Kerrygold Moments

It’s no secret that we at Kerrygold love to bake. Yummy cakes and cupcakes, buttery pastries and pies – you name it, we love baking it. In fact, some of our fondest childhood memories were made whilst helping gran and gramps to whisk batter or measuring ingredients for mum. Baking is undoubtedly one of the best activities to do as a family and yet, it’s something that many rarely make time for. With it being National Bake for Family Fun Month, we’d like to challenge you to bake with your loved ones more often. Besides enjoying those tasty treats afterward, the benefits of family baking are plenty! Read on to discover these benefits as well as some delicious recipes to bake together as a family.

• It promotes teamwork

There’s a special kind of unity that forms when families bake together. Everyone has an important role to play, and this inspires them to work together to ensure the success of the bake. Even the simplest of roles such as ‘taste tester’ or ‘recipe reader’ gives people, especially children, a sense of self-worth and confidence. And somewhere in the middle of completing all those steps in the recipe, teamwork starts to take hold.

• It provides teachable moments

Baking is a great way for young children to practice their math and reading skills. It also exposes them to a variety of new vocabulary they may not learn at school. But even more than the ABC’s and 123’s, baking provides spontaneous opportunities to offer valuable insights to your little one. We never know when these small teachable moments will come, but striking up a conversation is a great place to start.

• It strengthens bonds

Families spend many hours apart because of school and work commitments, so having regular family baking sessions will help to foster a real sense of family togetherness. We think the kitchen is as good a place as any to have quality time together and catch up on each other’s lives. It’s a fun yet relaxed environment, and conversation often flows more freely when the hands are busy.

• It’s fun

Last but not least, family baking is fun! From picking out the recipe for the day and experimenting with your own flavour combinations, to watching the batter rise and hearing the timer go off when your baked goodies are all ready to enjoy. And not forgetting one of life’s simplest pleasures – getting to lick the spoon! Life may be short, but baking together as a family is a very worthwhile way to spend it.

Here are some tasty recipes to try for your next big family bake:

• Blueberry Muffins – Give the store-bought muffin mix a skip and try your hand at these classic blueberry muffins instead.
• Butter & Sage Crackers – These crackers are a fantastic option for those with a savoury tooth. Not only are they a great addition to a charcuterie board, but they also double up as a healthy lunchbox snack.
• Celebration Chocolate Cake – Every family should have a chocolate cake recipe that gets passed down from generation to generation. Let this one be yours.
• Chewy Salted Caramel Cookies – The perfect option if you’re pressed for time. It only takes 15 minutes to make these deliciously chewy cookies!
• Chocolate Browned Butter Cupcakes – Browned butter makes everything a little bit better, including chocolate cupcakes. Try this recipe when the family is keen to learn a new baking technique.
• Chocolate Hazelnut Eclairs – An all-time classic with a twist. The roasted hazelnuts add a lovely texture and nutty taste, but you can also add whichever toppings you prefer.
• Easy Caramel Rolls with Apples – We can’t think of a better way to spend a lazy Sunday morning than baking these sweet and scrumptious rolls.
• Fairy Cakes – This recipe makes 24 little fairy cakes, ideal for parties or visiting friends. They are the first thing that children want to bake and are certainly a lovely way to spend a rainy afternoon.
• Lemon Meringue Cupcakes – For those with a zest for flavour, definitely give these lemon meringue cupcakes a go.
• Mini Party Doughnuts – Good things come to those who bake, like these incredibly delicious mini doughnuts coated with a sugar glaze and colourful sprinkles.
• Raspberry Scones – Sometimes the simple things hit the spot, like homemade scones still warm from the oven. And with only 12 minutes cooking time, it’s a wonder we don’t make them more often.

We also have many more recipes to choose from! Take a look at our recipes section.