Little Books for Little Cooks ~ Little Cloud

Little Books for Little Cooks is a bi-monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one.   We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

 

Little Cloud

by Eric Carle

Summary: Little Cloud drifts from here to there, all the while changing his shape as he pleases ~ into a lamb, an airplane, a clown ~ and then he joins other clouds to form a big rain cloud.

Your little one will have fun helping you measure and mix to make these light and fluffy clouds!

You’ll Need:

• a plate
• parchment paper
• mixer
• baking sheet
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Dash of salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 6 tablespoons sugar

To Make:

1. Separate egg whites and let stand at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
2. Add egg whites, pinch of salt, and cream of tartar to a bowl. Beat at medium speed until soft peaks begin to form {between 3-5 minutes}.
3. Slowly add 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks begin to form.
4. Drop onto two cookie sheet covered with parchment paper into eight large piles to form ‘clouds’. Use the back of a spoon to create an area in the center so the cloud looks like a cup {with an area that is able to be filled}.
5. Bake at 225 degrees for an hour and 15 minutes to one and a half hours. Remove to rack and let cool.
6. Meanwhile, whip cream until soft peaks begin to form, and add sugar until the cream begins to thicken. Refrigerate.
7. Once meringues have cooled, top with whipped cream and serve!

Note: You can also make smaller cloud cookies and drop them by tablespoon full onto a cookie sheet. You’ll have to adjust the baking time accordingly, but they are great when done on a smaller scale too! Whipped cream is optional…but always yummy. :)

Hope you enjoy this cooking activity with your little one! To see more featured books and activities, click here!