Who says learning can't be sweet? In the world of homeschooling, baking isn't just about creating mouthwatering treats; it's also a rich opportunity for hands-on learning across various subjects. 

Whether you're measuring ingredients, adjusting recipes for different serving sizes, or calculating baking times, each step involves practical math skills. My son struggled with fractions on paper, but when he needed to figure out how much sugar we needed when doubling a recipe, it clicked for him. Once he realized that doubling ¾ cup of sugar is the same as ¾ x 2, our math lessons became much easier. Every child learns differently, and sometimes you have to get creative to help your child learn. And what's better than enjoying a freshly baked cookie at the end of a math lesson?

But fractions aren’t the only math lesson to learn from baking. My 7th grader loves to bake and has hosted a handful of bake sales over the past few years. As she has gotten older, she has wanted to get more serious about her bake sales. So when it came time for our Student Showcase, she knew she wanted to sell her baked goods. However, she was unsure how much she should charge per item but knew she needed to cover at least the cost of making the items. This led her to calculate how much each batch of cookies cost. Now, this wasn’t a straightforward task; she had to figure out how much each ingredient cost. Since you can’t buy just 3 cups of flour or ¼ tablespoon of baking soda, she had to do a lot of weighing of ingredients to figure out how many ounces or grams each measurement was and then calculate the cost. At the end of the project, she had created her own profit and loss report without realizing she had just done the basics of business math. 

But don’t let math be the only area you learn about while baking. Like it's been said before, “Baking is a science.” I’m sure I’m not the only parent out there who has gotten into sourdough over the past few years. But I didn’t learn alone, my kids got to learn with me about the science behind leavening agents and why they are so important in baked goods. One time, my husband made pancakes, and they didn’t turn out right; they were as flat as crepes. The kids knew right away that since the pancakes didn’t rise, it was missing the leavening agent and asked if he had forgotten the baking powder. Sure enough, he had forgotten that one tiny but mighty ingredient. Baking was just the beginning of our science lessons in the kitchen, we have since done many experiments with everyday ingredients from our pantry. I think my son will never get tired of mixing vinegar and baking soda.

From math and science to literacy and life skills, the kitchen is a classroom brimming with educational possibilities. Sometimes all we need is one-on-one time in the kitchen with our kids. It not only bonds us together, but they are learning things even though they may not be aware of it at that moment. You are creating memories and educating all at the same time.