easy bake vs girl gourmet - either or neither?!

[WendyLovesPeter]

my daughter has been asking for "that cupcake maker" for several months. Problem is I have looked at both Girl Gourmet and Easy Bake and I don't find either of them appealing.....I ended up getting the Girl Gourmet candy bead set that you can make necklaces etc.

Am I missing the boat here on the "baking" toys... I feel bad cuz that is what she asked for, but I just wonder after the initial thrill wears off (3 days) do these types of toys get used? i also feel like we can always bake at home in the real kitchen but of course she won't have that feeling of independence

 

[BabyFu18]

The cupcake and cake maker things are fun for kids so they feel like they are doing something themselves and I know with the girl gourmet cake maker (which my niece is getting for christmas) you do the actual baking in the microwave and the base is basically for decorating. I feel like anything getting kids creative is worth it and if she's interested in cooking/baking why not?

As far as easy bake ovens go, I had one when I was a little girl, my sister had one, my niece had one, it's like a little right of passage in a way.

As far as which would get played with more, that really depends on the child and how willing mom or dad is to get the items out and supervise the activities.

 

[skip323]

I also had an easy bake when I was younger...loved it! However I think they are crappy! Maybe it is just because I am bigger but those things sure seem small and the recipe mixes are so expensive! I did not heed the advice of many, though, and purchased one for dd. We used it once or twice (however long it took to use up our initial set of mixes) and then put it away. I decided it was easier to work with my girls in the real kitchen and we do! What I also did, though, was get small, real, individual baking items for each. Small muffin tin, some cookie cutters, a couple of other things are in that set. Plus I received individualized aprons for them. They love this stuff.

 

[monorailsilver]

My dd (she is 8) wants both but we only got her the Easy Bake.

It was $14.99 with the 3 mixes & we got one free since that was one of TRU's daily coupons. And I bought her 2 more mixes.

But we can use regular cake mix in it so if I am making cupcakes or a cake, I can give her some & she can bake it & decorate it as she pleases.

For $15 if she uses it 5 times I will be happy, it is what she wants this year. Well that & an iPod & she is getting both.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I've had easy bakes with both my son (he requested it) and my daughter... Nasty, but I let them find it out for themselves.

You'd probably be better off getting a kids cookbook (DS has a Garfield one!), an apron and some real utensils for them and spend time teaching them how to really cook. Schedule some time every week (1/2 hour Sunday afternoon worked for me and my kids). You'll give them real skills for life, and you won't have to deal with taking 14 hours (okay, exaggeration...) to bake a cake with a lightbulb.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

dd has both & when she bakes, she brings out both of them

she loves them both

either one will make her smile

 

[mindyd]

My Daughters have both and love each of them. The only nicer thing about Easy Bake is that there are more things to buy for it but with the Cupcake Maker the kids can pretty much do eveything themselves because it is micorwaved and you don't have to worry about being burnt.

 

[AlternateEgo]

My girls are 7, 5, & 4... and oldest DD got a Cupcake Maker for Christmas last year.

They played with it once... and it was such a mess... that it sits in the pantry closet and it doesn't get played with anymore

 

[crusoe2]

I've been so tempted to get DD the Easy Bake - just seems like one of those toys every little girl is supposed to get at some point. But then I hit on the same idea as some of the prev. posters - get her some real kitchen stuff of her own and cook together. I found Paula Deen's My First Cookbook on sale a few months ago and put that up for Christmas. I plan to pick up a cute apron and cookie cutters, some colorful spatulas and mixing bowls, etc to put with it. She loves to cook in her play kitchen and serve the rest of the family so I feel sure she'll enjoy the real thing. Makes for some nice mommy/daughter time too.

 

[finz2left]

the girl gourmet was a disaster for us...the easy bake got very little use. We just make little cakes in our toaster oven...much better and less messy

 

[Reagan&Co.]

My friend bought the cupcake maker for her DD6. She said it is AWFUL and MESSY. The frosting goes all over and you have to wash every single part.

Personally, I think when kids ask to cook, it is because they want to spend time with mom. If you are wanting her to be independent, let her do most of the work!

 

[TiffanyK]

Here's the link to a couple of recipes that we've done in my dd's easy bake oven. I bought a little cookbook called "Baking with Mommy Cookbook" that has good recipes. I refuse to buy the mixes. Expensive and not too good.

We've also baked Nachos, pizzas, chocolate chip cookies. I sometimes let her get it out and we just do what we're having for dinner in it.

I agree that it's good to teach them about real cooking with real equipment, but there's something fun about those little light bulb ovens. I think it feels more like play.

 

[tinkarooni]

What a timely question for me. I am driving around right now with my SUV full of donations to Good Will and the Easy Bake is one of them. We bought it probably two Christmas's ago. The mixes made really yucky tasting stuff. I already let DD 9 cook with me all the time so while she really wanted it she only used it once or twice, until the initial mixes were gone. If it were my kids biggest wish for Christmas I would probably buy it for her because I'm a sucker like that but honestly, a nice kids cookbook, an apron and some utensils of her own have gotten much more use in my house.

Happy Holidays!