WITH the return of the Great British Bake Off to our TV screens, a survey has discovered that children as young as three are being inspired taking up baking with 70 per cent of children aged three to 16 regularly spending their spare time baking in the kitchen.
Whilst Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood challenge contestants to try their hand at sugar spinning, bread making and patisseries, the survey by furniture retailer IKEA discovered that the humble cake is the item of choice for young bakers with three quarters of kids regularly trying their hand at a Victoria Sponge or lemon drizzle.
Eager to support their children’s passions, and indulge in a sweet treat or two themselves, almost 80 per cent of parents have taken steps to make their kitchen more child-friendly and children now cook with their parents up to three times a week.
And it isn’t just the real thing that is surging. IKEA's ever popular duktig play kitchen has seen an increase of 21 per cent in sales since 2014, showing that children are happy playing at their own imaginary Great British Bake Off .
“The Great British Bake Off has become a cultural institution and seeing a national love of baking filter down to children as young as three is really wonderful. At IKEA we’re always working to bring families closer together and ensure that children can be involved in every aspect of family life – especially something as universally loved as baking," said Darryl Pirie, head of cooking and eating from IKEA UK and Ireland.
“From child friendly aprons and cookie cutters right through to our METOD kitchen set that can be customised to allow our little chefs easy access to the counter, we’re continuing to ensure the kitchen is fun for all the family.”
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RECIPE
Chocolate chip pancakes, raspberries & white chocolate sauce
Ingredients:
150g self-raising flour
Pinch of salt
145g buttermilk
2 tbsp butter (melted)
1 tbsp caster sugar
2 tbsp chocolate buttons
For the sauce:
140g white chocolate
70ml milk
45ml cream
1/2 vanilla pod (deseeded)
Handful of raspberries
Method
Slowly whisk milk into the flour, salt and sugar mix, add melted butter and fold in the chocolate buttons.
In a non-stick pan on a medium high heat, add melted butter, place a ladleful of mix into the pan, and cook 1 minute each side.
For the sauce:
Place chocolate, milk, cream and vanilla seeds in a pot over a Bain Marie.
Gently melt and whisk when melted to form a sauce.
Finish pancakes with sauce, lemon zest and raspberries.
