I now have competition! My daughter (4) told me today that SHE wants to make the sugar cookies - but she will be "sharing" my recipes. The nerve! I guess she wants me to read them to her, as well, as she knows numbers and measurements but can't read. But - get this! - she'll use my "old" recipes, and I can just go get new ones.
I almost managed to keep a straight face through the conversation, until she said the broiler would be HER oven, and I get the big one to keep. 
Now, does Santa bring an Easy Bake, or just let her start with the tabletop oven (about 8x12, small foods only) that I already have? She won't use Easy Bake recipe packets, has to make everything herself. I even cheat with boxed mix, but she won't do it. So, Easy Bake or give her mine?
And she is NOT getting my KA! Any ideas on a mixer for a child?
That's so cute. It reminds me of when I was a kid. All I wanted for christmas was an EZ bake oven. I went to three santas and none of them knew what it was. I never did get it but it's funny to see that even then I was obsessed with baking. So I agree with you that you should encourage that interest. 
I encourage the interest, for sure! I just wonder if an Easy Bake will satisfy her for very long. I had one, and it was about a year before I graduated to the regular oven. Would this be good training, or would it be better to invest in other supplies for her? She already has mixing bowls and measuring cups.
i think I would just let her use the "real" oven and save yourself the $$ on that.
If you haven't already, get her a real apron and a real rolling pin and her own cake pans and pie tins and bundt tins and so on. There are all kinds of mini or individual real pans. Oh, and kid friendly sized stirring spoons
My son started workign with me in the kitchen when he was about 4 and I will NEVER forget what my MIL said when she saw us mixing together. She said, "Oh, you're trying to make him into a little girl!" WHAT?? He had a navy blue Williams Sonoma apron, so how is that girlish.
Don't worry she got a tongue lashing and she's been quiet ever since. My son is 10 now and he still likes to help me in the kitchen, but I admit, I've been slacking in getting him to help me more because now I have him keep an eye on the 18 month old while I'm cooking dinner. (Dh doesn't get home until 7 pm)....
I think it is wonderful, but don't buy baby stuff - she'll feel "bigger" if she has stuff like mommy - I LOVE it!
Melissa
I say let her have yours. I got my girls and easybake and I don't like it. I'd rather them just use the real oven and make real food instead of the little packets of stuff.
My MIL would be buried under the birdbath in my backyard if she had ever said something like that to me. I guess yours got off lucky.
ROTFL!!!!!! How many times have I thought this about my MIL!!!!
That is great that your daughter is so interested. What a great way to share time together and get a head start on math skills. How special! I'm sure the table top oven would work just fine for her, and I have seen a few very small stand mixers in Target and Aldi that were very affordable.
Wow you don't even get to buy her one of the fake kitchens! She's very advanced! I would give her an easy bake oven but let her make her own recipes still. She might move on to the real oven in the little while, but I think easy bake ovens are only about $20 now. You could even get her a little apron. Do you want to get her a stand mixer or hand mixer ? Target has hand mixers for less than $10 and if getting a stand mixer get a sunbeam. Thats what I have now and well..it isnt great. Good starter though
My 5 yr old granddaughter was eyeing the easy bake oven in Wal Mart last week and asked if I'd get it for her b-day. I told her no she and her sister (7) can learn to bake with me and my oven. I have small rubber spatulas for the girls, small rolling pens and a hand beater for beating eggs and a hand mixer for them to learn with. They love helping me bake. I was a tomboy and never wanted an easy bake myself. Rather than blow money on a toy oven they'd soon get bored with because of it's limitations I prefer to teach my girls to bake for real so they have that to build on with bigger and better things. Just my thoughts.
I gave my niece an Easy Bake oven for her 3rd birthday. I shouldn't have bothered. My mother already had her using the "big" oven AND the KA mixer!!! Must have paid off cuz this past county 4-H fair she got 3 PURPLE ribbons! And she was only 5!! So, for her 6th birthday this past September I got her the Wilton 101 cookie cutter set. She was in heaven!
