Mini Monkey Bread Cooking Fun with Preschoolers

8/8/2024

Mini Monkey Bread Cooking Fun with Preschoolers

Mini monkey bread is the perfect recipe to make with preschoolers! These bite-sized, gooey, and sweet treats are not only fun to make, they are also a great way to introduce your little ones to the joys of baking. In this blog post, we will guide you through a simple and kid-friendly recipe for mini monkey bread that will have your preschoolers excited and engaged in the kitchen.

By involving preschoolers in the cooking process, they gain a sense of independence and confidence as they contribute to a real-life task. It nurtures their creativity, independence, and love for food, while providing important life skills that will benefit them as they grow older.
Follow along to learn how to make these yummy treats with your kiddos!

Ingredients:

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Mini Monkey Bread Cooking Fun with Preschoolers

1 tube grands biscuits, each biscuits cut into 4 triangles
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
12 opening muffin tin
Baking spray

Before starting a recipe with preschoolers, it's important to provide them with some reminders to ensure their safety and the smooth execution of the activity. Here are some key reminders to give preschoolers:

Wash Hands: Emphasize the importance of washing hands before handling any ingredients or utensils. Teach them proper hand-washing techniques and ensure they understand the importance of cleanliness in the kitchen.
Listen and Follow Instructions: Encourage preschoolers to listen carefully and follow instructions given by the adult or caregiver supervising the cooking activity. Stress the importance of waiting for instructions before taking any actions.
Be Cautious Around Heat and Sharp Objects: Remind preschoolers about the potential dangers of hot stoves, ovens, and sharp utensils. Explain that only adults should handle hot pans and sharp knives, and that they should keep a safe distance from these items.
Stay Away from Electrical Appliances: Teach preschoolers to avoid touching or playing with electrical appliances like blenders or mixers. Explain that these appliances should only be used by adults or caregivers.
Tasting with Permission: Explain that while cooking, ingredients may not be safe to taste directly from the bowl or while they are raw. Teach them to always ask for permission before tasting anything.
Clean Up Spills Immediately: Accidents happen, and spills are common in the kitchen. Teach preschoolers to alert an adult or caregiver immediately if something spills, so it can be cleaned up promptly to prevent slips or falls.
Food Allergies and Sensitivities: Discuss any known food allergies or sensitivities within the group, whether it's among the children themselves or specific to someone in the classroom.
Have Fun and Be Creative: Remind preschoolers that cooking is an enjoyable activity. Encourage them to have fun, be creative, and take pride in their culinary creations. Stress that it's okay to make mistakes and that learning is part of the process.

Recipe:

Start by ensuring your oven is preheating to 350 degrees. Have your preschoolers assist you with spraying the muffin tin with baking spray

Mix 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon into a bowl.

*Teacher tip: if you're making this recipe with your class I suggest splitting into two groups if you have a larger class and then for smaller groups give everyone a task.

Give everyone a turn with the whisk because there is no harm in too much mixing during this recipe.

Next, make sure the biscuits are cut into four triangles. Depending on the skill level of your preschoolers, you can either have them watch you complete this step, or give them a plastic knife to cut themselves.

Again, this is totally a comfort level as the parent and teacher.

Have your preschoolers take each triangle and roll it in the sugar-cinnamon mixture to coat it evenly. Place the coated dough aside on a plate or baking sheet. It's helpful to demonstrate what an evenly coated piece of dough looks like!

Now it's time to assemble the monkey bread!

You'll place four triangles inside each muffin tin. This step encourages your preschoolers to take their time counting!

After the tins are filled up, set the timer for 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the oven while your preschoolers enjoy watching the bread rise and bake! Be sure to check around 10 minutes, depending on your oven this recipe takes between 10-15 minutes.

When the monkey bread is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for a few minutes. The bread will be extremely hot, so be cautious while handling it. Once it has cooled slightly, use a butter knife to gently loosen the bread from the edges of the muffin tin or baking dish.

By following this simple recipe, you and your little ones can create a delightful treat that will surely bring smiles to everyone's faces. So gather your ingredients, get your preschoolers involved, and have a blast in the kitchen!

Don't forget to pair this recipe with your Zoo Animal theme and your favorite book about monkeys!