The summer holidays are officially here, which means a lot of juggling for parents up and down the country. Along with striking a balance between work and home life, parents have another task on their hands – keeping the kids entertained!
While the summer months offer the best conditions for exploring the great outdoors in theory, the reality can be very, very different. The weather after all isn’t the most predictable, so if you find yourself stuck at home dodging the showers, it’s time to get creative indoors!
With this in mind, we’re here to share our favourite quick and easy bakes to keep the kids entertained during the long summer break…
Unicorn poo meringues
For a simple bake that takes just 20 minutes to prep and a guaranteed chuckle for parents and kids alike, try this unicorn poo meringue recipe from BBC Good Food.
These sweet and colourful treats are not only fun to bake, but decorating them once they’re cooled is an activity every member of the family can get involved in. Did we mention these unicorn poo meringues are gluten-free and vegetarian too?
Garden carrot cake
Another recipe that caught our eye from the BBC Good Food team is the garden carrot cake, and you’ll soon see why! This classic bake may take a little longer to prepare yet its inspired design – Peter Rabbit would be proud! – and its iconic taste makes all this effort well worth it.
This carrot cake is certainly a showstopper. It’ll also keep for two to three days in the fridge so you and your loved ones can enjoy its yummy goodness for longer or bag it up for an upcoming family outing.
Vanilla cookie dough
Nothing beats the classic taste of cookie dough, and this test kitchen-approved recipe means you can whip up a sweet treat in minutes. This cookie dough can even be frozen – yes, really! – we’ll let its creators at Delicious Magazine explain more:
“Vanilla freezer cookie dough is perfect when you need something sweet in under 15 minutes. Keep the dough log in the freezer until ready to bake. One slice equals one cookie, so you can treat as many or as few people as you like, fresh from the oven… If you prefer your cookies a bit gooey, cook them for 1 minute less, and if you’re all about crunch, cook for 30 seconds extra. You can also cut them a bit thicker if you prefer a deeper cookie.”
Vegetable muffins
Who said all your summer holiday bakes had to be sweet? This vegetable muffins recipe from Healthy Little Foodies promises delicious results and can even be personalised with your child’s preferred vegetables in mind.
This compact, freezable delight is made for picnics – don’t forget to take along one of our new picnic blankets – and, once the kids return to school, can even be used to fill their lunchboxes.
Chocolate brownies
Enjoy this timeless chocolate brownie recipe and its rich, gooey results. It takes just a handful of ingredients to create, and with a prep time of 15 minutes and a baking time of 20 to 25 minutes, you won’t have to wait too long to sample the fruits of your labour!
Peanut butter bars
For a baking recipe that requires no baking at all, try this peanut butter bars recipe from My Kids Lick the Bowl.
We’re certain it’ll become a family favourite and your child’s (or even your) go-to snack. As well as being sweet, sticky and yummy, they’re healthy too. The rolled oats and peanut butter they contain provide a hit of energy that’ll last much longer than the average treat.
Are you more of an artist than a baker? Find out more about why everyone should use wool as art and discover your next summer project.
Images: iuliia_n, New Africa / Shutterstock.com