Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen: Brownie Pizza

We have been focusing on pizza this week as a theme, much to hubby's delight. I decided a dessert pizza would work really well this evening. Yesterday I realized we haven't done a Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen for a few weeks. Perfect fit, perfect timing. We found a delicious sounding dessert pizza at foodnetwork.com. So, after Hannah was down for her nap, the older girls and I walked over to the store to purchase the missing ingredients. This recipe is really simple, definitely a good match for working in the kitchen with children.

First we gathered the ingredients, of course (Tabitha is getting really good at reading the ingredients and remembering that 1/2 is a half. She still struggles with 1/4. She reads them better if they are written out and the numbers are straight up and down).

• 1 (20-ounce) box fudge brownie mix
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
• (for the life of me I have never seen that size can. I bought a 20oz can and used half)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 banana, sliced
• 1 cup fresh strawberries sliced
• Marshmallows
• Maraschino cherries
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• Coconut
• Chocolate syrup, for drizzling
• Whipped cream
• Mint, for garnish

Getting ready to start. They were signing egg and cut for some reason. So I took a picture.

 First we needed to mix the brownie mix according to package directions:

They were helping each other hold the bowl (they did a really good job cooperating).

The mix is supposed to be poured into a greased 15" pizza pan. We do not own any round pizza pans. The cookie sheet you see is what we use for pizza.

Then the brownie "crust" needs to bake for 15-20 minutes. The recipe says 20, some reviews said 15, so I set the timer for 15 minutes, after which I checked it, and threw it back in for 2 more minutes. 

Of course they wanted to lick the spatula and the spoon.

Their next job was to slice the bananas.

Then we mixed the softened cream cheese, sugar and pineapple together with a mixer on low speed. The girls took turns and then I finished. Then we spread it on the cooled crust.

The remaining ingredients get placed on however you like really.

Bananas and strawberries:

Marshmallows:

Half with coconut:

Half with chopped nuts:

And a drizzle of chocolate:

Oops, just realized I didn't get a picture of the girls with the finished product. Too late now. Yummy.

Do you have your children help you in the kitchen?  What lessons do they learn? Do you have any kid friendly recipes to share?

I'd love to see your posts, whether you have done something this week or some time in the past. Just link up below. This is (supposed to be) a weekly linky, I just need to figure out a button now. 

I am linking up to:

And here is my Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen linky