Travel the world, one recipe at a time, without ever leaving your kitchen and become a #ArmchairTravelor with my family.
I’m an armchair traveler. I travel from my chair, discovering places I’ve never visited, learning about different cultures, and finding new ways to experience the world without having to pack a suitcase. Sometimes that adventure comes through a book, sometimes through a movie, and sometimes through food.
That’s one of the reasons I was so excited when our Eat2Explore World Baking Kit – Europe arrived in exchange for this review. This isn’t just another baking kit. It’s an opportunity to bring the world into our home, learn about different countries, and create memories around the kitchen table. And this Christmas, it’s going to be a gift for Charlie and David!
You might think a baking kit designed with younger children in mind wouldn’t necessarily be a Christmas gift for an older teenager turning 19 at Christmas and an adult, but in our home, we love cooking, trying new recipes, and discovering new things. Besides, who says learning and having fun in the kitchen has an age limit?
I haven’t made the recipes yet because I’m saving that adventure for Christmas. But after opening the box and seeing everything included, I can already tell this is going to be a fun family experience. If Christmas doesn’t come soon I may cheat and make these snacks for myself then I will ask Santa when were loading the sleigh to bring more to Charlie and David and all the good little boys and girls on his list.
The first thing I noticed was the cute little brown box everything come in which keeps things from getting lost or misplace. It’s nicely presented, and when you open it, you discover that Eat2Explore has put together everything you need to begin your baking adventure.
The box includes:
- Three recipe cards.
- Cooking tool.
- Gingerbread man cookie cutter.
- Baking ingredients and spice mixes.
- Shopping list.
- Online explanation guide.
- Pen and sticker.
- Additional baking supplies.
There are also QR codes on the box. One lets you see what’s inside, while another takes you to an Instacart shopping list for the additional ingredients. I absolutely love that feature! If Charlie and Bradley had actually working for Instacart, I could have ordered the ingredients right from the shopping list instead of having to make an extra trip to the grocery store. Anything that makes shopping easier gets a thumbs-up from me!
The recipes are designed to make four servings each, although the Swedish chocolate balls make even more. And I love that the kit tells you exactly what you’ll need. No guessing, no trying to figure out which ingredients belong to which recipe. Which will keep a busy mom sane.
Our European baking adventure introduces us to Sweden, Croatia, and Austria. Each country has its own traditional holiday treat, giving families an opportunity to discover something new while learning a little about the places behind the recipes which was a lot of fun for me and will be for David and Charlie to.
In Sweden: Chokladbollar – we leartn about Chocolate Oatmeal Balls. Chocolate and oatmeal together? Doesn’t that sound delicious? The Swedish Chokladbollar are chocolate oatmeal balls, and the ingredients include chocolate and cocoa flakes. From what I can see, they look like they have coconut on them, too. David would absolutely love these!
The recipe takes approximately 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to make. It’s gluten-free and nut-free and makes approximately 12–15 balls. I especially appreciate the gluten-free and nut-free information because it means my sister could enjoy these, too.
Croatia: Medenjaci – Gingerbread Honey Cookies I have to admit, this recipe has me especially curious. I absolutely love gingerbread cookies, but I’ve never had gingerbread combined with honey quite this way. I really wish my dad were here to try these with me. I think he would have enjoyed them.
The Croatian gingerbread cookies are shaped like hearts, which makes them especially sweet for the holiday season. The recipe takes approximately 20 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to bake, but the dough needs to rest overnight. So make sure you plan ahead and prepare it the day before you want to bake. The recipe makes approximately 6–8 cookies and includes a gluten-free option.
Austria: Linzer Cookies– Now, I don’t know if I’ve ever actually eaten a Linzer cookie. I might have, but I couldn’t tell you for certain. What I can tell you is that David is going to have a wonderful time trying to pronounce the Austrian cookie name! He will have Charlie and I rolling on the floor. LOL
These cookies are beautiful, too. They’re round cookies with little heart-shaped openings, while others have star shapes or little stars inside their round centers. They look like something you would love displaying on a Christmas cookie platter although in my home they might not make it on the platter as someone would be eating them faster than I could put them out.
The recipe takes approximately 20 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to bake. Like the Croatian gingerbread, the dough needs to rest overnight. This recipe makes approximately four cookies and also offers a gluten-free option. I can’t wait to see how these turn out!
One of my favorite things about Eat2Explore is that they haven’t stopped at providing recipes. They’ve included educational activities that make this a wonderful opportunity for homeschool families. The accompanying World Baking Kit educational sheet introduces Sweden, Croatia, and Austria, providing their locations and interesting facts about each country. Then the learning continues!
Geography: Discover where each country is located and learn a little about its culture and traditions.
Language Arts: Unscramble letters and words, then answer questions such as:
- What’s your favorite holiday that you celebrate with your family, and why?
- What month do you celebrate the holiday in, and why?
