Baking with children is sweet. For children, it is an entire project that includes counting, measuring, sensory experiences, instruction following, socializing and taking turns. For me, it is a quality time and practice in patience. And in the end, there is a sweet creation made with their little hands. They will be proud.
Zebra cake
Ingredients
butter, 4 tablespoons unsalted, room temperature
sugar, 3/4 cups (I used raw turbinado)
eggs, 4 room temperature
sour cream, 8 oz or one cup
baking soda, 1 teaspoon
vinegar, 1 teaspoon
orange zest of 1/4 organic orange
spelt flour, 1 1/2 cups (or while whole wheat)
unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 cup
Method
The instructions are for adult baking with child. Ages 2 to 6. Mark each step as completed as you go to teach your child to work with instructions.
1. Oven preparation:
Preheat to 350 degrees F.
2. Eggs and sugar:
Break one egg into small bowl and let you child transfer it to the big bowl. Repeat. Let your child to count four eggs. Let your child to measure and add sugar to eggs. Show her/him how to use whisk and to cream eggs and sugar. Let your child to try.
3. Butter and sour cream:
Ask your child to add butter and sour cream and mix. Reserve paper wrap of butter.
4. Orange zest:
Wash an orange. You may show your little helper microplane or zester and explain that it is sharp and how to use it. Older kids can use the tool with or without your assistance. Make sure to smell the zest together. It has fresh and relaxing fragrance. Add the orange zest to the mix and whisk again.
5. Flour:
Let your child measure measure 1/2 cup flour. Add flour to the mix and combine. Repeat 3 times. In addition to health advantages for spelt flour, it forms weaker gluten chains, so it is not easy to over mix as regular flour.
6. Leavening:
Now the volcano part. To replace baking powder we will use mix of soda and vinegar. Put tea spoon of baking soda in a table spoon and together with your child gently pour teaspoon of vinegar over it. Add to batter and mix gently. Explain to your child what is the reason to do it. Small little bubbles of air created by mixing vinegar and soda will make the cake light and tender. And bigger!
7. Pan:
Grease a small baking pan with butter. I used small cast iron pan. Springform pan can be used. You can use paper the butter was wrapped in to grease the pans. Sprinkle with flour.
8. Zebra pattern:
Move half of the batter to another bowl. Let your child measure the cocoa powder and add it to one of the bowls. Mix to combine. You will have a bowl of yellow cake batter and a bowl of chocolate cake batter. Pour 2 table spoons of chocolate batter into the center of the pan. Pour 2 table spoons of yellow batter. Repeat. It is a taking turns practice, especially if you are baking with more than one child or in a classroom.
9. Bake:
Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into cake center comes out clean and still moist. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pan and cool completely on cookie rack.
10. Eat:
Get your plates. Ask your child to bring forks and enjoy together.
 |
| Spelt zebra cake made by me and the kids |
Ingredients
butter, 4 tablespoons unsalted, room temperature
sugar, 3/4 cups (I used raw turbinado)
eggs, 4 room temperature
sour cream, 8 oz or one cup
baking soda, 1 teaspoon
vinegar, 1 teaspoon
orange zest of 1/4 organic orange
spelt flour, 1 1/2 cups (or while whole wheat)
unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/4 cup
Method
The instructions are for adult baking with child. Ages 2 to 6. Mark each step as completed as you go to teach your child to work with instructions.
1. Oven preparation:
Preheat to 350 degrees F.
2. Eggs and sugar:
Break one egg into small bowl and let you child transfer it to the big bowl. Repeat. Let your child to count four eggs. Let your child to measure and add sugar to eggs. Show her/him how to use whisk and to cream eggs and sugar. Let your child to try.
3. Butter and sour cream:
Ask your child to add butter and sour cream and mix. Reserve paper wrap of butter.
4. Orange zest:
Wash an orange. You may show your little helper microplane or zester and explain that it is sharp and how to use it. Older kids can use the tool with or without your assistance. Make sure to smell the zest together. It has fresh and relaxing fragrance. Add the orange zest to the mix and whisk again.
5. Flour:
Let your child measure measure 1/2 cup flour. Add flour to the mix and combine. Repeat 3 times. In addition to health advantages for spelt flour, it forms weaker gluten chains, so it is not easy to over mix as regular flour.
6. Leavening:
Now the volcano part. To replace baking powder we will use mix of soda and vinegar. Put tea spoon of baking soda in a table spoon and together with your child gently pour teaspoon of vinegar over it. Add to batter and mix gently. Explain to your child what is the reason to do it. Small little bubbles of air created by mixing vinegar and soda will make the cake light and tender. And bigger!
7. Pan:
Grease a small baking pan with butter. I used small cast iron pan. Springform pan can be used. You can use paper the butter was wrapped in to grease the pans. Sprinkle with flour.
8. Zebra pattern:
Move half of the batter to another bowl. Let your child measure the cocoa powder and add it to one of the bowls. Mix to combine. You will have a bowl of yellow cake batter and a bowl of chocolate cake batter. Pour 2 table spoons of chocolate batter into the center of the pan. Pour 2 table spoons of yellow batter. Repeat. It is a taking turns practice, especially if you are baking with more than one child or in a classroom.
9. Bake:
Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into cake center comes out clean and still moist. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pan and cool completely on cookie rack.
 |
| Zebra cake after baking in heavy pan |
10. Eat:
Get your plates. Ask your child to bring forks and enjoy together.
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