Tips For Teaching Your Kids Or Teens To Cook And Bake

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The fun thing about having the kids home for summer is seeing how they entertain themselves. I can’t believe how quickly this one has passed us by. Each summer I (you) see the changes with the activities they want to do or like to do. Keeping them busy isn’t always easy. But, this summer we had eased into a summer pattern of relaxing, entertainment and at home fun. Yes, I know teens love the internet and chatting with friends. Then there are times they surprise you at what they want to do. On this particular morning Sammie decided to bake on her own. Baking with teens will change your life. Once they know what they are doing in the kitchen they can help you! 

I really enjoy seeing Sammie learn to read, follow the recipe directions, baking, cooking and use kitchen on her own while being safe. Of course I’m there for supervision. It’s awesome to see her love of baking and cooking grow. It was only a few years ago I was sharing her just mixing batter and helping me in the kitchen then she’d run off to play. Later coming back to eat the yummy goodies. I’d finish up including cleanup without her help.

Today I’m sharing her solo first bake along with some tips for baking with teens (and kids) I thought you’d enjoy if you have a child or teen wanting to learn! I also have a round up of a few resources for baking and cooking with kids and teens in case you’d like to get your kids excited about being in the kitchen. Baking and cooking are great weekend activities during the school year and fun during the week if they have short days.

Baking With Teens

First off when to let a teen bake on their own? I really think this depends on a few factors. The maturity of the child, how long they have helped you in the kitchen and what skills they have learned to do on their own by helping you. They should have basic food safety and kitchen safety skills, sanitary skills, and be able to follow written directions. I always recommend supervision no matter how skilled, at least be nearby in case your help is needed or to answer questions. On this day she decided to use a boxed cornbread recipe all on her own. That’s fine, she’ll be reading recipes before long. It’s instilling confidence and skills even if it’s from a boxed recipe.

Baking With Teens

Tips for helping teens learn to bake and cook:  

• Teach them the importance of food safety (standard hand washing, surface cleanliness and sanitation / cross contamination)
• Teach them how to use kitchen tools
• Teach them how to read a recipe through first (to ensure all supplies are on hand)
• Have them gather supplies together prior to starting a recipe 
• Teach them safety basics of handling hot pans, moving oven racks
• Let your teen pick foods and recipes they’d like to try 
• Encourage them to do it on their own but, be there for support and supervision 
• Have them follow through with helping to clean up their cooking/baking mess

Excuse the messy kitchen I was reorganizing it when she decided to take on her own project. And no our remodel isn’t done. I just stopped to record her doing it on her own. I love chronicling moments when I can. Here she is checking the measurements of the poured milk. 

It was good to go and into the bowl it went. Maybe I need to remind her that eggs roll off tables! lol Lucky for her it didn’t. 

One of the first things I taught my kids was how to crack an egg. When they are little you can just hold your hands over theirs and help them do it. If you have young kids you might enjoy these two posts: 2011  Baking With Love and Teaching Kids To Bake  (This second one I made a card that shows all the skills they learn.) Oh my, I have to say my blogging, writing and photography skills have changed so much over the past few years. What a throw back looking at these two posts! And Sammie was going into 4th grade in 2011, this year she’ll be in 8th grade with a few classes at the high school! Note: We always crack eggs in a separate bowl. You never know when you’ll get a bad one. 

I do have a hand mixer but, it’s good to know how to hand mix. Sometimes you just don’t need to pull them out. 

My preferred method for adding batter into cupcake liners and even for making cookies is using an small ice cream scoop. And she’s got that down! Filling them up and into the oven they went.

Then when they were done she pulled them out, let them cool and then ate some. Do you have a child or teen ready to learn to cook or bake?

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Baking With Teens:

Helpful resources 

Teaching your kids how to bake: 

• Baking With Kids  Cookbook and Resource available on Kindle too. 
• Kids Fun & Healthy Cookbook I had this one for Sammie and gave one to my grand daughter too. They both loved it! Yes, the next generation is getting busy in the kitchen. My little miss Audrey is 7 years old now and loves baking with her mom. I heard she wants to own a café baking and selling art that hangs on the walls. Imagine that.

Baking Cookbooks for Teens: 

• Teens Cook #1 Best Seller in Teen & Young Adult Cookbooks. Also available in Kindle 
• The Cookbook for Teens Also Available in Kindle

How old were you when you learned to bake? (or cook) Who taught you how to bake? (or cook) What age did you start bringing your kids into the kitchen with you? 

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