Are you excited about leading a Food Adventure but need some inspiration? Check out these ideas to help kick start your imagination about what magical experience you can cook or bake with kids.
Monogrammed Soft Pretzels
Whether your kiddos have a sweet tooth or prefer a salty snack, soft pretzels can be tailored to their tastes. Just like playing with Play-Doh, kids will get to practice rolling and shaping their pretzels. And because parents always love a little extra educational element, we’ll shape the pretzels into the child’s initials (or even make their full name—if it’s not too long)! Soft pretzels are the perfect baking project. The recipe can be made with just a handful of ingredients you probably already have stocked in the kitchen. The simple steps ensure plenty of time to focus on technique and fun.
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Why Kids Will Love It
Kids love to cook and this kid-friendly, hands-on recipe is perfect for little fingers.
Why Parents Will Love It
Cooking gives kids a chance to develop life skills while practicing math, reading, and fine motor development. Baking is the ultimate science experiment and an excellent way to practice patience.
Make It Extra Special
Who doesn’t love to dip soft pretzels?! Tickle your taste buds with an accompanying sauce: extra cheesy, cinnamon sweet, or zesty honey mustard. Got extra time? Make all three and do a taste test to see which one is the favorite.
Bake Your Own Dog (or Cat) Treats
Making homemade pet treats is so easy and requires only a handful of ingredients–most of which you probably already have in your kitchen. You can make these extra fun with specially shaped cookie cutters or keep them simple with basic shapes. A bone-shaped cookie cutter is perfect for dog treats for medium to large breed dogs. For cat treats, opt for a small fish cookie cutter just like the goldfish crackers kiddos love so much.
Why Kids Will Love It
Kids love baking and the unique experience of making treats for their four-legged family members is extra fun!
Why Parents Will Love It
Stirring, measuring, and pouring are great for developing fine motor skills. Baking pet treats also reinforces what foods are pet-friendly and which are not.
Make It Extra Special
Decorate “doggy bags” for the extra treats and package them up to share with friends and neighbors.
Ice Cream In A Bag
Harness the power of the child and make ice cream in a bag. The recipe is simple and requires only a handful of kitchen staples, ice cream salt, and 2 sizes of plastic baggies. Once you’ve got the ingredients mixed and in the bags, cue up some fun music to get moving. Think songs like Shake It Off, Twist and Shout, and Jump in the Line (Shake Senora). Having a playlist ready will keep the shaking going and limit the likelihood of inpatient whining. If you’re making ice cream with just one child (or a younger child), be prepared to take a turn shaking the bag. Little arms get tired quickly.
Why Kids Will Love It
Two words: Ice. Cream.
Why Parents Will Love It
Kids will get to learn about the science of making ice cream while getting all of their wiggly excitement out.
Make It Extra Special
Vanilla is yummy, but mix things up by adding in different toppings, like mini chocolate chips or sprinkles. Or try a new flavor like mint or strawberry.
Worms In Dirt
No one wants to eat worms in dirt, but this tricky treat is actually quite delicious. Chances are, you’ve probably made or tried a version of it over the years. It’s extra fun to present this idea to kiddos for the first time. They will balk at the grossness and then love being on the inside of this trick. It’s a quick and easy recipe with lots of chances for kids to get hands-on and take the lead.
Why Kids Will Love It
Children will love the silly trick of serving up worms in dirt to be eaten.
Why Parents Will Love It
Cooking provides children the opportunity to develop both literacy and math skills.
Make It Extra Special
Decorate your worms in dirt to share with a family member, friend, or neighbor. Make a pipe cleaner-and-spoon flower or make a flower from a cupcake liner and lollipop. Or place the cup inside a small (clean) flower pot and add some artificial flowers.
Hot Chocolate Bombs
With a mold that you can buy on Amazon for less than $10 and a few household staples, you can spend a fun afternoon with kiddos cooking up extra fun hot chocolate bombs. Kids will get practice in the kitchen with exposure to new utensils and techniques while making a familiar treat. Older children can be more hands-on and experiment with flavor combinations. The recipe will make plenty of bombs to share with friends and family.
Why Kids Will Love It
Chocolate + sprinkles + marshmallows!
Why Parents Will Love It
Cooking is an excellent opportunity for kids to practice math, learn about science, and practice fine motor skills . . . all while someone else cleans up the mess.
Make It Extra Special
Package up some of the extra hot chocolate bombs in a cute box or even just a small Tupperware container. Add some ribbon or tissue paper, write out instructions for use (great literacy practice for kiddos!), and deliver some homemade love to neighbors and friends.
Looking for more ideas to kickstart your Adventure creativity? Here are some creative ideas for Adventures in each of the available categories. Have fun!
