We can all agree that we enjoy a sweet treat every once in a while. Be it cake, ice cream or cookies, they give most of us joy and something to help lift our spirits especially when our moods take a dump.
We have also all heard of the increasing number of amateur bakers in Singapore who like to get creative and experiment by baking at home – the most common sweet treat to make at home being cakes, due to how easy and convenient it is to bake one as long as you have a recipe and the right ingredients.
For me personally, I have baked a few times at home. Baking a cake is one thing, but having it taste good is another… After several failed attempts at baking, I ultimately gave up and resorted to just buying my cakes from bakeries.
However, I came across a baking workshop at SAFRA Toa Payoh by Genius R Us and was intrigued… They do weekly baking classes for kids and the treats they make in these classes are always changing. With my interest piqued, I decided to sign up for one of their lessons with my internship colleague, Farhah.
Baking With Kids
When we stepped into the class, the first thing I noticed was the bright and fun atmosphere. The teacher welcomed us into the class and was also very patient with us, despite us being young adults in a room full of kids.
My initial impression of this class was that the teacher would teach and guide the children step-by-step throughout the process of baking. However, it surprised me when she taught us the steps first before moving on with the actual baking. It provided the children with more independence so they wouldn’t have to rely on the teacher for every step of baking, considering she had to take care of 10 children all at once. This also allowed the children to remember the steps so they could carry out the baking themselves, which helps to test their cognitive skills.
There were small boards in front of us to show the recipe, making it easy to follow for those who may be faster than others. The teaching was much different compared to other baking class experiences I’ve heard about and it was very interesting to watch and experience this.
Time To Bake!
So what did we bake? Donuts in the shape of cute ladybirds! We started with the dry ingredients, followed by the wet ingredients. After that, we mixed both together. The teacher was very specific with her instructions on how to measure each ingredient and how to properly mix the batter. She taught us how to level the dry ingredients and the right technique to employ so as not to overmix the batter. Her tips really came in handy because I’m the kind of baker who tends to add too much of one ingredient and overmix the batter, leading to my cakes turning out flat and dense.
After making the batter, we poured it into a piping bag and piped it into donut moulds. The piping was also easy to follow, and the teacher did a demonstration before we tried it for ourselves, so it helped as a reference on how to pipe it nicely.
It was then time to bake after filling our donut moulds. For this part, we assisted with putting everything into the oven and helped to instruct the children to not go near the oven area. This was a very good safety precaution and it showed how much the teacher cared for the children’s safety.
Finally, it was time to decorate our donuts. I assumed we would be using piping bags and frosting to decorate our donuts, but we used melted white and dark chocolate, which was something I have never used for decorating before.
It ended up being much easier than I expected and also very fun to decorate. We didn’t use very professional utensils for this part either; we used skewers to draw the dots on the ladybird and dipped the donut in the chocolate for the head and body so it was safe and easy for the children to use.
After one and a half hours, we have our ladybird donuts!
Final Thoughts
This was definitely one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had – the teacher was very engaging and patient with everyone and the donuts were delicious too! The class was easy to follow with a pace that everyone was comfortable with.
The class also provided the children with a sense of independence and by the end of it, they can feel accomplished that they have created a bake of their own. I feel that it’s really worth your kid’s time to try this out. Plus, they will get to bring home a delicious treat after that!
@safrasg Everyone can be a baker, even you! 🫵 Sign up for a baking class with Genius R Us now! 🧑🍳🍰 #baking #safra #bakingclass #cake #donut ♬ original sound – safrasg
Genius R Us conducts many baking workshops and events for kids. It is located at SAFRA Toa Payoh, #01-03. Click here for more information.
SAFRA members can enjoy special prices when they sign up for the workshops or packages.