I wouldn't wast the money on the esay bake. I used one with my 3 yr old and it bakes uneven and takes forever. As long as she knows that you have to be there to help her, I would give her the real thing.
Have you seen those decorating kits from LTD that are 5 bucks? That would be great too!
Stephanie
Okay, no Easy Bake! But, I would LOVE links to get the kid-sized equipment. She is very small (33lbs, still wears 24 month clothing in some things) and the regular stuff is cumbersome for her. I think I'll get some of her own recipe books as well, or translate mine into picture books for her.
First, your daughter sounds very intelligent. Now, I speak with 30+ years of parental experience, and my only concern in her safety. She needs to understand that as a 4 year old, there are certain boundaries that she must not cross, for her safety's sake. She could get injured trying to run the oven or KA without supervision, and she must know that you are in charge of her safety, so you must be there at all times, and there are certain things that she may not do until she is older. She's only 4, and unless she is superbaby, her coordination is not good enough to handle adult-sized equipment.
I would start her out with cold things, instant pudding, cake balls, no bake cookies, if she wants to make something herself.
Otherwise, her duties would be limited to turning on the KA to the right number, sifting dry ingredients, things like that.
Theresa
Ok, she's a pip-squeak! My 18 month old is wearing 2Ts and weighs 30 lbs and is 34.5 inches tall!
She DEFINITELY needs the small stuff. Look online and ebay too for items. I LOVED having a mini rolling pin, but you know, the smaller fondant roller would work too if you already have that. She'll be thrilled to have her own stuff sized down for her!
Melissa
Do a search for a Montessori catalog. They have alot of child size stuff that they use in their practical life section in their classrooms. They encourage children to learn how to do things themselves and there are products you can purchase to support this. I cannot find my catalog I have, but I'm sure you can find something on the web.
BTW...I agree, stay away from the easy bake oven, it's more of pain than anything!
First, your daughter sounds very intelligent. Now, I speak with 30+ years of parental experience, and my only concern in her safety. She needs to understand that as a 4 year old, there are certain boundaries that she must not cross, for her safety's sake. She could get injured trying to run the oven or KA without supervision, and she must know that you are in charge of her safety, so you must be there at all times, and there are certain things that she may not do until she is older. She's only 4, and unless she is superbaby, her coordination is not good enough to handle adult-sized equipment.
I would start her out with cold things, instant pudding, cake balls, no bake cookies, if she wants to make something herself.
Otherwise, her duties would be limited to turning on the KA to the right number, sifting dry ingredients, things like that.
Theresa
this is very important. My now 10 year old has a SUPER independent streak, so we have always had to set the ground rules and he's learned that he follows them or he loses them and they don't expand. At age four I let him dump ingredients, hold my hand while I used the mixer, let him "try" to stir ingredients and I let him roll his own set aside dough and let him help me use the cookie cutters. The stove was off limits (still is and he's TEN). Now, at 10, I will still be with him, but I'll talk him through it. I'll get all the ingredients for him, but let him measure, stir and get it all together. I'll pop them in and out of the oven and I make sure all ingredients are included at teh right measure, but really he's mostly doing it himself.
I can't wait until my "little" guy joins in but at 18 months, we've got a little bit to go! LOL
Melissa
Pipsqueak? YES! Superbaby? Pretty much! She's always been independant, but is too small to handle even a regular chair yet. She climbs everywhere (like her mommy did) if she wants something, because she still cant see above the countertops. Right now she measures, dumps, can't handle stirring yet, but helps with the KA. Pours small bowls of batter into pans, sets the timer.
However, she tries to be very safe in the kitchen. Her hair is tied in a bandana (too short for a pony tail) and she wears an apron. Won't even touch a butterknife, let alone a regular knife, so we have plastic kids spreaders for her. I make tiny parchment bags of frosting for her to decorate with, as her hands dont cover my palm, and i have small hands. I forgot how dangerous the EBOvens were.
Thank you everyone for the shopping tips! I found kid sized utensils that she will get instead. The tabletop oven has tiny baking sheets that she can handle, so we'll start with that for now. I was THRILLED to find oven mitts for kids. Now to get daddy to build a stand for the tabletop that is about 18 inches high, so she can reach. This will be so much fun!
