Chocolate Easter nest cakes

Easter will soon be here, so we have been experimenting in the kitchen. 

When working in Early Years settings, we always made a batch of chocolate Easter nest cakes with the children. These beauties always went down well and  I know that my daughter would love making them too.

                                     

Who can play?

Children aged two years plus, depending on their age and stage of development.

Safety:

When heating the chocolate chips, ensure that the hot melted chocolate chips and bowl does not come into contact with the children, as it can burn.

What do you need?

• Bowl to place chocolate chips in
• Spoon
• Microwave
• Apron
• 1 cup of chocolate chips
• 2 cups of Rice Krispies
• Small chocolate eggs 
• Cake cases
• Cake tray
• Fridge

What we did:

The first thing that we did was wash our hands and put on our aprons, to protect our clothing. Okay, so this photo was taken at the end of the activity, but I just had to share Bee's cute apron made by Amberlola Designs...too cute! Mummy has a matching one :-)

Next, we added the chocolate chips to the microwavable bowl and placed it in the microwave for around 30 seconds. If it is not melted enough add for a few seconds more.

Once it was slightly cooled, I brought the bowl to the table and Bee began to stir it.

We then added the rice krispies.

and combined them with a spoon.

We obviously had to taste the chocolate, purely for scientific purposes... someone will need their teeth brushing soon :-)

Once the rice krispies were covered in chocolate, we began filling our cake cases with the mixture. Bee would scoop a spoonful of the mixture and help it into the case by using her finger.

...and then she used two spoons.

Eek, I think maybe the sugar is kicking in!!!!

Our next task was to add our little eggs to the center on the mixture. Bee chose three matching colours, and carefully pressed them into place.

Nearly finished! All that we needed to do next was place them into the fridge for around 15 minutes-half hour, to allow them to set and then enjoy.

What did we learn?

• Communication and language-Speaking and listening. Describing what they are doing and talking about what they are seeing.
• Physical development- Fine and large manipulative skills when mixing ingredients and adding the eggs. Hand eye coordination when carefully placing the eggs in the center of the mixture.
• Personal, social and emotional- Making relationships, fun and enjoyment, personal hygiene and social skills
• Mathematics- Concepts of space when filling up the cake cases with the mixture, measuring ingredients. Counting down the seconds on the microwave.
• Understanding of the world- Learning change of state and how to combine ingredients. The effects that heat and the cold has on chocolate.
• Expressive arts and design- Creating a pattern with the eggs and learning about the colours (through deciding what colour eggs to choose)

What could be done next?

• The cakes could be wrapped in cellophane and a pretty ribbon, then given to friends as Easter treats
• Make craft Easter nests, by using shredded brown paper and plastic Easter eggs.