Things Bakers Know: The King Arthur Baking Podcast

Episode: “Baking with Kids: Fun or Chaos?”

Hosts: Jessica Battilana & David Tamarkin
Guest: Samantha Seneviratne
Date: October 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the joyful mess (and the occasional chaos) of baking with kids. Hosts Jessica Battilana and David Tamarkin share candid stories, lessons learned, and expert tips on involving children in the kitchen—without losing your sanity. Special guest Samantha Seneviratne, acclaimed cookbook author and parent, joins to offer wisdom, empathy, and practical strategies. The show features listener Q&A—all from kids!—providing practical answers that empower young bakers and supportive adults alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tension & Joy in Baking with Kids

• Relinquishing Control:
  • Jessica confesses her initial reluctance to bake with her children due to mess and inefficiency. Over time, she realized the process, not the product, is the point.
    • Notable Quote (Jessica, 02:27):

      "I think I was sort of missing the point...which is not producing a perfect baked good, but doing this thing together."

• Learning By Letting Go:
  • Adapting her mindset for her upcoming kids’ cookbook, she embraced the chaos and discovered her son’s genuine enthusiasm (and TikTok-inspired skills).
    • Notable Quote (Jessica, 05:01):

      "Yeah, it's great. I learned how to make these on TikTok."

2. The Deeper Value of Teaching Kids to Bake

• More Than Math & Chemistry:
  • Baking promotes math skills and science concepts, but the deeper lesson is caring for others and self-confidence.
    • Notable Quote (Jessica, 07:33):

      "There is this effort to legitimize kids baking for...a learning opportunity. But...the caring for other people piece...is actually the thing."

• Self-Esteem and Pride:
  • Children display unselfconscious pride in their creations.
    • Notable Quote (Jessica, 06:35):

      "I made this thing. This thing is awesome. Look at how great I am."

3. Guest Interview: Samantha Seneviratne on Baking with Her Son Arty (12:08 - 19:15)

• Be Patient—and Plan for Mess:
  • Set aside special times for baking, free of time or mess constraints.
    • Notable Quote (Samantha, 12:34):

      "When we set aside a time to bake...you can't have any time parameters or mess parameters. You have to decide...there’s gonna be flour everywhere."

• Recipe Choices for Young Bakers:
  • One-bowl cakes or brownies are ideal: simple, fast, few ingredients, quick gratification.
    • Notable Quote (Samantha, 13:31):

      "Those are the things Arthur really likes to bake because it's like instant gratification, low effort, high reward."

• Start as Early as Kids Show Interest:
  • No “right age”—begin when they’re curious, adapt to their abilities.
    • Notable Quote (Samantha, 14:16):

      "As early and as soon as they want to."

• Coping with Picky Phases:
  • Letting kids choose recipes and cook with you can broaden their tastes.
    • Notable Quote (Samantha, 14:47):

      "Cooking and baking together might help us..."

• Fun, Ambitious Projects:
  • Inspired by baking shows, Samantha’s son wanted to make cakes with swimming pools; they made it happen using creative solutions.
    • Notable Quote (Samantha, 17:40):

      "We did it...I have the swimming pool already done."

4. Listener Q&A – Questions from Kids (22:08 – 32:27)

Each question is introduced by a young baker and answered thoroughly by the hosts.

a) How do muffins puff up? (22:08)

• Answer: Chemical leaveners—baking soda and baking powder—produce gas that lifts the batter.
• Key Takeaways:
  • Baking soda needs acid (buttermilk, yogurt, molasses, etc.) to activate.
  • Baking powder includes both acid and soda.
  • “Powder for puff, soda for spread.” (Jessica, 23:41)

b) Why is banana bread raw in the middle but brown outside? (24:39)

• Answer:
  • High sugar and thick batter can brown outsides before centers are cooked.
  • Tent with foil to slow exterior browning.
  • Use light-colored pans for gentler heating.
  • For precise doneness, use an instant-read thermometer (look for 200–205°F in the center).
  • If it’s gooey: pan-toast the slices in butter.

c) What can I bake for my gluten-free mom's birthday? (28:58)

• Answer:
  • Gluten-free cake is an easy swap—use measure-for-measure GF flour or mixes.
  • Fun alternatives: giant meringues, ice cream cake, or s’mores Rice Krispie treats with GF graham crackers.
  • Emphasis on how thoughtful it is for a kid to want to bake for their parent.

5. Jess Opinions: Are Kids' Menus Ruining Everything? (32:29)

• Argument:
  • Kids' menus in restaurants are unimaginative (chicken tenders, buttered noodles, etc.), limiting kids’ experiences and reinforcing pickiness.
  • More thoughtful options could broaden kids’ palates.
  • Exposure, not just availability, is key to adventurous eating.
    • Notable Quote (Jessica, 34:01):

      "Parents would call me and say, 'How did you get so and so to eat tofu curry?' Just exposure, right?"

6. Weekly Baking Plans (34:54 – 36:12)

• David: Working on sourdough discard crackers.
• Jessica: Making crispy cheesy pan pizza, a kid-favorite and weekly family tradition.

7. Preview of Next Episode

• Focus will be on gluten-free bread—ideas, challenges, and how to succeed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I needed to adjust my attitude...the point of the exercise...is not producing a perfect baked good, but doing this thing together." (Jessica, 02:27)
• "It's like the warning they give you on news stories: There is disturbing content ahead. This is an episode about baking with children." (Jessica, 02:27)
• "I have lost my marbles many a time. So don't worry if you do." (Samantha, 12:34)
• "It's not just any time you want to get in the kitchen and make a mess." (Samantha, 12:53)
• "Cooking is on the decline. It's just a good skill to have—to bake for yourself, to know how to do this. But also, it enriches your life." (David, 09:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Jessica's story on TikTok-inspired kid bakers: 04:47 – 05:18
• Baking as more than education: 07:20 – 08:28
• Main guest interview with Samantha Seneviratne: 12:08 – 19:15
• Listener Q&A with kids' questions:
  • Muffins puffing up: 22:08
  • Banana bread doneness: 24:39
  • Gluten-free birthday treat ideas: 28:58
• Jess Opinions: Kids' menus: 32:29 – 34:01
• Weekly baking roundup: 34:54 – 36:12

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is candid, warm, and self-deprecating, blending expert advice with real-life messiness and plenty of good-natured humor. The hosts’ rapport with each other—and with their guest—makes even the most chaotic moments feel reassuring and instructional. There’s an undercurrent of earnestness: the belief that baking with kids, though imperfect, plants lasting seeds of joy, independence, and generosity.

For listeners and parents feeling apprehensive about the flour-dusted road ahead: embrace the imperfect, celebrate the small wins, and remember—you might just be nurturing a future baker (and maybe the next viral cooking sensation on TikTok).