A few years ago -- after watching one too many Food Network shows -- I decided that I could in fact make artistically awesome cupcakes. Of course, I couldn’t. But, what I did discover is that those little cakes sure do make a cool canvas for edible artistic creations. This is ideal for tiny tots who enjoy putting everything in their mouths. Why run the risk that your toddler will accidentally ingest all of the tempera paint, when he can “paint” with frosting?
On to the art – creating Impressionist inspired
cupcakes. You can use it to help your child learn about famous artists. Go see a Monet at an art
museum and then go home to recreate his “Water Lilies” on your cupcake canvas. If you aren't going to a museum soon, look at a picture online, get a reproduction poster or check out a picture in a book about the artist.
What You’ll Need:
·
Cupcake batter mix: If you’re even a
step above my baking skills, certainly feel free to make your own from scratch.
I wanted to focus more on the artsy aspect than the baking part, and chose to
use a boxed mix. In either case, chose a vanilla or white batter (chocolate is
too dark for this activity).
·
Frosting: Again, I bought the ready-made
kind, but you can make your favorite recipe f you want. And again, chose a
vanilla or white frosting.
·
Food coloring: The primaries (red, blue
and yellow). You can make the rest by mixing those.
·
Baking paintbrush (do not use your child’s
paintbrushes)
·
Pearlescent sugar: If you’re not a
baker, and have no clue what this is – you can find it with the sprinkles in
the baking section of your local grocery store (it looks like shiny, colored
sugar crystals).
·
Bowls
·
Spoons
·
Measuring cup
·
Cupcake pan and liners
What You’ll Need To Do:
1. Mix
your batter (either from your own recipe or the box). Even if you use the boxed
mix, this is still an excellent opportunity for your child to play with science
and math concepts for real. Let him measure the water and oil. Have him mix the
batter in a bowl, watching how the ingredients blend together.
2. Separate
the batter into three or four smaller bowls. Add one to two drops of food
coloring into each bowl. Take a look at a Monet painting first, and notice how
the colors are more light than vivid. Mix up bowls of pastel colors. For
example, a drop of red will make a light pink. Have your child mix together two
of the primary colors to make a secondary, such as red and blue to create
purple.
3. Place
the liners into the pan. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners. Spoon a few different
colors into each cupcake liner. Create layers of color, similar to the
Impressionists’ brush strokes.
4. Bake
the cupcakes.
5. Let
the cupcakes fully cool.
6. While
the cupcakes are cooling you can mix up batches of colored frosting in bowls. Like
the batter, create pastel or light hues.
7. Use
the mini cakes as a painter’s canvas. If you have a thin baker’s brush, your
child can brush on the frosting, creating a pond with lily pads, an outdoor
garden or another similar scene. The Impressionists painted outdoors (or en
plein air), focusing on naturally scenes, the season and the lighting at that
specific time of day. If possible, take your cupcakes outdoors to re-create
your backyard (sit at a table to work) or look out the window. Your child can
also use his freshly washed fingers to layer on the frosting colors for a more
abstract look.
8. Add
an extra sparkle by brushing on the sugar. Create a glistening pond or
reflection in a cupcake stream with the colorful crystals.
Have fun with the cupcake art-making. Don’t stress
if your little one’s cakes don’t look like Monet’s masterpieces. With younger
children it’s often easier to pick one aspect, or goal, that you want them to
get. For example, look at an Impressionist artwork with your child and ask him
if he can see the brushstrokes (he can). Then, have him recreate a noticeable
brush-stroke look on his cupcakes. And don’t forget, it’s your day so calories
don’t count. Ok, so they really do.
Are you looking for more cupcakes? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas galore.
Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Cupcakes! Yum! on Pinterest.
Are you looking for more cupcakes? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas galore.
Love it!
ReplyDeleteMy mind is racing to think of what other artists could inspire cupcakes. I'm pretty sure ours usually look like something Dali would make.
i bet your kids rurally enjoy this!
ReplyDeletethank you for linking up with the #pinitparty
Love this idea!! And what a fun way to incorporate a little art appreciation. I'm pinning!
ReplyDeleteYum Yum Yummy - great recipe. Thanks for sharing and linking up with us at the #WWDParty.
ReplyDeleteVery cute and creative. Thanks for sharing with #smallvictoriessundaylinky last week. Sorry I’m late commenting/pinning but do hope you link up again this week!
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ReplyDeleteHave fun with the cupcake art-making. Don’t stress if your little one’s cakes don’t look like Monet’s masterpieces. With younger children it’s often easier to pick one aspect, or goal, that you want them to get. For example, look at an Impressionist artwork with your child and ask him if he can see the brushstrokes (he can). Then, have him recreate a noticeable brush-stroke look on his cupcakes. And don’t forget, it’s your day so calories don’t count. Ok, so they really do. bedsheets buy online , premium bed sheets , queen size fitted bed sheets , bridal bed covers , cotton duvet sets , vicky razai factory address , sofa cover sofa cover , velvet duvet cover , cotton razai cover
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