Easy Bake oven... not so easy-LOL!

[BC-MAV]

Dh and I got one for the boys just for fun. We baked cinnamon pretzels and salty pretzels in it this afternoon. Each pretzel took 15 minutes to bake so 1 hour 30 minutes later we had eaten 6 miniature pretzels. The icing was watery for the cinnamon pretzels and the cheese sauce for the salty pretzels was like a ball of playdough!!! I am beginning to think they are more trouble than worth, but the kids had a ball. I didn't realize I needed a 100 watt clear bulb, mixing spoons, bowls, Pam spray, and flour before we even started. Thought it was just add water and bake-LOL! Anyone else? Are the cookies and cakes easier to bake?

[Staceysmom]

DD got that 2 years ago for Christmas and I gave it away that spring. THe cake was little and took so ling to cook that I could have done a full size cake in our real oven. My SIL bought one for my niece even though I advised against it.....

Jaime

[Blessed Mama]

Zara got one and we haven't used it yet. I remember having so much fun with it when I was a kid.

[BC-MAV]

I guess it's the "process" not the product!!! Those pans are teeninsy.... you really have to work it right and make it small to fit in the pans... and the mixing spoons I am guessing are like 1/8 teaspoon-LOL! I wasn't sure the warming pans for the frosting and the cheese sauce were actually pans, until older DS convinced me they were. He commented that we did NOT have a Chuck E Cheese maker to make the pizza. I said "Well how do you think that maker cooks the pizza? Do you think they use a light bulb too?" He said "Yea, probably so we could use the Easy Bake for the pizzas." And I retorted "Not today though... we have done enough baking... ha ha... 6 miniature pretzels!!!!"

[BC-katrack]

Here is an email I got years ago and kept:

Q Dear Miserly Moms, My dear 8 year old daughter received an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas this year. I know that the mixes go for about $5 for a box of four mixes. Is there a cheaper substitute for these little mixes or could I use regular cake and cookies mixes?Thanks so much.TinaA

My daughter loves using her Easy Bake Oven but I agree with you...there has to be a cheaper way to make cakes and cookies than buy their mixes. So we have a collection of recipes for doing it ourselves. Below are a few to get you started. Happy baking!

White Frosting
Mix 2 cups powdered sugar -- sifted
3 tablespoons instant nonfat milk powder
6 tablespoons vegetable shortening

In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and milk powder. Stir with a wire whisk to blend. With a pastry blender cut in shortening. Spoon about 1/3 cup of mixture into each of 8 small bags. Seal tightly. Makes 8 packages.

For chocolate frosting, add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa.

To use: Combine 1 package of the above mix plus 3/4 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Stir well with a spoon until smooth and creamy. Makes about 1/4 cup frosting. A drop or two of vanilla may be added if desired.

Brownies
2 1/2 T. sugar
1 t. oil
1/8 t. vanilla extract
4 t. chocolate syrup
2 1/2 T. flour

Sir together sugar, oil, vanilla, chocolate and flour until the batter is smooth. Pour batter into greased and floured pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Chocolate Cake
6 teaspoons flour
4 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
3/4 teaspoon shortening
1 pinch salt
6 teaspoons milk

Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa, shortening and salt. Add milk and stir until smooth. Pour into greased baking pan that comes with the toy oven. Bake for 12 to15 minutes.

If you want white cake, omit the cocoa and add a drop or two of vanilla with the milk. Makes 1 serving.

Quick Cake
2 tablespoons commercial cake mix -- such as Jiffy
1 tablespoon water

Mix cake mix and water. Place in greased toy cake pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Makes 1 serving.

[BC-MAV]

Thanks!!! The 2 cups for the frosting would be enough for like 2 dozen cakes-LOL!

[RobinL]

Sophie got one, but we haven't used it yet. Of course, I didn't buy a light bulb for it! LOL! Anyway, I found a bunch of recipes online and you can use regular cake mix too which will be a lot cheaper. I think it's 3T mix and 1T milk. Can't wait to use it. I loved mine 40yr ago!

[Monchhichi]

Jordan got one a few years ago. The stupid lightbulb kept burning out. We used it maybe 3 or 4 times and the bulb burned out each and every time we used it. It went in a cupboard and we haven't used it since. Waste of money for sure!!!

[keleric1017]

DD got one too. My mom mentioned how much the mixes were, so I googled it and sure enough, there are tons of recipes out there that use regular ingredients. Here's a site I found that has quite a few recipes Easy Bake: Tasty Cake and Cookie Recipes from Scratch | kiddio | kids. craft. life.

She got a cookie mix with it, it made three tiny cookies. They didn't taste too bad. I can't wait to try the regular recipes.

[Twinkle]

My girls got one a few yrs ago and it was more trouble than it was worth. We got rid of it a few months after Christmas.