2026-12-28 • Ages 2–5
New Year Confetti Cornbread Cups
New Year countdown, colorful confetti, and equal scoops
Ingredients and preparation
Per child: standardized batter for 2 mini cups using cornmeal, whole-wheat flour, 2 tbsp mashed black beans, 1 tbsp corn, 1 tbsp softened red and green pepper, 1 tbsp cheddar, egg, milk, oil, and baking powder. Wash peppers; remove stems, seeds, and membranes; soften and cool. Drain and rinse beans and corn; teacher handles raw egg. Teacher reminder: students put on aprons and wash hands first. Give each child their own child-proof knife, cutting mat, measuring tools, and classroom cooking tools. Take a group photo with the creations and upload it to the protected Airtable photo record; do not display publicly. Children help clear and wipe work areas; teachers wash and sanitize tools and food-contact surfaces. Check the roster so every child takes home a labeled creation.
30-minute lesson
3 min aprons, handwashing, and raw-egg rule. 4 min count down from ten and find confetti colors. 8 min mash beans, measure, and cut soft vegetables. 9 min mix, count two equal scoops, make the group photo, and share one New Year kitchen goal. 6 min child cleanup; teacher sanitizes egg areas, labels tins, and checks take-home roster.
Ages 2–3
Mash beans; add premeasured corn and pepper; pour and stir with help; count two scoops.
Ages 4–5
Measure tablespoons and dry ingredients; cut softened peppers; compare scoop sizes; divide batter evenly.
Learning goals
Backward counting, tablespoon and cup measurement, equal portions, safe cutting, mashing pressure, color identification, batter science, sequencing, and goal language.
Chef instructions
Bake labeled mini cups at 350°F for 14–17 minutes; confirm centers are set. Keep allergy-adjusted tins separate, sanitize raw-egg surfaces, cool completely, and package 2 cups per child.
Teacher photo upload
Classrooms ages 2 and up: upload finished creation photos or a permitted group photo. Choose your center and classroom. Your center’s director and Evelyn receive the photos by text.
Upload finished creation photos