Cupcake Recipe

Cupcake Recipe is a free printable baking guide for children and their grown ups. It is an easy to follow, step by step recipe for making cupcakes at home. Children read the instructions, help with the mixing and enjoy a tasty result at the end.

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, clear a space in the kitchen and bake together. An adult does the oven and any hot or sharp jobs.

What is on the sheet

Children follow a step by step recipe to make cupcakes. They read each instruction in order, gather what they need, measure and mix, and see how a few simple ingredients turn into something they can eat. The sheet is a guide to work through with a grown up beside them. It suits children who enjoy being hands on in the kitchen.

Getting ready to bake

Why bake with children?

Adults do the dangerous parts. An adult switches the oven on, puts the tin in, takes it out and moves anything hot. Keep children well back from the oven door and hot tins. Adults also do any cutting with sharp knives. Check ingredient labels for allergies, as eggs, milk, wheat and nuts are common allergens. Wash hands after handling raw ingredients, and it is best not to eat raw cake mixture.

Baking facts for kids

• A cupcake is a small cake baked in its own paper case.
• Cakes are baked in an oven, where heat changes the runny mixture into a soft, firm sponge.
• Ingredients such as baking powder or self raising flour help a cake rise as it bakes.
• Beating butter and sugar together makes the mixture lighter and paler.
• Cakes need to cool before they are decorated, otherwise the icing can melt.

Skills and curriculum link

• Following instructions in order
• Reading a recipe
• Measuring and weighing
• Teamwork in the kitchen
• Fine motor skills
• Tidying up

Ideas to help with baking

• Set out the orderLay the ingredients in the order they are used. Children can tick each one off as it goes into the bowl.
• Share the jobsTake turns. One child can pour while another stirs, then swap. Everyone gets a go at each job.
• Talk about measuringLook at the scales or measuring jug together. Ask what the numbers mean and why the amounts matter.
• Be patient with messSpills and wobbly stirring are normal. Keep a cloth to hand and treat clearing up as part of the fun.

Key words

• IngredientOne of the foods that go into a recipe.
• MethodThe list of steps to follow, in order.
• WeighFind out how heavy something is using scales.
• WhiskBeat a mixture quickly to mix it and add air.
• BakeCook food in an oven using dry heat.
• CoolLet something lose its heat. Cakes cool before they are decorated.

How to use it

1. Print the sheet and read it through together before you start.
2. Wash hands, put on aprons and gather all the ingredients and equipment on the table.
3. Work through the recipe in order, one instruction at a time. Children do the safe jobs such as weighing, stirring and spooning.
4. An adult does everything that involves the oven or anything hot. Children wait well back until the cakes are out and cooling.
5. Decorate once the cakes are cool, then talk about what went well and what you would change next time.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• What do you think will happen to the mixture when it goes in the oven?
• Why do you think we follow the steps in order?
• How did the mixture look and feel at the start, and how does it look now?
• What is your favourite part of baking, and why?
• How would you decorate your cupcakes if you could choose anything?
• What would you change if we made them again?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where baking skills lead next

Before this sheet, children may have helped with simple kitchen jobs such as stirring, spooning and washing up. They may also have followed shorter instructions in games and crafts.

After it, children can try other simple recipes, read more complex methods and take on more of the measuring. Over time they can plan a recipe, check what they need and cook more independently, with an adult still doing anything hot or sharp.

Questions parents and teachers ask

Is the Cupcake Recipe sheet free?

Yes. It is a free printable from the Mini Minds Hub by Jaques of London. You can print it at home or in school and use it as often as you like.

What do we need to use it?

You need the printed sheet and the ingredients and equipment for the recipe. Read the sheet through first and gather everything before you start, so nothing is missed halfway through.

Can children bake on their own?

No. An adult should be there throughout. Children can help with safe jobs such as weighing and stirring, but an adult does everything involving the oven, hot tins or sharp knives.

Should I worry about allergies?

Yes. Check every ingredient label before you start. Eggs, milk, wheat and nuts are common allergens. If you are baking for other people, ask about allergies first.

Can I use it in a classroom?

Yes. It works for reading instructions and for links to cooking and nutrition in Design and Technology. Check your school's rules on food, allergies and kitchen access before you bake.

How do I help a child who finds it hard?

Show one instruction at a time and let them do the simple jobs first. Say each step aloud before doing it, and tick off ingredients as they go in. Praise effort rather than neatness.

What if the cakes do not turn out perfectly?

That is fine. Look at the recipe again together and talk about what might have changed. Cakes that look a bit wonky usually still taste good, and each attempt builds confidence.