Baking present ideas for DD, 10, and suggestions for DS, 8 v welcome

[Fantasisa]

So my summer holiday is over so it is time to look ahead to Christmas!

I REALLY do not want to buy stuff for the sake of it (I want a low waste Christmas) so I want things that will definitely be used.

DD loves baking and we don't have many recipe books/equipment etc so any recommendations for things that she will use now and in the future very much welcome.

Ideas for DS, 8, who likes his Nintendo Switch and Minecraft in particular!

The range has a load of baking stuff in. Loads of cookie cutters etc. I would get some cooking books from charity shops or ebay if your on a budget. Find a recipe that she will love and buy the ingredients and equipment that is needed for it and put it in a hamper with the recipe.

I have a Minecraft mad DS(8), things that have gone down well with him have been:

Minecraft Lego sets

Minecraft Guide books - the ‘Guide to...Creative/Survival/Enchantments & Potions etc have been good & B&M has these for only 2.99 each the other week.

Minecraft novels - the island and the crash

Minecraft rucksack/stationery

Minecraft clothing eg onesie/dressing gown/pants/socks/T-shirt’s

Minecraft figures or toy weapons - often on offer in Smyths

Nintendo Switch wise - we don’t have one but have a PS4. DS really likes the Lego games e.g. Avengers, Harry Potter, Incredibles, Jurassic World, so would recommend these if available for the switch.

Dorking Kindersley step-by-step children's cook books which are really excellent
Some muffin moulds
Muffin paper cases (you can get lovely designs)
A simple piping/cake decoration set
Some food colourings and decorating items such as 100s and 1000s
A spatula or a wooden spoon
An apron
Cookie cutters are a good idea too!

Forgot to say, a rolling pin and some measuring spoons
Also, some American cups can be useful for some recipes (and make baking easy)

One of those “bake a cake in a mug” mugs, that has the ingredient levels written on the mug?

Last year aldi did Christmas baking things- I'm positive they'll do it again. They had cookie cutters, sets for making 3D Christmas biscuits. They also had Usbourne Kid baking recipes. I bought a few and they're great- they had ones for cakes, sweets and biscuits I think

This one is lovely

The Usbourne children’s bread book is also excellent. Both DH (ex-chef) and I use it for different ideas, but equally accessible for kids.

The Pound Shop often has lots of cake decorating stuff, as well as some good silicone baking trays etc.

I agree with the Usborne books they are great. Cup measures have been a complete waste of money for us, weighing is so much easier, we just pass on American recipes. If you haven't already got digital scales they make baking so much easier too. Also don't bother with child sized rolling pins, cake tins etc, they look cute but won't get used much, definitely best to go straight to full sized.

I'm not keen on silicone bakeware either, much prefer tins and liners.

What about a set of josephjoseph nested bowls? Not very childish but useful, packs away well and a classic design that will never be out of date.
The latest sets have 9 pieces but if you shop around you can get older 7 piece sets, and older colour schemes substantially reduced.

Silicone spatulas for scraping our bowls are great and there are some lovely novelty ones that are functional but also appealing for a child.

I second the suggestion of DK step by step books.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to a craft fair without someone selling handmade aprons in gorgeous prints. Etsy is great for that sort of thing too.

Coloured/themed cupcake cases or wraps and picks are inexpensive and appealing.

My Minecraft obsessed ds also loved most of what theboywonteat mentioned. Primark regularly have t shirts and Pyjamas and he wears them constantly. Amazon have duvet sets. We rotate between two of them.

I think the novel the Crash is more suited to older children. It’s about a girl coming to terms with her guilt about the death of her friend in a car crash (she distracted him) as she recovers in hospital and takes part in a VR Minecraft experience. Heavy going.

Perhaps not for op's DD who already loves baking, but I have found American cups to be fantastic when teaching a crowd of very young DC to bake. And Americans are really good bakers so there are some some fantastic recipes out there which I wouldn't dismiss out of hand.

Totally agree about going straight to adult sized rolling pins and other equipment though!

Could anyone advise where to buy American cup measures please? My dd who is turning 10 soon loved the kids baking course she did this summer and I'd like to put together a baking kit as part of her birthday present. Some great advice and suggestions from pps!

ImNotHappy you can get a set of stacking cups in the cooking section in Wilkinsons really cheaply. We've used them since DS was a toddler.

I'mnothappy I bought my measuring cups from Lakeland

I think these Russian doll measuring cups are lovely.

Also Crafty Giraffe (often recommended here) does nice personalised baking spoons. Alternatively Not on the High Street and Etsy has more as well as some great personalised aprons.

Wilkinson, home bargains, B&M all have great cutters, cases, sprinkles etc at reasonable prices. I wouldn’t buy a cheap icing kit though but buy the plastic icing bags and just one tip a ‘Wilton 2d’ more expensive but impressive results.