Easy Chocolate Cornflakes crispy flowers

Toddlers and Preschoolers love to help grown-ups. Kitchen, to them, is often a fascinating place where the grown ups are busy working briskly and there is steam coming from the pots followed by irresistible aroma of yummy food. Most of my pleasant memories of my childhood are about the times I spent in both my paatti's (grand-mum) and Amma's (Mum) kitchen. Little did I know that the little tasks I did to help them was helping me become self-reliant and independent and came in very handy when I left home for further studies. Years later, while talking with my Amma casually, I was told that the very same days were wonderful memories for her of quality time with me! I did not appreciate the depth of that feeling until I had Anjalie. Seeing  how much we enjoy each other's company while cooking and baking I totally understand how much those days mean to my Amma.



I also find that Anjalie eats better when she "helps out" with the food preparation. Perhaps it is because, the food was partially made by her or because she knows how and what exactly went on to put the meal together or may a little bit of both. Since I realized this, couple of years ago, I try to include her in preparing food everyday and set her little tasks, like peeling garlic/onions, stirring little things like flour and salt together or setting the table. However, I try to make special "easy" dishes during the weekends where she can do most of the work on her own (with me supervising of course) and me handling the oven or stove. Here is one such recipe that is very easy to make and very yummy to eat for both children and adults.

You will need:
Milk chocolate/bitter sweet chocolate chopped finely or you can use chocolate buttons as well. (Pick according to your taste; Anjalie prefers milk chocolate) -50 grams
Cornflakes (I used Kellogs cereal) - 1 cup
1 tsp butter (optional)
icing sugar for dusting.

 Melt the chocolate and butter together on the stove top (using double boiler or see below) or simply use a fondue set. I used a fondue set. If using the stove top method bring a sauce pan of water to boil. Lower the heat to simmer. Place the chocolate in an another slightly bigger sauce pan and hold the bigger pan over the one with the water. The chocolate pan should just be over the rim and the bottom of this pan should not touch the water of the other pan. Stir constantly to let the chocolate melt evenly and thoroughly.

If using a fondue set, simply place the chocolate into the melting bowl and light the candle stirring occasionally. Children can help with placing the chocolate in the pan/bowl to melt. Make sure they are not too close to the fondue set once the candle is lit.

Once the chocolate is melted, add the cornflakes 2 tbsps at a time and stir them to make sure they are coated well and thoroughly with chocolate.




You can now arrange them into desired shapes in muffin/cupcake liners and allow them to cool down to room temperature. For the flower design above, simply place them into the liners little bit at a time using a dessert spoon. Spread the first layer to desired flower size, place the second later and spread them slightly smaller than the first and so on...Actually, this is very easy to do and you can let the children help with making their desired shapes. Leave them in the fridge for 1-2 hrs to set further into the desired shape. This is the hardest part...having to wait!

Just before serving, place the set crispy flowers onto a plate and slightly dust them with icing sugar by placing icing sugar in a tea strainer and lightly shaking it over the crispy flowers and enjoy! They make a great occasional treat for the children or can be enjoyed as dessert by the whole family.

Sending this to Kid’s Delight–Sweet Treats!! event hosted by Sowmya and Valli.