Baking? And self-esteem?
Yes! By providing an opportunity to spend quality time with her. And by providing her with the opportunity to accomplish something successfully. And by providing the rest of your loved ones a chance to nurture her self-esteem through praise and admiration for bestowing sweet treats upon them.
Any craft or task, when given attentive, positive instruction will give her a chance to see that she is capable.
And she is capable.
Below is one of my favorite, simple cupcake recipes. We usually double the cake recipe, which also provides us with a chance to practice math {multiplication or addition of fractions… hello?}. But if you don’t have the ingredients or the time {truly, it doesn’t take that much more time}, a boxed cake mix and canned icing {c’mon people-make the buttercream!} will do. It’s all about time, and spending it together. And she can be creative with both cake mixes by choosing add-ins… coconut, chocolate chips, almond extract instead of vanilla… or a combination of ingredients. Let her make up a name, like Almond Joy cupcakes.
And licking the batter bowl is always allowed.
And let her choose how to display her creation… It doesn’t have to be a special occasion I Love You, Daddy halloween centerpiece {all items aside from the cupcake curtousy of Pottery Barn}. Maybe it is choosing a cakeplate, or just a cooling rack {which is our usual display platter, as these usually don’t last overnight}.
This is one of my favorite white cake recipes, taken from The Sweet Little Book of Cupcakes by Nicholas Peruzzi, with Courtney Forrester of Sweet Cupcakes, Inc.:
Vanilla Cupcakes
{makes 12 cupcakes; I usually double this recipe
for my sweet-loving, hungry family of 5}
1 1/2 C cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 C unsalted butter, room termperature
2/3 C plus 3 tablespoons of sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 vanilla bean, seeds only*
2/3 C whole milk
Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting
{makes enough for 12 icing-ladden cupcakes,
or 24 normally topped cupcakes}
1/2 C unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 C trans fat-free vegetable shortening
2 C confecioners sugar
1 T cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Bake at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes, rotate pans and bake for 12 more minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
*Slice vanilla bean in half lengthwise. Scrape out seeds using a paring knife and discard husk.
*
Have you done something fun with your little loved one yet? Do share!
Also, linking with Kodachrome Weekly at Adventures and MIsadventures of Daily Living, and 52 Weeks of Happiness, and Communal Global.
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