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KidKraft Cookie Baking Set Review

KidKraft Cookie Baking Set

Last Christmas, I wrote about how I searched and searched to find my daughter the perfect play kitchen and how I ended up with a KidKraft kitchen. {See my KidKraft Kitchen Review here}  When the good people at KidKraft saw my post they wrote me an email to tell me how much the liked my thorough review and they asked for my address so that they could send me a KidKraft Baking Set for free – no strings attached.  Of course I said yes and my daughter has happily played with it for months now.  She loves it and I love that it’s made with the same KidKraft quality that I’ve came to expect.

Since Christmas is just around the corner I wanted to share my review of this baking set with you in case that you or someone you know is considering buying a set for the special child in your life.

KidKraft Baking Set

I’ll start with this stock photo from KidKraft.  This set comes with a mixer, removable bowl, two cookies, cookie tray, a working rolling pin, and a spoon for stirring.  Every piece is made with wood and covered with some sort of durable paint.  After months of wear there isn’t one little bit of paint that has chipped.  That’s pretty impressive!

KidKraft Play Cookies

My daughter loves to set her table and serve her little stuffed friends.  Here is a picture of a table that she set herself.  I know what you’re thinking…either that I taught her well or that she is OCD.  ha!  It may be a little of both.

KidKraft Cookies

Here’s an up close look at the cookies to give you a better idea of what they look like.  They have some weight to them without being too heavy.

Kid's Mixer

The mixer moves up and down with ease.  It’s made well so that little fingers won’t get pinched when playing.

Kids's Wooden Mixer

Here’s a look at the mixer when it’s in the down position.  You can see that there is a gap between the beater bars and the bowl.  That’s nice for two reasons. 1.) It won’t scratch the bowl. 2.) Little hands can easily remove the bowl without having to lift the top of the mixer.

KidKraft Mixer

From this angle you can see how it fits perfectly on the counter space available and it even leaves some room for additional food prep.  You can also see the circular logo in the side of the mixer.  If I had my way it wouldn’t be there but it’s certainly not a deal breaker.

KidKraft Kitchen Accessories

Here’s an example of that free counter space being put to good use.  The lovely hand towel was made by my sweet sister-in-law who also made a matching dish towel too.

KidKraft Kitchen

Here’s a look at my daughter baking her KidKraft cookies.

Okay, it’s time for a quick review.

Pros:

  1. All pieces are made with wood so I know they’ll last.
  2. After months of use the paint is still in perfect condition.
  3. The mixer is made well so it won’t pinch tiny fingers.
  4. No annoying noises or batteries to replace.
  5. Working rolling pin and liftable mixer {yes, I made up the word liftable}.
  6. Fits well on our KidKraft kitchen, it matches it, and looks nice setting out.
  7. The bowl can be removed easily and used as a salad bowl or fruit bowl, etc.

Tiny Con:

  1. I’m not a fan of the logo on the side of the mixer.

All in all, my daughter and I both love this set and would recommend it to any little chef.  If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

This KidKraft Baking Set is on sale right now at Target for $23.49 but prices are always fluctuating so double check before you buy.

KidKraft Kitchen Review

Why We Love Our KidKraft Kitchen

When my husband and I decided to buy my little girl a kitchen for Christmas last year, I didn’t know it then but, I had my work cut out for me.  There are dozens, probably hundreds of models to choose from.  There are wooden ones, plastic ones, non-gender ones, girly ones, ones with grills attached, and ones with seating attached.  There are kitchens that transition with age.  There are some that offer a lot of storage and some that have very little.  Some come with electronic sounds and some have old fashion knobs that click when you turn them.  The options were overwhelming!!!  Don’t get me started on accessories.  You know?  The play food, plates, blenders, toasters, dish towels, aprons…Ahhh!!!

From the picture above you can tell that I did finally decide on a kitchen.  It took weeks of researching and weighing the pros and cons.  This was the only big present we got her for Christmas and we only gave a few small other gifts so we shelled out the money for a new, fancy pants, wooden, KidKraft kitchen.  We love it!  Absolutely love it!

