7 Best Biscuits, Cakes And Treats To Make With Toddlers In Lockdown

If you’re stuck on ideas to keep your toddler occupied whilst we are in isolation, then why don’t you get your bake on and whip up some tasty treats that you can both enjoy. Not only is baking lots of fun but it's also helping to develop fine-motor skills and building maths skills along the way. We have tried to include recipes that are easy to follow, don’t require niche ingredients and that don’t overload on the sugar. So, get out those mixing bowls, pop on your aprons and let's bake!

With the bananas providing the natural sweetness this is a family favourite that can keep for up to 4 days on your kitchen countertops. Make sure you use overripe bananas for a really tasty cake. There’s lots of mixing involved so your little ones will love helping with this one.

You’ll need:

125g self-raising wholemeal flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

2tsp ground cinnamon

75g sultanas

50g butter, melted

2tsp vanilla essence

1 egg

1 tbsp milk

3 ripe bananas, mashed

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/ 160C fan/ gas mark 4. Grease and line a 450g loaf tin.

2. Get your little one to help you pour the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sultanas into a bowl and then use a wooden spoon to help mix it all together

3. In a separate bowl add the butter, vanilla essence, egg, milk and mashed bananas and mix together with a fork or whisk

4. Add the banana mix to the flour bowl and get your little one to use the wooden spoon to give it another good stir until its all combined

5. Next, pour the mixture into your prepared loaf tin and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. To check the cake is baked through, insert a skewer through the middle and check that it comes out clean

6. Take your cake out of the oven and leave to cool in the tin for around 10 minutes before transferring  to a serving plate

This is a really easy recipe using one mixing bowl, the little ones can improve their motor skills whilst they mix the ingredients together. You can make this recipe with whichever berries you prefer, blueberries, strawberries or raspberries.

You’ll need:

250g self raising flour

75g of olive oil or softened butter

75g of sugar

1 egg

250ml of milk

60g of berries of your choice

Muffin cases

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees

2. Get your little one to help place the muffin cases into your muffin tin

3. Get your toddler to mix all of the ingredients, apart from the berries, into a large mixing bowl

4. When the mixture is combined then add your chosen berries and give it a gentle stir

5. Help your little one to carefully spoon the mixture into the muffin cases. Now your muffins are ready to bake

6. Place your muffin tray in the oven. Smaller muffins will take between 8-10 minutes and larger muffins will take between 10-15 minutes. To check that your muffins are ready they should be golden brown and bounce back in the middle when pressed

Rock cakes or rock buns get their name because of their shape, they are so simple to make, you don’t need many ingredients and the kids will love getting their fingers messy.

You’ll need:

Serves: 8

150g self raising flour

75g butter, softened and cut into small pieces

75g caster sugar

50g raisins/sultanas

Pinch mixed spice

1 egg

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan / 325F and line a baking tray with baking paper

2. In a large mixing bowl add the flour and butter

3. The fun bit...let your toddler rub together the flour and butter with their fingertips until the consistency is like breadcrumbs

4. Add the sugar and raisins and a pinch of mixed spice to your bowl. Mix it in slightly with a spoon

5. Get your kids to crack the egg into a small bowl, then add to your mixing bowl and give it a good mix

6. Now for the messy bit, ask your toddler to mix everything together with their hands until they have formed a large ball of dough

7. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and pop them on to your baking tray

8. Put your rock cakes in the oven for 16-18 minutes. They’re ready when they are starting to look golden brown. Remove from the oven, leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes then put them on a wire rack to cool completely

Oat biscuits are great biscuits to make with toddlers, with only 3 ingredients they are not only very easy to make but with oats being their main ingredient they are healthy too, so, what are you waiting for?

You’ll need:

75 g butter, cut into small pieces

100 g plain flour

½ tsp salt

225 g oats

Water 60-90ml

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 190C/180C Fan / 350 F and grease or line a few baking trays

2. In a large mixing bowl add the flour and butter

3. Get your toddler to help rub the butter and flour together with their fingertips until you get a breadcrumb consistency

4. Add the salt

5. Add the oats. If you want you can whizz these in a blender for a few seconds if you prefer your oat biscuits to be finer

6. Add a little water to your mixing bowl and with help from your toddler use your hands bring the mixture together into a ball. You don’t want the mixture to be too sticky so be careful how much water you add

7. Lightly flour your work surface and let your little one help you to roll the dough until it is around 3mm thick

8. Next, help your toddler to use a circular biscuit cutter to cut out your biscuits

9. Transfer your biscuits to your baking tray and place in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Your oat biscuits will be ready once they start to turn golden and hard

10. Carefully transfer your biscuits to a wire rack to cool completely

Not just for Easter, these chocolate nests are sure to put a smile on your toddlers face. You can make your nests with whatever you have in your cupboard; either shredded wheat, rice crispies or cornflakes.

You’ll need:

200g chocolate

85g of your chosen cereal

2 bags of mini chocolate eggs

Cupcake cases

Method:

1. Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir with a wooden spoon until its a smooth consistency with no lumps.

2. Remove from the heat.

3. If your using shredded wheat for your nests then crush them into a large mixing bowl.

4. Pour the melted chocolate over your chosen cereal and get your little one to gently try to mix it all together

5. Once the mixture is all combined then help your toddler to spoon it into your cupcake cases

6. Add a few mini eggs to each nest, you can ask your toddler to count them out as they go

7. Place your nests in the fridge to chill for 2 hours.

We all love a good cookie, and these are no exception... made using oats and wholemeal flour these will keep your little ones going until dinner time.

You’ll need:

125g unsalted butter, at room temperature

50g light brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 medium egg

100g wholemeal flour

100g rolled oats

1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

50g chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / 350f and line two baking trays

2. Add the butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl and beat it together with a fork or electric whisk

3. Add the egg and vanilla and whisk again for a few seconds

4. Get your toddler to help you pour in the flour, oats and bicarbonate and mix with a wooden spoon

5. Pour in your chocolate chips and give it another stir

6. Help your toddler to spoon the mixture into 10 equal sized balls on to your baking tray. Press the cookies with your hands to make them into a cookie shape

7. Transfer your cookies to the oven and set a timer for 15 minutes

8. Allow your cookies to cool for a few minutes and then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely

A little bit on the naughty side but we couldn’t possibly leave these little guys out. Toddlers will love getting hands on making the dough, cutting them out and most of all getting creative decorating them.

You’ll need:

350g plain flour

100g butter at room temperature, chopped into pieces

5 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp bicarbonate soda

175g light brown soft sugar

4 tbsp golden syrup

1 medium egg

To decorate:

Writing icing, cake decorations, smarties

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 190c/170c fan and line 3 baking trays

2. In a big mixing bowl add the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger and butter

3. Get your toddler to help rub the butter and flour together with their fingertips until you get a breadcrumb consistency

4. Next pour in the sugar and golden syrup

5. Add the egg

6. Mix it all together until you have a dough

7. Lightly flour your work surface and let your little one help you to roll the dough until it is around 5mm thick.

8. Next, help your toddler to use a gingerbread man cutter to cut out your biscuits.

9. Transfer your biscuits to your baking tray and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Your gingerbread men will be ready once they start to turn golden brown

10. Carefully transfer your biscuits to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating

11. Lay out all of your decorations, icing and let your toddler get creative