Cookies and Cupcakes and Then Some

In the world of children’s cookbooks, finding one that is specific to baking was the first challenge. There are a handful of them out there, but most children’s cookbooks are more general. I thought for sure Martha Stewart (one of my dearest guilty pleasures) would have one. But hers, like many others, tend to focus on one food item, like cookies or cupcakes.

Don’t get me wrong, we love cookies and cupcakes. We just wanted something a little more comprehensive, perhaps even a little more interesting.

Another thing we discovered was the disappointingly high occurrence of processed foods called for in recipes. Candies, marshmallows, pretzels, even corn syrup all seemed to be mainstays, supplanting other delicious toppings like chocolate-drizzled strawberries or raspberries dusted in confectioner’s sugar.

Of course, this was of no consequence to my daughter, who insisted that the marshmallow snowman we came across in a darling, if overly-candied, holiday cookbook still qualified as “baking” rather than “making.”

Then I came across an unassuming cookbook put out by Dorling Kindersley, very simply titled The Children’s Baking Book, by Denise Smart. If you are looking for an extensive, versatile cookbook that your little bakers can continually grow into, this is the one. The book is divided into four sections (cookies, doughs, cakes, and pastries), with over 50 recipes ranging from star cookies and multigrain bread to chocolate tart and pot pies.

It includes techniques and safety tips with step-by-step pictured instructions, as well as variations on the recipes (i.e. vegetarian options), all written simply and clearly for kids. You will find the occasional marshmallow here, but candies and sprinkles are considered decorations rather than main ingredients. And while corn syrup is listed in some recipes, it is a secondary option to maple syrup.

The recipes are labelled for difficulty level (easy, medium, hard), making this a book full of recipes that your kids can master over time. In fact, one of my favorite things about this cookbook is the confidence Smart has in children’s ability to tackle more complicated recipes, like scones or chocolate profiterôles. Certainly the younger ones, like my daughter, will be baking with some big-people assistance.

But this book is designed to be used independently as well, and a twelve-year-old who knows his way around the kitchen could manage just fine. Another thing I like is that this cookbook is designed to broaden a young baker’s palate. In addition to the staples like gingerbread and basic bread, there are unique treats like orange sunflower cookies, flatbreads, and phyllo and spinach tarts. In short, this cookbook shows kids that baking is much more than just cookies and cupcakes.

FOR FURTHER READING: As your young baker grows into a skilled baker, The America’s Test Kitchen Family Baking Book is a wonderful book to graduate to. It is not written expressly for children, but if you have an enthusiastic baker in the house, I recommend looking at it as well.

Erin Quick, Books Blogger for SmartParenting