Baking With My Two-Year Old Toddler During Quarantine = Engagement and Yummy (Healthy!) Snacks

Being confined to the four walls of our home for an extended period of time has forced me and my toddler to explore what the other rooms in my house have to offer for entertainment. Well, we stumbled into the kitchen (and if you know me, you know I don’t like being in the kitchen much) and we have discovered baking — like everyone else during this quarantine time 😉

My toddler has shown a true love for watching me measure out ingredients and then also helping to pour and mix. Maybe your kids will like it too. It’s a great way to spend 30 – 40 mins together and there are yummy treats after as a reward for all the hard work!

Check out these tried-and-tested recipes below:

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CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Crisp on the outside with delicious, soft, gooey centres – I present to you the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I have ever tried.

Recipe credit: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10813/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/

My tip: I adjusted the recipe above for 18 cookies and it turned out perfect.

Makes 18 cookies

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1-1/2 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons hot water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2: Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls (I used an ice cream scooper) onto an ungreased pan or baking sheet on a pan.

Step 3: Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.

BANANA BREAD

I was scrolling through Instagram one day and came across this healthy banana bread recipe by influencer / YouTuber Annie Jaffrey; I was intrigued because the recipe has no butter or refined sugar and uses oats in the recipe too. But I wasn’t convinced it was going to turn out great…and here I am three banana bread baking sessions later devouring this yummy, mostly healthy snack almost every day with a cup of coffee!

Recipe source / credit: Annie Jaffrey YouTube Channel

My tip: Instead of dates, I used 1/2 a cup of maple syrup to sweeten and it turned out amazing.

INGREDIENTS

Wet

3 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1 tablespoon regular whole milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick cook / instant oats (uncooked)
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup dark or regular chocolate chips
Pinch of sea salt

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.

Step 2: In a large bowl, mash bananas with fork

Step 3: Add in all wet ingredients (coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract)

Step 4: In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, salt + walnuts and dark choc chips)

Step 5: Gently stir in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients

Step 6: Grease bread pan with coconut oil and place mixture inside

Step 7: Bake for approximately 60 mins (or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and top is golden brown)

Step 8: Remove from tin and let cool on a baking rack for 30-60 mins

You can also follow the original recipe in the video below by Annie Jaffrey.

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FRUIT SMOOTHIE POPSICLES

One day I was looking for something to do with my son and came across an IG story of a friend making popsicles with her toddler son. The best part about popsicles is that there’s no right way to make them. I chose to make mine with whatever I had around the kitchen like extra ripe bananas, strawberries and milk. You can also just make the popsicles with yogurt (instead of milk) or with just freshly squeezed fruit juice. My son helped me put the fruits and pour milk into the blender and then for the rest of the day kept checking if the popsicles were done :D. Plus they make the perfect cooling nutritious snack in this insane summer heat!

 

Makes 6 popsicles

INGREDIENTS

1 banana
6-10 strawberries (frozen strawberries work too — just be sure to thaw them before using) or other berries / fruits of your choice. Blueberries, raspberries, mango works just as well too.
1 cup whole milk
1-2 tablespoons of honey (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Step 1: Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth

Step 2: Pour the smoothie mixture into popsicle mould (I use this one from IKEA).

Step 3: Freeze in freezer for 6-8 hours

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Happy baking! Please share any other ideas you have in the comments below 🙂