While some may think the end of the year is something to look forward to, in school, it can be quite a hard and challenging time for teachers as keeping students engaged and on task can be an exhausting job. I prefer to stick to my usual teaching timetable and keep to routine as much as possible. This gives students very little time to take advantage and misbehave.

It is not until the last week of term that I like to incorporate the fun Christmas activities that allow my students to a bit more choice and independence. Christmas cooking is one of those activities.  

I prefer to invite parents/grandparents into the classroom as helpers or to bribe support teachers as you will need adult assistance when it comes to cooking at school. I also like to set the class up in table groups. Have the recipes printed in large foundation font on each table. This way the recipe can be read aloud together, and responsibilities can be shared to make sure that everyone in the group is involved. Food items can then be shared at the end of the day or kept to be distributed at your class party day.

Christmas Ice-Cream – Ingredients: 2 litres of vanilla ice-cream, 2 cups mini marshmallows, 200g glace cherries, 3 crumbled chocolate flake bars. Steps: Use a cupcake or muffin tray. Soften the ice-cream, then add in chopped marshmallows, cherries and flake bars. Spoon into a plastic-lined cupcake or muffin tray. Freeze for 2 hours or overnight. Remove from tray and enjoy!

Decorate Arrowroot Biscuits – Ingredients: 1 cup of icing sugar, 1 tablespoon of hot water and food colouring. Steps: Mix then spread icing over the biscuits and decorate with sprinkles.

Coconut Ice – Ingredients: 500g icing sugar, 4 cups of coconut, can of condensed milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 50g melted copha, pink food colouring. Steps: Combine all ingredients, except for the food colouring and mix. Place half the mix into a lamington pan. Colour the remaining half with pink food colouring and press it evenly on top of the mixture. Refrigerate until set. 

White Chocolate and Cranberry Christmas Baubles – Ingredients: 4 cups of coconut, can of condensed milk, ½ cup of dried cranberries, 2 teaspoons of lemon zest, 90g of melted white chocolate. Steps: Mix all together, roll the mixture into small baubles and place on tray. Put in a 180-degree oven for 15 minutes.  Drizzle more melted white chocolate over the top and add one cranberry to the top of each one

Mini Chocolate Christmas Cakes – Ingredients: 1/3 cup of apple juice, 375g mixed fruit, ¼ cup chopped dried apricots, 100g butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla essence, 1 egg, ½ cup slivered almonds, ½ cup self-raising flour, ½ teaspoon mixed spice, 1/2 cup choc chips. Steps: Heat apple juice for one minute and add fruit and apricots to soak for 30 minutes. Beat butter, brown sugar, vanilla then add egg. Stir in fruit mixture and almonds. Stir in sifted flour, spice and the choc bits. Mix and spoon evenly into patty cases. Put in a 160-degree oven for 30 minutes.

Fruit Mince Croissants – Ingredients: puff pastry, fruit mince, egg, icing sugar. Steps: Cut pastry into a quarter and then each quarter into a triangle. Spread 1 tablespoon of fruit mince onto the long side of the triangle. Roll the pastry up towards the tip and bend slightly and place onto tray. Brush with beaten egg. Place in oven at 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.

Have you tried cooking in your classroom? How did it go? Can you suggest any simple Christmas recipes to try out with children? Feel free to add your comments below