Top Tips For Baking With Your Children

Baking with your children always feels like such a good idea to begin with, doesn't it? There's something wonderfully wholesome about donning an apron and showing them how to make food. And if that something happens to be sugary and buttery, then we've already fast-forwarded in our minds to the post-bake sample session that with any luck will involve a hot cup of tea and two minutes peace. To me, that's the point of no return.

The actual process of baking with children though? That's a minefield fit to test the courage of even the bravest soldier. Luckily for you, I've a few brilliant tips from my blogging buddies to hopefully make the experience more #instabaker than a scene resembling the aftermath of a natural disaster, with the attitude to match.

"Crack the eggs into a jug first so they can just pour then in without getting bits of shell in the mix."

Pink Pear Bear

"Invest in a mixer - hand-mixing = bored toddler!"

My Family Of Roses

"Weigh everything out beforehand. Just put ingredients into smaller bowls they can tip straight in. Way less stress!"

Five  Little Doves

"If they tend to be messy run a bath first that is a little too warm for them, then by the time you've done baking you can get them straight in the bath before sticky hands go everywhere!"

Just Average Jen

"Keep wipes handy for nose picks, bum scratches etc and take lots of pictures for the memories."
Mummy Of 5 Miracles

"We have little helper kitchen pods for our toddlers. It keeps them contained and at the right height. It's brilliant (particularly for the first of those two reasons!!)"

Five Little Stars

"Don't worry about the result just enjoy the making. Choose a fail safe recipe (macaroni cheese, fairy cakes) and remember that they are doing it so let them. They can mix and sprinkle and stir even from a really young age."

Teddy Bears And Cardigans

"I cook and bake with my nearly four year old all the time he loves it, even if it's just putting veg in a pan. I normally just do the baking in bowls sitting on the floor for less mess, quick and easy to clean. I use his plastic table as it's his height for any rolling. We make biscuits, cakes, and dinners together and he loves it. The main thing is don't get angry - stay calm and let them find their own way of doing things."

North East Living

"Pre-heat the oven first. It really does speed up the cooking time and let's face it...kids are impatient. Also let them help wash up, by the time they've finished the cakes have cooked and their hands are clean too."

This Mummy Always Writes

"Keep the paper chef hats from Pizza Express for home baking times with kids and tell them as soon as the hats are on, that's sensible baking time as a way of controlling the situation a little." 
Thrifty Mum

"Do it at granny's house so you don't have the mess!"

Soph-Obsessed

"Start small. Like melting chocolate and adding rice krispies small!"

Married To A Geek

"Be prepared for mess! My main tip is definitely only give the kids a bit of mixture in their own bowl to mix/stir/pour until their heart is content, and use the rest to make your own cake too. We love making fairy cakes for this exact reason - a few kiddy cakes and lots of nice mummy cakes."

New Mummy Blog

"Doesn't always have to be from scratch - recipe mixes make baking fun, easy and instantly gratifying."

Rainbows Are Too Beautiful

"Let them taste & lick the bowl at the end. The best bit. Also making something they can decorate goes down well."

Susan K Mann

Do you have any fail safe tips to add? I'd love to know!