Baking With Kids + Simple "Bread in a Bag" Recipe

By Nicole Spain, Registered Dietitian

Winter is a great time to spend baking in the kitchen. Kids of all ages will love to learn to bake by giving you a helping hand.  We’ve broken it down into easy tasks perfect for kiddos from toddler to pre-teen, so grab your little ones and teach them more about baking by making our Bread in a Bag recipe below! It pairs perfectly with a cup of warm soup on a cold winter day!

Mini Chefs: (1-2 years old)
Count ingredients
Wash fruits and vegetables
Add ingredients to a bowl
Put paper liners in muffin tins

Little Chefs (3-5 years old)
All of the above PLUS:
Help gather ingredients
Pour from measuring cups
Mix ingredients in a bowl
Mixing and kneading yeast dough
Rolling bread or pie dough
Using cookie or biscuit cutters
Spreading butter on bread
Whisking batter
Mash bananas

Young Chefs (6-8 years old)
All of the above PLUS:
Measuring and pouring dry ingredients
Cracking and whisking eggs
Using specialized hand tools such as a can opener, juicer or garlic press
Grating cheese
Peeling fruits or vegetables
Using paring or other small knives
Mixing cookie dough or brownie batter
Frosting cupcakes and icing cookies

Pre-Teen Chefs (9-12 years old)
All of the above PLUS:
Use specialty appliances such as panini press, waffle maker, and griddle
Use a food processor, blender and stand mixer
Putting foods in the oven and removing them
Working with timers and thermometers
Baking quick breads and muffins
Adjust recipes using multiplication and division

Bread in a Bag

Yields: 2 mini loaves or 1 large loaf

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cup whole wheat flour
• 3 Tbs white sugar
• 1 .25 package of rapid rise yeast (2 ¼ tsp)
• 1 C warm water
• 3 Tbs olive oil
• 1 ½ tsp salt

Instructions:

1. In a resealable plastic bag, place 1 cup all-purpose flour, sugar and yeast and add in warm water.
2. Squeeze air out of bag and seal.
3. Squish with your hands until well mixed together.
4. Let it rest for 10 minutes at room temperature. Bubble will form.
5. Open bag and put in ½ c all purpose flour and ½ cup wheat flour. Add oil and salt.
6. Seal bag again and squish until well blended.
7. Add 1 cup of whole wheat flour. Seal and continue mixing in the same manner until well blended.
8. Remove dough from bag and put onto a lightly floured surface.
9. Knead dough for 5-10 minutes or until smooth.
10. Divide dough in half and place each half into a greased mini loaf pan or make one large loaf.
11. Cover with a towel and allow to rise for about 30 minutes.
12. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until bread is golden brown.