7 fun cooking and baking ideas to keep kids busy during lockdown

With new lockdown measures in place across the UK, including school closures and a move to remote learning, keeping kids entertained at home can be tricky.

From cookery kits to sweet treats and lunch ideas, here are some fun food activities that can be done in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Smiley face pizzas

Using crumpets, bagels, or sliced English muffins as a base, smiley face pizzas allow kids to get creative in the kitchen while they help prepare lunch or dinner.  Try your own version of this muffin pizza recipe and offer a range of toppings to experiment with.

Recipe via Tesco Real Food

You’ll need:

• 2 English muffins
• 40ml (2fl oz) spoons of a tomato based sauce
• 2 slices of ham
• handful basil leaves
• 2x 15ml spoons sweetcorn (canned)
• 60g (2oz) mozzarella cheese

Method:

Preheat the grill and cut the muffins in half to create four pizza bases, or you could try using different types of bread like crumpets or baguettes instead.

Spread the tomato-based sauce over each pizza base with a table knife.

Tear the ham into small pieces with your hands and share it between the pizzas.

Wash the basil and tear the leaves, before arranging it on top.

Open the can of sweetcorn and sprinkle some over the pizzas. Children can try any other toppings they like, such as sliced mushroom, chopped cherry tomatoes, diced courgette or canned tuna.

Tear the mozzarella into small chunks and add it to the pizzas.

Place them onto the grill pan and put them under the grill for a few minutes until the cheese begins to bubble and turn brown.

Remove them from the grill and allow them to cool.

Serve these fantastic pizzas with crunchy salad.

Gingerbread zoo

You might have fired up the oven for gingerbread people in the past, but what about a gingerbread zoo?  Using a basic gingerbread recipe, little ones can leave the cookie cutters to the side and have fun crafting the dough by hand into animal shapes.

Recipe via Yorkshire Post Food and Drink

You’ll need:

• 300ml black treacle
• 3tsp ground cinnamon
• 3tsp ground ginger
• 1-3tsp ground cloves
• 200g butter, softened
• 180g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 500g plain flour

Method:

For the dough: in a food mixer, or by hand, mix all the ingredients except the flour and bicarbonate of soda.

Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda and mix again to make a smooth dough. Chill overnight in the fridge before rolling.

Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, about as thick as a pound coin.

Mug cakes