A quick and easy way to bake with kids

My son’s preschool has this system where they conduct activities within the class on a different theme every month. For example. in August, the theme was “music” and one activity during every school day was centered around this theme. In September, the theme chosen was “food” and for one of the activities under this theme, I was asked to visit the school and conduct a “cake baking class” with the kids.

Cooking with kids can be a lot of fun. But when you’re talking of 10 kids in the age group of 1.5 to 3.5 years of age, it can be quite a task. Kids in this age group have a super short attention span, lack the dexterity and skill that older kids have and are also typically more interested in running around and playing than sitting in one place and doing something. And baking. in general, requires the absolute opposite of all these traits. So, how was I going to pull this off?

A chocoholic’s delight with “good for you” ingredients

I’ve always enjoyed baking. But I’ve really only started experimenting with it over the last 2 years. The challenge of re-working a recipe to make it healthier (and lower in calories) and the joy you get when you end up with something lip-smacking is a different feeling altogether.

That’s why, last month, on the morning of Fathers’ Day, when I impulsively decided on a mini-celebration for the two dads in my house (my father-in-law and my husband), I resorted to baking a cake myself. However, there were restrictions, some self-imposed and some driven by lack of planning.