Christmas Baking with Kids

Truffles, Baby Bump Doula

By: Lisa Mackell

One of my favourite things to do…

with my children each Christmas is to do some baking and two of our favourite recipes to make are Truffles and Lemon Loaf.

If you don’t mind the mess…

Baking with kids is almost guaranteed to be a messy endeavour, but it is also very rewarding. It’s time spent together, laughing and singing (as we usually have Christmas music playing), and to enjoy being with each other. It is not about perfection, as the finished product is by no means Martha Stewart perfect, but it will be perfect to your child. Most children love mixing and measuring, and these recipes are perfect for that.

Baking with kids is a no-brainer

From a development point of view, baking is a no-brainer.  Baking stimulates the brain with its cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. It can be done at a very young age and continue throughout life (I still bake with my 86 year old grandmother).  It’s a quick lesson in math and science. They can watch the wet ingredients go into the oven, and come out dry. They can see what happens when certain ingredients mix with each other.  Fine motor skills get a workout measuring, mixing and scraping. It’s a win-win and it’s FUN!

Enjoy the mess, the creativity and the wonderful memories you are making. This isn’t a present that can be wrapped and placed under a tree, but it will be something they remember doing.

Truffles

  • ½ Cup Butter
  • 2 tablespoons Cocoa
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • 3 – 4 Cups Icing Sugar

 Method

  1. Soften Butter
  2. Mix in cocoa and vanilla.
  3. Gradually start mixing in the icing sugar. (Just a little at a time works best.)
  4. Form into small balls – about an inch in diameter.
  5. Roll ball in sprinkles or crushed candy cane or icing sugar or cocoa.
  6. Store in a cool, dry place.

Lemon Loaf

  • ½ cup of butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup of milk
  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 lemon, rind of

Glaze

  • 1 lemon, juice of
  • ¼ cup sugar

Method

Preheat oven to 350F

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.
  2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until creamy.
  3. Blend in milk.
  4. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt and lemon rind.
  5. Pour into batter.
  6. Stir to moisten.
  7. Scrape into greased 9×5 inch loaf pan
  8. Bake in 350F oven for 55 to 60 minutes.
  9. While baking, prepare glaze.
  10. Cool in pan for 5 minutes.
  11. Remove to rack and while still hot, with a toothpick, poke holes all over the top of the loaf, and spoon glaze evenly over
  12. Cool and enjoy.

Directions for Glaze

  1. Combine lemon juice and sugar in saucepan.
  2. Stir and heat until sugar is dissolved.
  3. Spoon evenly over top of hot loaf.

Lisa is a wife to Mike, and a mom to two boys, Shane (9) and Alexander (6). They reside in Edmonton, where Lisa works as a Certified Birth Doula at Baby Bump Doula & Birth Services. Between births, she enjoys hanging out with family and friends, geocaching and scrapbooking.

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