There is something so satisfying about baking and icing a delicious cake, or taking a batch of freshly made muffins from the oven.

The measuring and mixing process is therapeutic, the aroma filling the kitchen tantalising, and icing and decorating the cake sparks creativity.

bake a memory

Baking a cake with your children is about creating a special memory, one that will hopefully become a family tradition. Many of us have fond memories of baking with our mothers, especially licking the icing off the spoon!  Cherish those moments and pass on the experience.

teach while you bake

Show your child how to break the eggs, pour in the milk and mix the ingredients together. Let them taste-test along the way and they’ll learn that straight cocoa doesn’t taste quite as good as the final baked product.

Baking teaches children about more than just what tastes good. They learn the importance of washing their hands when they deal with food, and how to tidy up afterwards. And it gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Use your time in the kitchen to teach them about basic maths. By measuring flour, counting eggs or working out the icing powder to water ratio, your budding cook is unknowingly brushing up on important mathematical principles. Children also learn about time by watching the clock or timer while the cake is in the oven.

time-savers

However, if the thought of baking a cake from scratch fills you with panic, there are many ways to cut a few corners, you can:

• buy cake or icing mix
• borrow or hire a cake mould
• use shop-bought ready-made decorations.

What matters more than the final product is the time you spend bonding with your child.

to get you started

This simple cake recipe can be used for a large square cake, a layered round cake or even muffins. Replace two to three tablespoons flour with two to three tablespoons of cocoa to make a chocolate cake.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups castor sugar
• ¾ cup butter
• 4 eggs
• 2½ cups cake flour
• 2¼ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line and grease two round cake pans.
• Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and beat until well mixed.
• Sift in the flour and baking powder, and add the milk and vanilla essence. Beat together until smooth. Be careful not to overbeat.
• Divide the mixture between the pans and bake for 30–40 minutes, until golden brown on the top. Cooking times for muffins or a single cake may vary.
• Turn out onto a rack and allow to cool.

Butter icing

This easy icing recipe can be spread or piped. Add a few drops of food colouring, or use two to three tablespoons of cocoa for chocolate icing.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup butter
• 3¼ cups icing sugar
• 2½ ml vanilla essence
• 3 tablespoons boiling water

Method:

• Beat the butter until soft.
• Sift in the icing sugar (and cocoa if necessary).
• Add the vanilla essence and boiling water and mix well.

Find more baking recipes here

fun ways to decorate cakes:

• Biscuits make great decorations, or they can be crumbled over the top.
• Break up Flakes or grate chocolate over the cake.
• Cake glitter adds sparkle.
• Sweets can be used to write words, make a picture or simply to decorate.
• Ice-cream cones work well as turrets on a castle cake or as jets on a rocket.
• Try using nuts, fresh fruit or glazed fruit.
• Sprinkle icing sugar, cocoa or cake sparkles over cut stencils.