When my neice was little and trying to learn to help in the kitchen, I made her an apron and oven mitts in her size. I used quilted fabrics plus teflon fabric to make the mitts as safe as possible. Seemed like a good idea to get her used to having mitts on around hot cookie sheets and cake pans. If you don't sew, try checking with your local fabric store for a seamstress who would make them for you.
Deanna
This might be of interest to you - I ordered one for me (for the small pans) and one for my granddaughter. I think the easy bake oven might be ok for a kid who just wants to cook occassionally - it sounds like your little one is right there with you - helping often. I wouldn't bother with the easy bake for her.
http://currentcatalog.com/searchResults.asp?ppp=&UseStoredQuery=1&search=mini+tiered+cake+pan+set
This might be of interest to you - I ordered one for me (for the small pans) and one for my granddaughter. I think the easy bake oven might be ok for a kid who just wants to cook occassionally - it sounds like your little one is right there with you - helping often. I wouldn't bother with the easy bake for her.
http://currentcatalog.com/searchResults.asp?ppp=&UseStoredQuery=1&search=mini+tiered+cake+pan+set
that site has a ton of stuff! thanks for the link!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000X2BTA/?tag=cakecentral-20
http://www.surlatable.com/common/products/product_details.cfm?PRRFNBR=2934
Here are a couple of really cute kid-sized baking ideas.
Oh the kind in me is saying "i still love my ez bake oven!" and i still have it - its from the 80s one of the things i have kept, and have good memories from - when i was older my mom then let me start using "the big stuff" - her tactic was she would make something and let me make something on my own without interfeering with her project ....all in all its a good toy and she is a kid let her have fun - dont want her to grow up too fast
Well my daughter is now 7 1/2. She has been helping in the kitchen with everything from "hand mommy the......." to now washing the dishes (the best her little hands can do lol) and helping me mix and pour batter to NOW she wants to help me pipe. She helped me decorate some of the cupcakes for halloween lol.
I bought her the Easy Bake Oven 3 years ago, we couldn't let her use it where we were living because her pop-pop would have a coniption fix lol. But we did let her use it once we moved. She loved it and the lil cakes were delish! I think once we move now that mommy is into decorating full time now she'll be using it more often if allowed.
I planned on buying her some little stuff to use such as small mixing bowls, small spoons, and so on, just haven't found any yet, until I found these wonderful links!! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!
As for a mixer, I admit I didn't read the entire thread just first and a few more... I'd buy her an inexpencive hand mixer or a nice heavy duty hand mixer. I purchased a Speed Boost 8 speed mixer from Walmart on Clearance earlier this year, after christmas I believe, for I think $12.~ original tag still on it read $45.~ so look for those deals! Hubby uses this mixer everytime he makes the BC icing and once we move I'll use it all the time until I can afford my KA. Currently I use mom's older handmixer for cakes and stuff cause I don't need that much power lol.
But I think a hand mixer would do her nice or you could even get her a stand mixer, not KA, from Walmart for under $50.~ If she isn't making huge recipes it won't burn out on her like it would us lol. 
Just ideas. Good luck and please let us know what you do decide to get her and with Christmas right around the corner I know she'd love to have all that under the tree.
Oh and as for the stove situation... I'd save the money and give her the one you already have if it'll do what she wants it to do. I'm not sure what exactly you're talking about with that but if I understand correctly it'll bake a cake and that's what she wants lol. EBO would be old news to her after about 3 times of using it and it not being big enough for her projects.
Happy Baking to the both of you sweethearts!
Becky
Good point, Becky. The one I have will do an 8 inch cake, or about 6 cookies at a time on each pan, 12 total. It would do a bona fide dessert for the family, as opposed to single servings. I bought it because it does rotisserie as well, but usually use it for a few cooies for after school, as opposed to heating the big oven for 4 cookies. I think the EBO would be too small.
Have you thought of getting your daughter the beginner tip set yet?
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