My kids LOVE to bake! Since they were 4 and 2 years old I have been setting up independent cooking activities for them. They love to make cakes and cupcakes and we have done it together so often that they know the general idea of what to do. I would set out all the ingredients for them, already measured, and let them decide themselves in what order they would do things.
Everything they have cooked has always turned out delicious! They are so proud of themselves when they are able to do everything on their own, and it also encourages them to work together really well. They have to decide who will do each task and share them out so they are both happy. Now that they are 5 and 3, and my 5 year old has started to read, I thought they would like to have a recipe that they could follow themselves. This would allow even more independence as they would be able to do all of the measuring themselves. We didn’t have any recipe books which they could read, so I converted my Nan’s chocolate cake recipe into one that they could use. I used simple words that my 5 year old would be able to work out, and also included pictures so that my 3 year old would be able to follow along.
I set out the ingredients and recipe for them on their table in the play room so they could both reach and had plenty of room to move. They were so excited and got straight to work!
The first task was measuring the butter. This took a lot of trial and error. Lots of reading numbers, deciding if they needed to add or take away some butter, and working out that the amount of butter you added determined how much higher the number would go. Lots of meaningful maths practice!
Once again they worked really well together. My 5 year old would read out the directions and then they would each take a turn measuring out the ingredients.
My 3 year old particularly liked the mixing and taste testing…
…and my 5 year old even remembered to grease and line the tin.
After what seemed like a LOT of taste testing, the batter finally made it into the pan.
Of course, I put it in the oven for them, while they busied themselves with licking the bowl clean.
That afternoon they iced the cake themselves and had a piece each for afternoon tea.
They were both so pleased with themselves and being able to make a cake all on their own. They couldn’t wait to tell their Dad what they had done when he got home from work. They have been asking to do it again ever since! I think I am going to have to also create some more healthy recipes for them to use!
This was such a fun and easy activity for me to set up, and they got such enjoyment out of it while also incorporating practice in reading, problem solving, measuring, weighing, following instructions, fine motor skills, sequencing, counting, fractions, turn taking, communication, and probably much more!
I would love to share the printable recipe for you to use in your own homes, just click HERE! And be sure to let me know how it goes!
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Comments
AmyReply
July 21, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Love it! My 4 year old son loves baking and he would be so excited and proud to make something “all by himself”. Will definitely be downloading your printable. Thanks for your generosity!
Happiness is hereReply
July 22, 2014 at 8:36 am
Awesome! Hope he loves it!
CindyReply
July 22, 2014 at 12:43 am
um, can you convert to US measures? Love this idea.
MareeReply
July 22, 2014 at 8:09 pm
This is such a great activity. I have been meaning to convert some of my recipes into ones that my daughters could follow even though they are not yet reading. You have inspired me to get cracking on it.
Happiness is hereReply
July 24, 2014 at 8:53 am
Thank you Maree 🙂
July 23, 2014 at 12:59 pm
I love cooking for children. It’s such a useful activity for so many different reasons. As a classroom teacher, I used to set it as homework sometimes. That cake looks delicious!
Happiness is hereReply
July 24, 2014 at 8:53 am
Now that’s the kind of homework I like! lol.
Danya BanyaReply
July 23, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Love this! So much here is awesome – the reading practise, the maths practise, the sharing, the feeling of accomplishment. Well done Mum!
Sara @ Happiness is hereReply
July 25, 2014 at 12:29 pm
Thanks Danya! 🙂
EmmaReply
October 31, 2014 at 4:43 pm
Oh wow!!! I am so excited about this!! My girls and I have been cooking together since they were very little (before they were one). Usually I measure out the ingredients on the bench then put it into a bowl for them on a child sized table we bring into the kitchen. Sometimes I take photos of them cooking different things and have put the photos together with the recipies in a photo album style book for them (I have a master copy we use now & am having other copies printed for them as keepsakes). Both giving them the pre measured ingredients to put in them sleeves & later giving them simple/visual recipes they can follow themselves will be great extensions on what we are already doing! Am hoping try doing the pre measured ingredients in little bowls tomorrow!!! 🙂 thanks for this post, I love seeing how others approach these types of things (always gets me thinking, reflecting and adds new ideas) & also for the printable (which I can use now in my work and will keep as an example for when my girls are s little older)!!
Sara @ Happiness is hereReply
November 1, 2014 at 9:05 am
What a beautiful keepsake!!!!
AprilReply
December 8, 2014 at 9:42 pm
This recipe printable is great! Do you have anymore? My daughter cannot read words but she can recognize numbers. This is a great way for her to have word recognition. Thank you!
