Around Christmas time your little ones are sure to see you bustling about, preparing food for friends and family. Children love to copy their parents and occupying them in the kitchen can be difficult and potentially dangerous. To keep their idle hands busy and let them show off some culinary skills we’ve got some fun recipes that you can prepare with the kids.
Baked Goods
Using the oven with children around requires constant attention. Make sure your little one knows to never touch the oven or anything in it. Let them explore the art form of baking by mixing, measuring and shaping tasty Christmas treats.
Shortbread
Shortbread is a delicious buttery biscuit that melts in the mouth. This is the perfect starting point for budding bakers as most steps can be completed by your kids. The only steps you’ll need to assist in will be handling anything around the oven and cutting the shortbread.
Once the shortbread is baked try cutting the slices into wedges. Once cut, your children can get creative decorating them with reindeer faces, Christmas trees and any other ideas they may have.
Biscuits
Biscuits are another baked treat that will go down well after dinner. Find a fun recipe and set out all the ingredients. Print out some simple instructions for reference and let your little chef have a ball making their own biscuits. These melting snowman biscuits and spiced Christmas trees are some of our favourites.
Cupcakes
Cupcakes are quick, easy and delicious. Dressed in cute Christmas cups, your children will love decorating these cakes with icing, sweets, chocolate and any other tasty toppings. As with any recipe that requires an oven, make sure you assist them and do any tasks that require the oven or knives.
To make life easier, measure out and prepare all the ingredients and toppings. Just remember to leave a cupcake out for Santa as a special treat.
Cake Pops
Cake pops are just as fun and easy to make. These little balls of delicious cake are easy to decorate and great little gifts for friends and family. As with any other cake, make sure you handle any tasks around the oven or knives.
Sausage Rolls
If you want something a little more savoury then lookout for a quick and easy sausage roll recipe. Moreish, quick and easy, these little parcels are great for teaching your kids about baking and building their confidence in the kitchen, all at the same time. Here’s a super sausage roll recipe from BBC Good Food just in time for Christmas.
Cheese Puffs
Cheese puffs are a great meat-free alternative to Christmas snacks. These are quick and easy to make. All you need is some puff pastry sheets and grated cheese. For a more festive look, try using cookie cutters to make stars, trees and other shapes.
No-Bake Options
If you want to avoid the oven all together there are several no baking recipes available to you. Here are some of our favourites.
Ice Cream
Mixing and matching new ice cream flavours is a great way to bring the family together for dessert. Grab a tub of your favourite ice cream, we recommend vanilla and layout ingredients and toppings. Think outside the box, crushed gingerbread, mince pies and shortbread add texture while cherries, sprinkles and sauces add a delicious burst of flavour.
Truffles
Truffles are quick and easy to make but keep in mind you’ll need a day or so for them to set. First off, prepare your chocolate by melting it slowly in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Add cream or other ingredients as recipes advise. Once you’ve got your chocolate ready to set wait for it to cool to a point where you can shape it.
Now the fun starts, let your kids shape little chocolate balls and roll them in bowls of crushed nuts, sprinkles and any other toppings you can imagine.
Decorations
Last but not least are snacks that can be used as decorations. These ideas are arts and crafts for the tummy and feature edible ornaments as well as designer digestives.
Edible Ornaments
Christmas decorations can look good enough to eat so why not make some that are. Marshmellow Christmas cones, sweetie bauble decorations, cake pop decorations and candy cane decorations. Find your favourites and let your little ones decorate the tree. They’ll love being included in Christmas and build confidence in their creativity.
At Stepping Stones, we’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you and your family have a well-deserved Christmas break. If you’re interested in getting your child on track with a leading nursery school contact us today. At Stepping Stones we have years of experience, safe and secure premises as well as a wide range of toys, activities and lessons to keep your little entertained and enlightened.