Light and Fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes can become a happy school holiday memory. Along the way, the kids learn how to measure ingredients, follow a recipe and feel proud of something they’ve made themselves.
The best part of our baking days wasn’t how much we made. It was the time we spent together and of course, getting to eat it afterwards!
What would your kids choose to make on a school holiday baking day?
