Crystal Godfrey (aka s'more lover)
Looking for a fun activity to do with your kids while you're cooped up on quarentine? Do I have the activity for you!
COOKING WITH KIDS & HOMEMADE GRAHAM CRACKERS
- April 3, 2020
- , 1:02 am
- , Kid Favs
Corona virus got you down? Are your kids bouncing off the walls? Looking for something fun to do? (I sure hope I’m not the only one that answered ‘yes’ to all of those questions!) With all the baking that’s going on while we’re all cooped up in our homes, it’s a great time to involve your kids! After all cooking with kids is a great way to teach them math, science, reading, and how to follow instructions.
Before you start, let’s make sure you’re set up for success. (This post is based on a LIVE meet up I did on Instagram where I showed how to cook with your kids, you can catch the video on our Outsmart Dinner Facebook Group page)
10 Steps for Cooking with Kids, so everyone (including YOU) has a great time!
Combined from the California Department of Health & Penn State Cooperative Extension
1. Decide on the area of the kitchen where you will be cooking.
2. Gather stools or chairs that will allow your child to stand or sit comfortably while working.
3. Wash hands and put on aprons.
4. Get out the recipe you will be using.
5. Read the recipe with your child. Explain that you will be following the steps in the recipe to prepare the food. Children get excited and forget. Repeat directions as often as needed.
6. Set out:
• the equipment and supplies that you will need (such as a mixer, blender, bowls, pans, measuring cups, knives, and spoons)
• the ingredients that you will be using
7. Children have short attention spans. Give them quick, simple jobs, and give instructions one at a time.
8. Expect spills and messes. Clean up with your child by giving them jobs to help with cleanup.
9. Eat what you have prepared.
10. HAVE FUN!
The recipe below is so fun because you can cut them into squares, have your kids use cookie cutters, and make s’mores with them when you’re done!
Homemade Cinnamon Graham Crackers
Ingredients
- 2 & 1/4 cups all purpose flour or whole wheat
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 7 Tbsp butter cut into small pieces
- 3 Tbsp cold water
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Cinnamon Sugar for topping
Instructions
- In a bowl of your stand mixer, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and soda, and salt.
- Using the whisk attachment, cut the butter into your dry ingredients. (You can also use a pastry cutter, forks, or your fingers. )
- Add the water, honey and vanilla, stir to combine with the cookie paddle attachment just until the cookie dough forms.
- If the dough is too dry, add more water 1/2 tsp at a time until the dough isn’t too dry or too sticky.
- Gather the dough into a ball, and roll out on a silicon mat or in between two pieces of parchment paper and refrigerate for 15 minutes. (This is a great time to clean up the mess)
- After 15 minutes, preheat the oven to 350º F. Remove the dough from the fridge cut into squares using a pizza cutter then use a fork to poke holes or cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes depending on how you like your graham crackers. The longer you bake the crunchier they are. The great thing about this recipe is that you can pull the crackers out of the oven, let them cool completely to see how done they are and decide to put them back in the oven if they aren't crunchy yet.
- Generously sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon sugar
- Store in an air tight container.