Because I’ve posted pictures with my daughter playing with her kitchen on Instagram and on Facebook I’ve had probably a dozen or so people ask me where I got it.  Requests keep coming in so today I decided to write a post and tell everyone about the kitchen we bought and why we love it.  For disclosure, I was not paid by any company to write about this product but I have included my affiliate links in this post so I can maybe buy a coffee with the proceeds from people who buy through my link.  It won’t cost anyone a penny more!

Now, here’s the kitchen I bought.  It’s called the KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen.

Why I like it:

  1. It’s wooden and built well so it will last.  Plus, it’s heavy enough that it won’t fall over on her (but it does come with wall brackets just in case!).
  2. It doesn’t take batteries so there’s no need to replace them and no annoying noises.
  3. It’s non-gender so if we have a son later down the road he can play with it too (I know boys play with pink things all the time but I figure why plan for it when it can be avoided?).
  4. It’s attractive enough to have in our living room without looking like an eyesore.
  5. It’s not a primary color and it doesn’t have to have matching accessories to look nice (Things like that bother me. Maybe I’m the only one!).
  6. The sink was removable for cleaning. Nice bonus!
  7. It had a towel rack and pegs for hanging towels or utensils (What can I say? I like details!).
  8. It has a chalk board on the freezer and a water dispenser in the fridge.
  9. The fridge has a shelf inside so you can put two large baskets inside to hold food.
  10. The oven has a slide out cookie sheet that is removable (Two levels of storage inside!).
  11. The dishwasher’s shelf is removable too (Two levels of storage inside!).
  12. There is a detachable phone on the side of the fridge.
  13. There is a small amount of counter space for food prep.
  14. There is space behind the sink for accessory storage (We have a toaster and salt and pepper there).
  15. There is a shelf above the sink for extra storage.
  16. The sink head rotates and the handle moves up and down.
  17. The stove and range knobs click when you turn them but that’s all the noise this kitchen makes.
  18. The oven doors open to the left and the dishwasher to the right so you can play in both at once.
  19. My daughter (who was 18 months when we bought it) can play with the lower parts now and the upper areas when she gets older.  This will be a toy she can play with for a long time.

To buy it:

If you’re interested in buying this KidKraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen you can buy it online at Amazon.com.  I bought mine from Walmart.com but they’re currently sold out of this kitchen at the moment.

The accessories:

KidKraft Cookware Set

We chose to go with different pots and pans but if you are wanting to hang utensils on the pegs in the back of this kitchen, this KidKraft Cookware Set is the only one with handles wide enough to fit.  It’s on sale right now at Walmart.com for $20.34 but keep in mind that those prices could change.

 

Step 2 Cookware Set

We have the Step2 Cooking Essentials 10-piece Stainless Steal Set.  It’s adorable!  I love that I she could really cook with them later on and we can throw them in the dishwasher when they’re dirty.  Isn’t the little stock pot just adorable?  We hung the two pot holders from the pegs in the kitchen and store the other pots and pans in the dishwasher when not being used.  Amazon.com currently sells this set for $29.77 + Free Super Saver Shipping.

 

Play Food

I bought plastic play food so it would be quieter play than if I had chosen wooden food.  It’s much cheaper too!  You can read about how I got a great deal on my play food at Aldi here.

 

Kidkraft Play Dishes

I hope to buy these plastic KidKraft play dishes soon for my daughter’s second birthday.  Walmart.com has them on sale right now for $15 and Amazon.com for $18.48 but the prices are always fluctuating.

6 Month Update: We still love our kitchen and recently reviewed out KidKraft Baking Set if you want to check that out here.

Well, I think that’s it!  I hope I gave you enough information without boring you to tears.  If you have any questions at all please feel free to ask!

