Baking with kids provides numerous benefits, from teaching them how to bake to helping with math, reading, science, and more. Today, there are tons of different options for flavorful and fun bread the kids will love making and eating. Plus, with a dough mix ready to use, it’s easier than ever to get started. Try the following to help kids get interested in baking and to have fun while they’re baking bread.
Get Everything Ready to Go
It is a good idea to have everything already in place before getting started baking with kids. For the youngest kids, have ingredients already measured out and ready to pour into the bowl. Older kids can help measure but make sure the ingredients are set up and ready to use. If there are options available, let them make the decision, as this will mean it’s more likely they’ll enjoy the bread once it’s done baking.
Try Adding in Colors
Colors aren’t going to change the flavor of the bread, but they can make it more fun to eat. What kid wouldn’t love to eat blue or pink bread? After the dough is formed, add a couple of drops of food colouring to it. Be careful to avoid using too much, as that can change the texture of the dough. Knead the dough, dispersing the color through it. For more fun, split the dough into different sections, using a different color for each one, and twist together to create a mixture of colors inside the bread when it’s done baking.
Add Unique Flavors
Just because a mix is used doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Try adding in dry ingredients like dried fruit to create unique and fun flavours. Add in a splash of vanilla or other flavorings to see what the bread tastes like when it’s done. Try adding a little cinnamon with the bread or other seasonings. With the right mix and added flavors, it may turn out tasting more like a dessert than something to have with dinner.
Create Bread in Unique Shapes
Don’t forget about the shape of the bread. Traditionally, bread is made into a round shape and baked or pulled into a longer shape to create a loaf. However, it isn’t a requirement to bake bread this way. Try pulling apart sections of the bread and braiding them together, creating a bread that snakes around the pan, or other fun and unique shapes. Then, see how they change when the bread rises and while it’s being baked.
Baking bread with kids can be a lot of fun, especially when simple mixes are used so it’s easy to play around with colors, flavours, shapes, and more. While some loaves may not turn out as good as expected, the whole family will have fun experimenting and learning, and it might just be possible to discover a new family favorite bread. Try out the ideas here and see what the kids can think up to create interesting and unique breads, as well as to teach kids about baking.
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