HeatherReply
June 1, 2015 at 7:52 am
Hi! I enjoy your blog. Your days seem sweet with your kiddos. If only we lived near you, I think we’d be good friends. 🙂
I’ve enjoyed baking with my kiddos for awhile. We tried this recipe, thank you for sharing it. Our experience was fun but didn’t seem as magical as yours from what your pictures showed. Haha. We will try it again. 🙂
Becci SundbergReply
September 16, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Fabulous! I had actually just popped a marble cake in the oven for Mst6(tomorrow)’s birthday. He insisted on helping too. He loves to bake but it’s something I have only just started to really do with my kids.
MeiReply
June 30, 2019 at 10:55 am
This recipe has become our all the favourite. My little 3 year old toddler love baking and he absolutely love eating the yummy cake 🙂 thank you for sharing the recipe.
lisaReply
December 8, 2019 at 12:42 am
Tania, one square of chocolate is equal to one ounce (so you need two ounces for this recipe) and a stick of butter is roughly 4 oz (1/4 pound). I’m making this tonight, looks good!!mold removal toronto
EliseReply
March 18, 2020 at 3:51 am
Thank you for sharing- I made with my three year old twins and it was fun. We used it to make cupcakes. I wrote a version of the recipe with pictures and they liked checking things off. I didn’t realize this was a UK recipe and set the oven to 180 degrees fahrenheit. oops! Also I used unsalted butter and I think they needed more salt. Thank you!
lisaReply
June 16, 2020 at 1:13 pm
I am really happy for you and your family. Anyway, thank you for sharing this recipe. This really looks tasty and this is one of the reasons why this is in demand in diners and even in catering Fort Lauderdale. I hope that my folks will enjoy this as much as you do. Thank you again. Keep posting such great recipes.rluy
lisaReply
June 16, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Hi, I am really happy for you and your family. Anyway, thank you for sharing this recipe. This really looks tasty and this is one of the reasons why this is in demand in diners and even in catering Fort Lauderdale. I hope that my folks will enjoy this as much as you do. Thank you again. Keep posting such great recipes.rluy
lisaReply
September 15, 2020 at 9:28 pm
Hi, Amazing!!! Thanks for sharing such a kind of healthy recipes. It’s very tasty & easy recipes.Vodka
lisaReply
September 24, 2020 at 11:21 pm
This really looks tasty and this is one of the reasons why this is in demand in diners and even in catering Fort Lauderdale. I hope that my folks will enjoy this as much as you do. Thank you again. Keep posting such great recipes.Khoya barfi recipe
lisaReply
October 2, 2020 at 6:14 pm
Oh wow, some of these sound just incredible. My hubby isn’t a big fan of sweet potato but I love it and I’m always on the lookout for more recipes to try that might just convince him to love them more.Healthy Food Killeen
lisaReply
December 5, 2020 at 5:02 am
I am really happy for you and your family. Anyway, thank you for sharing this recipe. This really looks tasty and this is one of the reasons why this is in demand in diners and even in catering Fort Lauderdale. I hope that my folks will enjoy this as much as you do. Thank you again. Keep posting such great recipes.exotic fruit
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December 7, 2020 at 9:35 pm
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lisaReply
December 18, 2020 at 5:54 pm
Oh! Well like I said in the post, it’s really great! Unless you were asking someone else? I bet you could totally use non fat evaporated milk! Might not be AS creamy, but still work. Good luck!Banana benefits
lisaReply
December 27, 2020 at 7:22 pm
I love alliteration and I was just thinking about it earlier today (for a recipe title, no less.) This kale is making me drool all over!Falafel Recipe
lisaReply
January 11, 2021 at 3:11 am
Hi, This looks wonderful – and green and bright, perfect for midwinter. Your recipe is so tasty, it probably was even better than with the steamed version. And I love cauliflower with pasta. I’m going to have to try this one!
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lisaReply
February 12, 2021 at 11:41 pm
I am really happy for you and your family. Anyway, thank you for sharing this recipe. This really looks tasty and this is one of the reasons why this is in demand in diners and even in catering Fort Lauderdale. I hope that my folks will enjoy this as much as you do. Thank you again. Keep posting such great recipes.pizza box
lisaReply
February 19, 2021 at 10:26 pm
I haven’t tried this recipe with almond flour but it might work out! If you do give it a go, please let us know how it goes! By the way, There are gluten free oat flours out there or you can make your own easily with certified gluten free oats. Just put uncooked oats in your blender and pulse until it comes a flour consistency.homemade pizza dough
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