Mathematics: Activities that incorporate math into the learning experience.
Science: Opportunities to explore science through cooking and ingredients.
Art: Creative activities that encourage children to use their imagination.
I love having homeschool lessons already prepared! Sometimes Mom needs a little break, too. Maybe five minutes to sit down and drink that ice-cold cup of coffee she’s been nursing for the last four hours. LOL! Having educational activities ready to go makes this especially appealing for parents who want to incorporate more hands-on learning into their children’s days.
And you don’t have to be a homeschool family to enjoy these activities. They’re also wonderful for families looking for something educational and entertaining to do together during the holidays. Or for children who are just beginning to cook and even families who want to spend time in the kitchen.
One of the things I enjoyed reading was the story behind the company. Founder Rowena Scherer explains that the idea for Eat2Explore came during a family cooking class. She realized her children loved traveling and discovering new cuisines but couldn’t chop an onion. That was her aha moment!
Growing up in Malaysia, some of her fondest memories involved cooking and discovering the world through food. She wanted to bring together the things she treasured most: connection, food, travel, and learning. Her mission was to help families explore global cultures while sharing memorable meals together. I can relate to that idea.
When Charlie was little, I made sure he learned some basic cooking skills. Thankfully, he didn’t grow up without knowing how to help in the kitchen. Learning to cook is about more than preparing a meal. It’s about independence, confidence, spending time together, and passing along things that families can enjoy for years. And sometimes, it’s about discovering a new favorite recipe!
Eat2Explore also proudly partners with Dottie Audrey’s Bakery Kitchen, a Hudson Valley-based bakery and café founded by husband-and-wife culinary duo Patrick and Jennifer Jenkins. Their story is another one I enjoyed discovering. Patrick and Jennifer were inspired by their mothers, the two women who influenced their culinary journeys.
Dottie Audrey’s was created to honor those women and others like them, celebrating the heart of a home: a well-loved and well-scrubbed kitchen. Their philosophy centers around an environmentally conscious lifestyle, artisanal and simple food, and creating an inviting environment where people can enjoy good food together.
You can learn more about Dottie Audrey’s Bakery Kitchen and find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And if you’re ever near Hudson Valley, New York, you can look into visiting their bakery and café. I love discovering the stories behind the people and businesses that help bring these experiences to life.
When I think about Christmas gifts, I love finding things that give families an opportunity to spend time together. Yes, toys are fun. Books are wonderful. And there’s nothing wrong with receiving something you’ve been wanting. But experiences can become memories that last long after Christmas morning.
That’s what I see in the Eat2Explore World Baking Kit. This Christmas, Charlie and David will have the opportunity to explore three European countries without leaving our kitchen. We’ll be learning about Sweden, Croatia, and Austria, trying recipes we’ve never made before, and discovering flavors we might not otherwise have experienced.
And because I’m an armchair traveler, I love that I can add another adventure to my list without ever leaving home. Who knows? We might discover a new family favorite along the way. I would also recommend looking at Eat2Explore for families who homeschool or simply enjoy learning together.
The combination of geography, food, culture, reading, mathematics, science, and art makes this more than a baking activity. You can find the country on a map, read about its traditions, learn a few new words, prepare a traditional recipe, and talk about what makes that country special.
You could even turn it into a family geography night! And if you enjoy the experience, Eat2Explore offers additional country exploration kits and educational subscription options. That means one baking adventure could turn into a year of discovering the world.
Eat2Explore is a woman-owned, U.S.-based company with a mission to help families explore the world through food, culture, and curiosity right at their kitchen tables. Their products bring together cooking, education, and family experiences, making it easier for parents to introduce children to different countries and cultures. You can learn more about their products, baking kits, family subscriptions, and educational resources at:
I’m looking forward to Christmas when Charlie and David open their Eat2Explore World Baking Kit – Europe and we finally get to make these recipes together. I’m particularly curious about the Croatian gingerbread honey cookies, David is probably already thinking about those Swedish chocolate oatmeal balls, and I can almost hear the laughter when he attempts to pronounce the Austrian cookie name. That’s what I love about this gift.
It’s not just about what comes out of the oven. It’s about the conversations, the laughter, the learning, and the memories we make along the way. For families who enjoy cooking, traveling, discovering new cultures, or finding educational activities to do together, this is a Christmas gift worth considering.
You don’t have to travel across the ocean to explore another country. Sometimes all you need is a kitchen, a few ingredients, a little curiosity, and the people you love. And if you’re an armchair traveler like me, you already know that the world is full of adventures waiting to be discovered. Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed – and always ready for another adventure!
Disclosure: Greatful Moments received the Eat2Explore World Baking Kit – Europe for editorial consideration. This kit is being featured as a Christmas gift idea for our family. The recipes have not yet been prepared or tasted, and this article reflects our unboxing and evaluation of the included materials and educational features. All opinions are our own.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
