Days out diary - child friendly and family activities

Family days out Avoncroft building museum Family days out childrens farm Family days out childrens farm Family days out camping holidays with young children Family days out Lake district cruise on Lake Windermere Family days out Thomas land and children railways Family days out London area

I wanted to run some kind of cooking / baking activity with the Cub Scouts, however we meet at a community centre which does not have a kitchen. I therefore turned to some Microwave recipes. I tried a few different recipes and in the end decided on two cakes and one biscuit recipe. These are based on existing recipes, but I have made a few changes either to the quantities or ingredients to simplify or to reduce the number of ingredients I needed to provide.

These are all easy to make and taste delicious.

The cake recipes all require a large mug to reduce the risk of overflowing, although it's not so important for the cookie.

Note that depending upon you microwave it may take a different cooking time. Cooking these for too long may cause them to overflow, so check the microwave at least every 30 seconds. If the mixture starts to overflow the top of the mug then open the door for a few seconds and then continue microwaving until the required time.

Always allow anything cooked in the microwave to rest before eating to avoid the risk of hot spots which could scald.

For chocolate chips I use normal chocolate chopped into small chunks that are often less expensive than buying chocolate chips.

Chocolate Cake

Microwave Chocolate Cake - in a mug

4 tablespoons plain flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Few drops vanilla essence

2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips

Add the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder to the mug and mix with a fork.

Add the egg and mix until the egg is absorbed.

Add the milk, vegetable oil and vanilla essence and mix well.

Add the chocolate chips and fold into the mixture.

Cook for 4 minutes, checking at least every 30 seconds.

Oreo Mug Cake

Microwave White Chocolate and Oreo Cake - in a mug

A delicious cake with the contrast of white chocolate and Oreo cookies.

3 tablespoon white chocolate chips

3 tablespoon milk

½ tablespoon. vegetable oil

4 tablespoon plain flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

2 Oreo cookies

(Optional) 1 Oreo cookie for topping

Mix white chocolate chips and milk into large mug and microwave for 40 seconds.

Mix with fork until the chocolate has melted.

Add oil, flour and baking powder and mix with fork until flour is completely mixed in.

Break Oreo cookies into the mix and mash up with fork until only they are in small chunks.

Microwave for 60 seconds.

Leave to cool before putting an Oreo cooking in the top (optional) and serve whilst still warm.

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Microwave Chocolate Chip Cookie - in a mug

This recipe does not include baking powder so is more of a cookie than a cake. The chocolate chips can be substituted for dried fruit or other fillings for a different flavour cookie.

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon granulated or caster sugar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla essence

1 egg yolk

3 tablespoons plain flour

2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips (or alternative filling)

Put butter in mug and microwave for 30 seconds (or until melted)

Using a fork mix in sugar and vanilla essence.

Mix in egg yolk and then add flour and mix well.

Add chocolates chips and gently mix into the batter.

Microwave for 60 seconds.

Allow to cool for a few minutes before eating whilst still warm.