I was at the pool a week or 2 ago when I got a call from an assistant principal at my school. She asked if I wanted to be the new advisor for the popular baking club. This is what I get for being a showoff and for regularly leaving goodies in the faculty room. (I bake because I’m bored but it is just me here)
I don’t have really any details about it yet other than I can do whatever I want with it (not just the cupcake decorating contests that have been done in the past) and I will have access to a life skills classroom with an oven, dishwasher, fridge, etc. I was told that the students bring in the supplies but I imagine it would be more challenging if I actually wanted to bake stuff other than just decorate. There would have to be some fundraising involved.
I’m more concerned about coming up with things we can do in like an hour. I would even pre-prepare doughs, batters, etc. Cookies are obvious are are muffins. She mentioned something about teaching them how to make buttercream frosting or whipped cream. I’m not professionally trained by any means but I have enough experience that I could teach them about something other than DNA and photosynthesis.
The assistant principal said it can be anything I want it to be. I think $$ and the time constraint would be the big challenges along with my lack of creativity. We don’t have late buses any longer so they have to get their own rides home but they aren’t going to want to stay for 2-3 hours after a day of school. I doubt they’d want to do 2 days in a row to like mix up yeasted bread dough to bake the next day.
Who knows? That’s why I’m looking for ideas. I will get in touch with the former advisor when work starts again to see how she ran things.
You don’t mention the demographics of the school system you work for. Are they in need of basic baking skills or more advanced. The reason I ask this is because she mentioned homemade butter cream frosting and whipped cream. The students have to supply the ingredients and you only have 1 hour. Why don’t you start out with softened butter, egg, vanilla and let them measure out the dry ingredients and add the chocolate chips for chocolate chip cookies. Bake. On your dime and see where it takes you.
The demographics are constantly changing but I don’t know which students are in or interested in the baking club. I do know that a bunch of football players have been part of it the past couple of years which I find hilarious.
Like I said I need to talk to the former advisor. I’m just trying to get some ideas/inspiration. Of course chocolate chip cookies would be a good and easy start.
At the first meeting of your baking club, ask the students/members what kinds of things they’d like to bake. Provide them some limitations, like time or cost, but otherwise see what gets them excited.
Monkey bread. It’s a real bang for your buck sweet bread that you can use pre-made pizza dough for. It sounds like you’re teaching high schoolers, so this is an easy and fun bake that they’d be able to show off at home. You could do a double up day and make pizzas with a portion of the dough, first.
Galettes. Quick to throw together and fun to top (I’ve done chocolate pieces and marshmallow for the kids when they were younger). They also look impressive when baked.
In the UK, my son was part of a compulsory ‘home economics’ type class in elementary school where the baking elements they were taught included stuff like pancakes/crepes, shortbread (the buttery Scottish flat cookie that is baked in a slab and can be cut into fingers), a basic muffin recipe that could be customised into sweet or savoury versions. A recipe he discovered himself through the NYT website that he loves is a giant chocolate chip cookie cooked in a skillet.
This is a quick easy (Martha Stewart) recipe for a chocolate dump cake – I use it all the time, comes out perfect every time. I do have to cook it a bit longer than the time suggested, but your oven may vary.
This was aka Wacky Cake in my family. We used leftover cold coffee instead of water. Also mixed the batter separately and greased/cocoa powdered the pan since it was prone to sticking. You must have better luck with that than we did. Good cake btw. No complaints there.
The only things I remember learning from my home ec class are to how properly measure out ingredients (level measurement) and cleaning up as you go. These lessons have stuck with me all these many years. Maybe whatever project(s) you pick could lightly incorporate basics that could serve your students for a lifetime? They’d still have all the fun of baking whatever treats you ultimately choose.
One more thing. It sounds like this baking class might take place towards the end of a school day. Keep in mind, teenagers are starving to death at that point.Maybe teaching them to make pizza dough (to be refrigerated until the next class) along with something to keep them happy with this class isn’t such a bad idea after all. They can bring their favorite toppings or not. You supply the sauce and cheese. If nobody brings anything you’ve still taught them how to make a great homemade inexpensive (on your part) cheese pizza. Just a thought.
It is an after-school club. It isn’t a class. I teach biology. We don’t have home ec/cooking classes any longer. The reason the assistant principal thought of me is because she is on my FB and we’ve been friendly for decades. She knows that I’m always bringing baked goods into the faculty lounge because I can’t eat everything I make.
Thanks everyone for the input so far. Keep it coming!
I hope its OK to offer another very easy recipe… I use this fruit cobbler recipe quite frequently. I will keep an eye out for pineapple tidbits on sale and cut each tidbit in half or quarters (depending on the size) and drop each piece in. This activity seems like something the kids might enjoy, as well.
or Maybe no-knead bread in 2 parts? Part one where you assemble and bring for them to complete final steps/bake in class, Part 2 where they assemble and you take home (or stay very late) for final steps/bake?
Good cake btw. No complaints there.
