Carefree summer days are perfect for some kitchen fun with the kids. Creative kitchen projects can spark a lifelong love of baking inspired by the memories you’ve created together.
Crazy Cookie Tortilla Pizzas are as much fun to make as they are to eat. All you need is a handful of kids, so gather the neighborhood to make these wacky, sweet “pizzas.” Give everyone a creative license for decorating these edible art projects.
A creative spin on an old campfire favorite, Easy No-Bake Milk Chocolate S’More Bars are super fun for kids to make and eat. Adults love them just as much as the kids do.
Sweet kitchen inspiration for easy summer fun with refrigerated cookie dough can be found at www.VeryBestBaking.com.
Crazy Cookie Tortilla Pizzas
Makes 5 pizzas, 2 servings each
Nonstick cooking spray
2/3 cup whipped cream cheese, divided
5 8-inch flour tortillas
1 1/4 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 package (16.5 ounces) Nestlé Toll House Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Dough
1 2/3 cups (2 to 3 medium) peeled, chopped banana, divided
1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries, divided
5 teaspoons chopped dry-roasted peanuts, divided
1/3 cup Nestlé Toll House Premier White Morsels
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Spray three baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray
SPREAD 2 tablespoons cream cheese to edge of tortilla. Combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of mixture over cream cheese. Cut bar of cookie dough into five sections. One at a time, cut each section into 16 pieces. Arrange dough pieces 1 inch apart over top of tortilla, leaving a 1-inch border around edge. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup banana, 1 tablespoon cranberries and 1 teaspoon peanuts. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Arrange two tortillas diagonally on a baking sheet.
BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
PLACE morsels and peanut butter in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 30 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle over pizzas. Cool completely. Cut pizzas into wedges using pizza cutter or sharp knife.
Nutrition Information per serving: 410 calories; 170 calories from fat; 19 g total fat; 8g saturated fat; 0g trans fat; 30 mg cholesterol; 360 mg sodium; 57 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 28 g sugars; 7 g protein; 4% DV vitamin A; 4% DV vitamin C; 8% DV calcium; 4% DV iron
Easy No-Bake Milk Chocolate S’More Bars
Makes: 16 bars
Nonstick cooking spray
8 cups miniature marshmallows, divided
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 3/4 cups (11.5-ounce package) Nestlé Toll House Milk Chocolate Morsels, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 (about 2 cups) whole graham crackers, broken into 1/2-inch pieces
LINE 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan with foil leaving an overhang on two sides. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
HEAT 6 cups marshmallows, butter and salt in large, heavy-duty saucepan over medium- low heat, stirring frequently, for 5 to 10 minutes, until smooth. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup morsels; stir until melted.
WORKING QUICKLY, stir in graham cracker pieces, remaining 2 cups marshmallows and 3/4 cup morsels. Spread mixture into prepared baking pan with greased spatula, pressing down lightly. Cool for 2 hours or until set. Lift from pan; peel off foil. Cut into squares with serrated knife.
Nutrition Information per serving: 240 calories; 90 calories from fat; 10g total fat; 6g saturated fat; 0g trans fat; 10mg cholesterol; 120mg sodium; 39g carbohydrate; 0g fiber; 28g sugars; 1g protein; 2% DV vitamin A; 0% DV vitamin C; 0% DV calcium; 2% DV iron
Jenny Harper is Consumer Test Kitchen Project Manager for the Nestlé Test Kitchens and VeryBestBaking.com.
Photo courtesy of Nestlé