Top 10 eBay Gift Ideas for Girls 2012

Have you started shopping yet?  I’m one of those weridos who shop year round for find the best gifts and best deals on those gifts.  I know that most people aren’t like me {thank goodness!} but it’s easier for me to get a head start on Christmas shopping so I can be more relaxed during the holiday season.

 

 

My baby girl is the only one that I’ve waited until the last minute to buy for.  I was waiting to see what the “hot” items were going to be this shopping season.  A few weeks ago I formed my list and sat down at my computer to shop.  I’ve found that many, if not all, of the items were cheaper on ebay than anywhere else.  I bought a few myself and I’ve shared this list with family members who are looking for gifts to buy.

 

This year, as they do every year, eBay has those highly sought gifts for everyone on your Christmas list.  You can even shop Toys ‘R Us directly from eBay and get access to the same great selection and service you would get at Toys ‘R Us.  I LOVE THAT!  I’ve also bought hard-to-find unique gifts and cheap tech gifts there this year too!  With eBay you get simple, one-stop shopping!

 

Here are my little girl’s top ten wish list items this year (All are available on eBay and/or the eBay Toys”R”Us store.  You can click on the link to go to each item directly.):

KidKraft Kitchen

–  KidKraft Vintage Kitchen – $176.99 This was on my daughter’s wish list…okay, my wish list for her.  We’ve already ordered it and it arrived within days.  It’s gorgeous!!  It did take a while to put together but it is very well made and I’m sure it will last a long time.
–  Cra-Z-Art Magna Doodle 3-in-1 Easel – $49.99 + Free Shipping!  I’ve always loved the Original MagnaDoodle and now my little girl can play with this awesome 3-in-1 easel.  Not only does it have the MagnaDoodle drawing surface but also a magnetic dry erase board, and a paint ‘n Draw board.  This easel comes with a double sided magnetic pen, 1 dry erase marker, 6 magnetic stampers, a clip for paper and a storage tray. Plus, the easel folds flat for easy storage!
–  AquaDoodle Delux Mat – $29.99 A little boy I use to babysit had one of these and I loved playing with it as much as he did.  My grandmother has already bought this for my little girl and all the adults in the family have taken their turn drawing on it.
Barbie ATV–  Power Wheels Fisher Price Barbie ATV – $49.99 on sale from $99.99!  My aunt bought this for my little girl {from ebay} and I can’t wait to see her ride it!!!
–  Crayola Pip Squeak Wacky Tip Markers – $4.99  This should make a fun stocking stuffer and perfect for her little hands.
–  Angry Birds Air Swimmers – $29.99 This gift is kind of a gift for both my husband and my little girl.  How fun!  I can already see them playing together.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe–  Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Magenta – $49.99 + Free Shipping! The adorable classic coupe in a fun girlie shade.  We won’t be able to really enjoy this until the weather gets cooler but it will still be a little fun in the house before we put it away in storage until Spring.
–  Crayola Large Washable Crayons – $2.99  Large crayons that are great for little hands.  Plus, they are washable so I don’t have to try this trick I just learned for removing crayon scribbles.
Play Cookware–  Just Like Home Stainless Steel Cookware Playset – $14.99 on sale from $19.99! Absolutely adorable and perfect for the little kitchen I bought her.
–  Just Like Home 85 Piece Food Set – $10.99 Plastic and perfect for pretend play.

 

You can’t beat shopping from the comfort of your own home, can you?  While this list is just my girl’s top 10 gift ideas {and I’m sure she could find more to add!}, eBay has put together a much larger Gift Guide to make shopping even easier!  You can also access the Gift Guide through the eBay mobile app which makes it convenient to shop anywhere, anytime!  You are no longer confined to sit in front of the computer to shop eBay but now you can shop from the comfort of your car {if you’re the passenger!} or the comfort of your living room.  You get the picture!  If you haven’t downloaded the app, I highly recommend checking it out.  I’m all about simplifying and saving money!

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of eBay. I received a product sample to thank me for taking the time to participate.”