Crazy Christmas Cooking!
Cooking is always a great way to interact and have fun with your children. With the festive season upon us, The Nanny Diary has put together the 4 best Christmas cooking ideas we can find for everyone to enjoy. Give them as gifts for school teachers, friends, family or simply plate them up and munch on them Christmas Day!
Gingerbread Men
A classic old favourite that you get to bake and decorate as well! Whether your children are old, young or in between - they can all have fun decorating them afterwards.
INGREDIENTS
125g butter, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups of plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
Icing, sprinkles, lollies - anything you want to decorate with!
METHOD
1. Using a beater, mix the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add maple syrup and egg. Beat together
2. Sift flour, bicarb soda, ginger and cinnamon over the butter mixture. Using a wooden spoon, stir until just combined and a soft dough forms. Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead gently until smooth. Shape into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm.
3. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius. Line 3 baking trays with baking paper. Roll dough between baking paper until approximately half a cm thick. Use shape cutters to create your gingerbread men.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until just firm to touch. Leave to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Santa Strawberries
These are one of the simplest things you can make with your kids, and also one the cutest things when they're finished! Easiest to serve up Christmas Day as they can be difficult to transport.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of thickened cream
1/4 cup sifted icing sugar
2 punnets strawberries
1/2 cup of raisins
METHOD
1. Whip cream and icing sugar together until quite firm
2. Wash the strawberries and then cut the tip off each so that the strawberries can stand easily.
3. Fill a piping bag with a fluted nozzle with the whipped cream and pipe onto the larger surface of the strawberry.
4. Place the other end of the strawberry on top of the cream as Father Christmas' head.
5. Using the whipped cream, create a little beard for your Santa down the side of the strawberry. Finish by adding a bit more on the top for his hat's pompom!
6. Place the raisins in the cream as his eyes and then plate up and serve!
Reindeer Cupcakes
What would Santa be without his Reindeer? These little cupcakes are the perfect treat to bring along to a Christmas party! Whether chocolate is your favourite, or good old classic vanilla, these edible reindeers will be perfect for everyone.
INGREDIENTS
100g dark chocolate
1 cup water
125g butter, softened
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups of self-raising flour
1/2 cup plain flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 packet of large pretzels
White chocolate buttons
M & Ms
Chocolate piping gel
Icing
125g butter, softened
3 cups of icing sugar mixture
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons of milk
METHOD
1. Combine chocolate and water in a medium saucepan over low heat. Continuously stir for 5 minutes or until the chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool completely
2. Using an electric beater, combine butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add combined flours, cocoa powder and chocolate mixture and stir to combine.
3. Bake in preheated oven (160 degrees celsius) for 20 minutes or until firm on top. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely before icing.
4. Make icing - beat butter until very pale. Gradually add the icing sugar, cocoa and milk, beating well in between.
5. Spread icing evenly over each cupcake. Arrange a pretzel on each cupcake to create antlers. Place a white chocolate button in the middle to create a nose. Use the piping gel to attach a M & M on the white chocolate button and 2 more above the button as eyes. Using the piping gel, place two dots on the M & Ms to create pupils.
6. Serve up for everyone to enjoy!
Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops
These little delights are cheap, easy and look fantastic. Plus, crushing the candy canes is so much fun for the children!
INGREDIENTS
6 large candy canes - crushed
12 mini candy canes
Large marshmallows
Milk chocolate melts - 1 packet
METHOD
1. Melt chocolate in a glass bowl over a boiling saucepan
2. Dip marshmallow into melted chocolate so half to the bottom is covered then immediately dip into bowl of crushed candy canes
3. Leave on a piece of baking paper so chocolate can cool and crushed candy cane can stick to the marshmallow.
4. Place one mini candy cane in the centre of the marshmallow
5. FINITO!
There are so many things you can make and create with children and cooking is such a fun thing to do together. If you want more ideas, simply head to google and loads of cool christmas treats will come up!
Have fun!
The Nanny Diary
xx
