Carrot Cake Pops

Carrot Cake Pops is a free printable Christmas baking activity sheet for children, part of the Free Christmas Baking Resources. It is made for a grown up and child to use together in the kitchen or the classroom. Adults do any cutting, grating, melting and oven work. Children join in with the safe, hands on jobs.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print the sheet, read it through with your child, and talk about the plan before you start. Black and white printing is fine.

What is on the sheet

This is a Christmas baking sheet themed around carrot cake pops, which are small round cakes served on sticks. Children use it to join in with a festive baking session, with a grown up beside them. Read the sheet through first so you both know what it asks. Then decide together which jobs are for the child and which are for the adult.

Ways to make the most of the baking session

Why bake at Christmas?

Adults must do the dangerous parts of this activity. That means using the oven, handling hot trays and hot mixtures, melting anything on the hob or in the microwave, and using knives and graters. Keep children well away from hot items. Wash hands before and after baking. Cake pop sticks are not suitable for very young children to walk around with, so supervise eating closely and remove the sticks if needed. Check for allergies before anyone eats.

Fun facts about carrots and baking

• Carrots are root vegetables. The part we eat grows under the ground.
• Carrots are often orange, but they can also be purple, yellow or white.
• Grated carrot adds moisture to a cake, which is why it works so well in carrot cake.
• Cinnamon, a spice often used in baking, comes from the bark of a tree.
• Heat from the oven changes cake mixture from a soft, wet mix into a firm cake.

Skills and curriculum link

• Following a method
• Measuring and weighing
• Fine motor skills
• Kitchen safety
• Vocabulary for cooking
• Working with others

Helper ideas for the kitchen

• Prepare firstGather the bowls, spoons, scales and trays before you begin. Children cope better when they are not waiting for you to find things.
• Share the jobsGive children jobs that suit them, such as stirring or rolling. Adults take anything hot, sharp or heavy.
• Keep it flexibleIf your child loses interest, let them take a break and return to a simpler job. Baking should stay enjoyable.
• Check for allergiesBefore you begin, check who will eat the cake pops. Read the labels on every product you use.

Key words

• GrateTo rub food against a rough surface so it turns into small pieces. An adult should do this.
• IngredientOne of the foods that go into a recipe.
• MixtureFoods stirred together so they are combined.
• BakeTo cook food in an oven using dry heat. Only adults use the oven.
• CoolTo let something lose its heat. Cake needs to be cool before it is shaped or decorated.
• CoatingA layer that covers the outside of something, such as icing.

How to use it

1. Print the sheet and read it through together before you begin.
2. Decide who does which jobs. Adults take the oven, knives, graters and anything hot.
3. Check for allergies and wash hands. Then collect the equipment and food you need.
4. Bake and decorate together, letting your child do the safe jobs such as stirring, measuring and rolling.
5. Talk about how it went. Ask what your child enjoyed and what they would change next time.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• What do you think carrot cake tastes like, and why might carrot go in a cake?
• Which job would you like to do, and which job is for the grown up?
• Why do we wash our hands before we bake?
• What could we do to make our cake pops look Christmassy?
• Who would you like to share them with?
• What would you change if we baked again?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where baking skills lead

Before a session like this, children benefit from simple kitchen jobs such as washing vegetables, stirring and tipping in ingredients that an adult has measured. These build confidence, hand control and an understanding of kitchen rules.

Afterwards, children can move on to reading a full recipe, weighing and measuring for themselves, and planning a bake for a purpose. These link to the cooking and nutrition strand of Design and Technology in the National Curriculum for England, as well as measures in maths.

Questions parents and teachers ask

Is Carrot Cake Pops free to print?

Yes. It is a free printable from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library from Jaques of London. You can print it at home or school as many times as you need, and use it with your own child or class.

What age is this sheet suitable for?

It depends on how much help your child needs. Younger children can join in with close adult support and simple jobs. Older children can do more of the preparing and decorating. Adults always do the oven, hot items and anything sharp.

Can children do the baking on their own?

No. An adult must be in charge of the whole activity. Adults do the oven work, hot items, melting, grating and cutting. Children can help with safe jobs such as stirring, measuring and decorating once everything is cool.

What should I do about food allergies?

Check every allergy and dietary need before you start, and read the label on every product you use. Adults should not guess. If a recipe includes something a person cannot eat, do not serve it to them, and seek proper advice before changing the recipe.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. Black and white printing is fine and saves ink. You may prefer colour if you want the sheet to look more festive. Either way, the activity works the same, so choose whichever suits you.

Can I use it in a classroom?

Yes, it can work well with adult helpers. Follow your school's food and allergy policy, check the class allergy list and plan who handles heating and cutting. Make sure children wash their hands and that surfaces are clean.

How long does it take?

That depends on the recipe you follow, your group and how much you do in one go. Allow plenty of time, including time for the cakes to cool before decorating. You can spread the activity across more than one session.