Bake Muffins
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What you will learn
- 1Measure the dry and wet ingredients in separate bowls
- 2Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ones gently
- 3Fill muffin cups about two-thirds full
- 4Check muffins with a toothpick and let them cool
- 5Leave the hot oven to the grown-up from start to finish
Mini Lesson
Muffins are a quick bake that uses a special method: two bowls, one gentle stir. You already know how to measure ingredients and how bread rises. Muffins are different - they rise in the oven with baking powder, so there is no kneading and no waiting. The big secret is to stir as little as possible. A grown-up handles the hot oven while you do the mixing.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- PREHEAT: the grown-up turns on the oven to the heat in your recipe, so it is hot when the muffins go in. Line the muffin tray with paper cups.
- DRY BOWL: measure the flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt into one bowl. Stir them together.
- WET BOWL: in a second bowl, mix the egg, milk, and oil. Wash your hands after cracking the egg.
- GENTLE MIX: pour the wet into the dry. Stir slowly, only until no dry flour is left. Lumpy batter is OK - if you overmix, the muffins turn out tough.
- FILL THE CUPS: spoon batter into each cup until it is about two-thirds full. That leaves room for the muffins to rise.
- BAKE, CHECK, COOL: the grown-up puts the tray in and takes it out with oven mitts. Poke a toothpick in the middle - if it comes out clean, they are done. Let them cool, and ask about allergies before you share them.
The grown-up is in charge of the oven the WHOLE time - preheating, putting the tray in, and taking it out with oven mitts. Never reach into a hot oven or touch a hot tray. Stand back when the oven door opens, because hot air rushes out. Raw batter has raw egg and raw flour in it, so do not taste it. If anyone gets burned, tell the grown-up right away.
Words to know
preheat
To heat the oven before the food goes in.
e.g. The grown-up preheats the oven while I mix.
batter
A thick, wet mix of ingredients that you can pour or spoon.
e.g. I spooned the batter into the paper cups.
baking powder
A dry ingredient that makes muffins rise in the oven.
e.g. We added a spoonful of baking powder to the dry bowl.
overmix
To stir batter too much, which makes muffins tough.
e.g. Stop stirring when the flour is gone so you do not overmix.
toothpick test
Poking a toothpick in the middle to see if it comes out clean.
e.g. The toothpick test showed the muffins were done.
cool
To let hot food sit until it is safe to touch and eat.
e.g. We let the muffins cool before we ate them.
💡 Handy Tip: use an ice cream scoop or a big spoon to fill the cups. Each cup gets the same amount, so all the muffins bake in the same time.
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