Welcome to MADE in Lake County! MADE introduces you to the people and stories behind local Lake County businesses. You’ve recently met Amanda Marijanovic of Taste Buds Kitchen in Bannockburn. Today she is sharing with us her tips for baking with kids and a yummy recipe you are going to want to try right away.
What could be better than a delicious, perfectly decorated cupcake? Making it yourself! There are few things kids enjoy more than heading into the kitchen to whip up their own sugary masterpiece. And best of all, not only does this sweet treat please your taste buds, baking is a great way for kids to develop independence in the multi-sensory environment of the kitchen.
In addition to reinforcing the principles of math, science, reading, following directions and social skills (if you bake with friends!), cooking builds self confidence in budding chefs and lays the foundation for an important life skill.
It’s also empowering and exciting to create a recipe from start to finish! When it comes to making cupcakes next time, forgo the mix and let your creativity run wild as you add your own twist to the flavor, mix-ins and even colors you like best for your cake, frosting and decorations.
And as you take to the kitchen for your very own culinary adventure, remember these tips to ensure a smooth sailing baking foray:
Tips for Baking with Kids
- Take your time.
Cooking, and especially baking, is a fantastic activity but it can’t be rushed. Before heading into the kitchen, take the time to select your recipes, gather any tools, and per-measure your ingredients so everything is in its place. It’s what the French call “mise en place” and it makes executing recipes so much easier. At Taste Buds Kitchen, we make LOTS of cupcakes in our workshops, after-school classes, camps and birthday parties so we thought we’d share our favorite vanilla cupcake and buttercream frosting recipes! (click on the links below to bee taken to another page – and another link – where you can download and/or print the PDF’s of the recipes)
Taste Buds Kitchen Buttercream Frosting
Taste Buds Kitchen Vanilla Cupcakes
[spacer height=”20px”] - Wash your hands.
Once you’ve gathered your recipes and ingredients, you’re ready to start. Always begin any activities in the kitchen with clean hands.
[spacer height=”20px”] - Follow directions.
Baking is a science. In order for your cupcakes to turn out just right, you need to following the directions. Be sure to read the directions from start to finish before you start so that you’ll know what to expect.
[spacer height=”20px”] - Don’t worry about the mess.
With flour, eggs and butter, you’re bound to have a few spills and splashes. Don’t worry about it. That’s part of the fun. Just remember, it’s your responsibility to clean up after yourself too. We like to clean as we go so it’s not overwhelming at the end.
[spacer height=”20px”] - Have fun!
There’s always room to experiment with flavorings, especially in your icings and fillings. Try out different recipes and once you learn the basics, play with ingredients like cinnamon, cocoa powder, citrus zest, graham crackers, crushed cookies, candies, and more to develop your own.
[spacer height=”20px”] - Don’t forget to decorate.
If you’re like me, decorating is just as fun as the cake making. Experiment with different icing tips and fondant to create a gorgeous creation.
[spacer height=”20px”] - Don’t aim for perfection.
In the end, it’s all going to end up in your stomach (or those of your friends and families) so don’t worry about making the perfect cupcake. Baking, like anything else, is a learned skill
so have fun along the way and don’t sweat the small stuff.
[spacer height=”20px”] - Take pictures.
Post pictures of your cupcakes and you making them on our Facebook Fan Page We’d love to see what you’re creating!
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Not in the mood to make a mess in your kitchen? Check out our line-up of classes for both kids and adults to make cupcakes or something equally amazing in our kitchen soon. Just as fun but we do all the prep work AND clean up!
Upcoming Classes at Taste Buds Kitchen:
- November 30 Handmade Pasta for Teens
- December 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 23 Family Gingerbread Houses
- December 15 Kids Night Out: Taste of Thai (ages 5-12)
- December 18 – 22 Winter Break Camp: Cookies Galore Ages 4-9 and 9-13
- December 26-29 Winter Break: Mystery Basket Camp Ages 4-9 and 9-13
- December 30 New Year’s Confetti Cupcakes (ages 2-5 with Caregiver)
- January 2-5 Winter Break Camp: Chocolate Lovers Camp Ages 4-9 and 9-13
Taste Buds Kitchen
2521 Waukegan Rd., Bannockburn, 60015
(847) 230-0330
Facebook |Instagram
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Disclosure: Taste Buds Kitchen is our featured Business of the Month. This series of features is part of a paid partnership with Little Lake County. Contact sales[at]LittleLakeCounty[dot]com if you are interested in featuring your own locally-owned business in our series.
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